Fixed gears in the Mail

I know that there are regular articles in various places that make people think "oh wow, fixed gears are no longer the niche, counter cultural vehicle of the few", but I was a little surprised to see this on bikeradar:

"The Mail on Sunday is running a four page feature in todays Live magazine supplement on fixed wheel bicycles. Five bikes reviewed: Condor Classico Pista, Bianchi Pista, Condor Paris, Specialized Langster 08 & Swobo Sanchez."

I don't mind fixed gears getting more popular, but it'd be a shame to have to start talking to Mail readers

Wait until you see the pictures of the 'models' posing on the bikes...

(I just want to make it clear that I DIDN'T buy the mail, I just saw the article.)

Fixed Gear Bicycles Ridden by Illegal Immigrants Threaten Your Pension and Implicated in Diana Death?

http://qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/

hmmm... read it on bikeradar hey?... likely story! ;-)
Yeah vb spotted this and gave an equallly plausible 'found it on the train' explanation.
OK -Who will be honest and admit that their friend / partner / colleague reads the Daily Male?
I shared a train table with a fittie reading that paper once - put me right off! :-(
[cite]vb: They love the Bianchi Pista, knock the Langster, laugh at the Condor Paris, think the standard Condor Classic is pretty nice and then throw some daft bike in at the end.

All of the cyclists are in full lycra, helmets, etc. Photos clearly taken laying on their sides and pulling faces as if they're jumping and having the time of their lives.

The column/blurb was mostly complimentary saying how some cycle purists were going back to basics, how it's not for everyone and how some go the whole way (have a death wish) and ride without brakes (though mentioning it's illegal). The last couple of lines mentioned it wasn't like buying into any other trend as this really was for experienced cyclists.
Not bad considering it's The Mail on Sunday. Not bad at all really. If it has to happen that's the kind of accessible way that is just about forgiveable.
I did find it strange that they would rate the Pista above the Langster given their readership though. You'd think keeping their readership alive would factor in somehow and being able to later attack brakeless riders without having recommended a track bike for the road would also factor in.
I'll post it later this evening when I'm back at home.
Oh, and the writer was Tom Bailey I think. I'll double check later.[/cite]

at least it's not the SUN or MIRROR...

to be honest we all know it's going to go full bloom this summer... for me i don't care what others do i just like riding it my way. as long as everyone rides safe we're all good.

edmundane at least it's not the SUN or MIRROR...

to be honest we all know it's going to go full bloom this summer... for me i don't care what others do i just like riding it my way. as long as everyone rides safe we're all good.

The Mirror has a long and honourable tradition as a campaigning newspaper of the left. Its notable campaigning journalists include Paul Foot and John Pilger.

It should not be confused with rags like the Sun and its Hillsborough coverage or the even-more unspeakable Mail - best-ever headline "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" - although admittedly that was from 1936, its politics have moved ever more to the Right since.

Platini [quote]edmundane at least it's not the SUN or MIRROR...

to be honest we all know it's going to go full bloom this summer... for me i don't care what others do i just like riding it my way. as long as everyone rides safe we're all good.

The Mirror has a long and honourable tradition as a campaigning newspaper of the left. Its notable campaigning journalists include Paul Foot and John Pilger.

It should not be confused with rags like the Sun and its Hillsborough coverage or the even-more unspeakable Mail - best-ever headline "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" - although admittedly that was from 1936, its politics have moved ever more to the Right since.[/quote]

Paul Foot did most of his best work in Private Eye, and is unfortunately now dead. John Pilger was brought back to the Mirror when Piers Moron thought that being anti war would steal readers from the Sun - that didn't last long. Neither is representative of Mirror journalism. It's a rag, just as much as the currant bun is.

It would be great if the tabloids got behind cycling but it is a largely middle class pursuit (a reason why I think it's often so disliked). They're more likely to post the names of paedophiles than discuss the merits of getting on a bike, fixed or freewheel.

Anyone scanned in the article? Wouldn't mind a read of it.

dangerMouse

It would be great if the tabloids got behind cycling but it is a largely middle class pursuit

speak for yourself!

the history of cycling in this country is firmly rooted in a dour, working class, northern grit.
It's the cheapest way to get around for people who can't afford cars.

Of course, class does not = wealth but it does seem leisure cyclists (esp. mountain bikers) and many "commuters" (esp. Condor riders) are indeed middle class these days, what does it all mean? I haven't a fucking clue, and quite honestly don't care. Just don't call me middle class.

No red-top is ever as bad as those hypocrital, hyped shit-rags The Daily Mail and The Daily Express. Platini's "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" may have been from 1936, but "At last the veil is banned" was a headline for the Express early 2007.

Unless you're logging in at the library you're middle-class RPM :P

fuck off, I'm using the internet connection and computer provided by the company I work for!

RPM fuck off, I'm using the internet connection and computer provided by the company I work for!
Not many of them on building sites or factory floors ;op

it's 2008, not 1988

dangerMouse [quote]RPM fuck off, I'm using the internet connection and computer provided by the company I work for!
Not many of them on building sites or factory floors ;op[/quote]

how would you know??

did you once take the lift to the wrong floor in your company and discover the basement, full of elderly men in boiler suits, smoking roll-ups with grubby fingers and swearing?

I quite like the mail. the best thing is reading the readers comments on articles on the website.....now that is some funny stuff.

here is an example of a great article with some classic comments. how can you not like this paper > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=508016&in_page_id=1770

I thought you where the company directer of your own firm RPM?

photoben No red-top is ever as bad as those hypocrital, hyped shit-rags The Daily Mail and The Daily Express. Platini's "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" may have been from 1936, but "At last the veil is banned" was a headline for the Express early 2007.

Yeah Ben, that was probably the last front page they had that didn't feature either Di or Maddie...

and DangerMouse, the current relatively poor state of the Mirror doesn't detract from the tradition to which I referred.

The best headline ever was a front page of The Mirror in response to weather conditions over the channel almost 70 years ago:
"Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off"

You can't beat an island mentality that blinding. Even the Daily Mail might have to concede that we aren't perhaps the centre of the world.

Haha, I've just had a look at the article in question (work has all the Sunday papers delivered)
I'll try and scan it in at some point but highlights include -

Condor Classico Pista (nice gold frame someone posted in the Bike Porn thread) : set up includes Dura-Ace hubs, black Sugino 75s & black Rolls
£1000
"The perfect fixie for cruising down to Starbucks on a lazy Sunday" << !!!!!

Bianchi Pista
£425
"Aimed at purists who appreciate the harsh geometry of the frame… we can still recommend it as a commuter bike… you'll get maximum respect from your fellow fixie-lovers"

Swobo Sanchez
£400
"best described as 'suicidal', with no brakes and a stark galvanised frame… attach a brake to the pre-drilled forks, thus making it road legal - but at the same time destroying a fair amount of its street cred."

very funny with the models lying on the floor, all wearing spd style shoes but mostly 'riding' clips and straps with the female model on the Classico pulling a one-handed wheelie off a plank of wood raised on bricks! :-D

Best bit has to be the Starbuck's line though rolls eyes

" Even the Daily Mail might have to concede that we aren't perhaps the centre of the world."

Outed David, you're clearly a Communist traitor of the first water.

Looks for green ink to write incoherent and rambling letter of complaint

velocity boy The best headline ever was a front page of The Mirror in response to weather conditions over the channel almost 70 years ago:
"Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off"

You can't beat an island mentality that blinding. Even the Daily Mail might have to concede that we aren't perhaps the centre of the world.
quite true we're the center of the universe not just the world ;)

TheBrick(Tommy) I thought you where the company directer of your own firm RPM?

yeah, for what it's worth.

the firm is owned by the shareholders and employs me though, I'm not self employed.

[quote/] how would you know??

did you once take the lift to the wrong floor in your company and discover the basement, full of elderly men in boiler suits, smoking roll-ups with grubby fingers and swearing?[/quote]
Ha ha - yep that's the last time I hit that button. What is this thing - PG Tips - they talked of?

Platini - fair point and sad really. Both Pilger and Foot are alright in my book (the former comes across as pretty dour & self important for an Aussie, though).

Pilger is an arse

slamm Condor Classico Pista
"The perfect fixie for cruising down to Starbucks on a lazy Sunday (and have it nicked)" << !!!!!

Bianchi Pista
£425
"Aimed at purists who appreciate the harsh geometry of the frame… we can still recommend it as a commuter bike… you'll get maximum respect from your fellow fixie-lovers hahahahahahaha"