Photo: Andy Armstrong

Fixed-gear bikes spark police crackdown in Berlin

Published: 30 Jun 09 12:05 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090630-20291.html

They’re sleek, fast and illegal in Germany: fixed-gear bicycles. Marc Young reports on how trendy fixie riders have sparked a police crackdown in Berlin.

ADVERTISING
In a country where cyclists are expected to have a working bell on their bikes, it was probably only a matter of time before fixies fell afoul of the law in Germany.

Evolved from indoor track bikes with no gears and brakes, fixies have long been favoured by couriers and other cycling enthusiasts in big cities around the world. But a surge in popularity in Germany has prompted an unprecedented backlash by traffic cops in Berlin in recent months.

“Interest in fixies has exploded in the past two years,” said Dustin Nordhus, owner of the Cicli Berlinetta bike shop in central Berlin. “Everyone sitting in an office all day thinks they’re cool these days.”

Nordhus has filled his shop with gorgeous high-end racing bikes that are street legal, but he also makes custom track bikes for a growing market of fixie riders.

Since there’s no freewheel on a fixie, the pedals continue to rotate as long as the bike is moving forward. This means the rider either has to slow the bike by fighting the momentum or brake by locking up the back wheel to skid to a stop.

Seeing what they considered a growing danger to traffic safety, Berlin police announced this spring they would begin cracking down on fixie riders. Since only April, they’ve confiscated 18 bicycles.

“Fixies have become a real problem,” Rainer Paetsch, a Berlin police official for traffic issues, told The Local. “It wasn’t a hunt, but we decided to do something to undercut this trend.”

To get their bikes back, cyclists have to pay a fine and convince the authorities they won’t ride them on the street anymore – or at least show an inclination to install brakes on them.

“For all I care they can ride them in their backyards,” Paetsch joked. “We just want people to realise it’s too risky to ride them around the city. Then we’ll be content that we’ve helped improve traffic safety.”

Excessive enforcement?

But one rider who lost his bicycle last month said the police were taking the issue too far.

“This criminalisation is completely overdone,” Stefan, a 30-year-old bike courier, said on the edges of European Cycle Messenger Championship in Berlin in early June. “I was stopped by eight or nine cops who looked totally bored. I tried to tell them they were taking away how I make my living, but they didn’t seem to care.”

As an experienced track cyclist, he said riding a fixie actually made him more aware while negotiating city traffic. But he admitted many people are now buying fixies just because they’ve become cool.

“It’s the trendiness that’s the real problem,” Stefan said, adding that he was slapped with an €80 fine and three points on his driver’s licence for traffic violations.

But Benno Koch, Berlin’s official ombudsman for bicycle issues, said all the hype surrounding fixies had left the police with little choice but to crack down.

“I’ve been getting lots of calls from worried fixie riders,” he told The Local, explaining that he had been able to defuse the situation somewhat by hammering out the conditions cyclists can get their confiscated bikes back.

Koch admitted that most of the city’s hundreds of fixie riders were probably excellent cyclists, but warned others from joining the fixed-gear trend.

“The people that ride these bikes have to know what they’re doing,” he said. “And in my opinion fixies really ruin your knees. You’re not young forever, how far do you really want to follow the hype?”

But anyone still choosing to hop on their fixie in Berlin might want to consider getting a brake installed soon – the police will start their next round of citywide traffic checks in July.

External links:

Marc Young (marc.young@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This Facebook  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

#1
11:53 June 30, 2009 by William Thirteen
if only we could get the greenies to crack down on all the other hipster plagues around town...
Report abuse »
#2
12:00 June 30, 2009 by Portnoy
As a former track racer, I dig the esthetic draw of a fixie but they're pretty impractical for real transport. But if it gets more hipsters on bikes (and therefore more people), I'm all for it.

The Berlin police should focus on crime, not cyclists. But I've been saying that for years (and they never listened).
Report abuse »
#3
12:34 June 30, 2009 by William Thirteen
focus on crime!? is that also in their job description?

as a long time cyclist i've actually found the police rather lax. in fact i've only once been given a single ticket (well deserved) for my criminal cycling habits - from a motorcycle cop no less! i have been reprimanded on more than one occasion, however. "Auch f?ie geht die roten Ampel!" Officer Friendly shouted at me from his van as he drove past...
Report abuse »
#4
12:42 June 30, 2009 by iline
The problem is, fixed-gear culture is so snobbish towards people who still have cable brakes on their whips that on one hand, the police will take your bike for 80 Euro if you don't get them, but you lose kudos if you do.

Personally, I think fixed-gear bikes are dangerous. That is why I love them.

As for calling it a hipster plague, I think you're dangerously close to defining cultural symbology for a middle-class youth subculture you know nothing about. If you can't beat them or join them, you just moan enviously.
Report abuse »
#5
14:20 June 30, 2009 by ron1amr
Easy just get brakes on them. I have seen these two riders on fixed wheels doing tricks so its good for skills. Once when I was on my racing bike, a car passed me and turned in front of me causing me to lock my brakes. If I was on a fixed wheel, I would not have stopped in time. Doesn't matter how good you are in emergency situations fixed wheels can't lock up. (unless you drop the bike). But if you are strapped in with brakes, thats also dangerous.
Report abuse »
#6
15:24 June 30, 2009 by hkypuck
Sorry, I don't get it: So in order to keep your bike moving forward you must keep moving your feet? How do you 'coast?'

Doesn't that take away the advantage of the bike? What's next: It's really cool to get rid of the seat!

sounds like people are going to great lengths to make things difficult for themselves. And I always love the people that want to 'fight the power.' Look, it illegal: abide by the laws or face the consequences.

Another thing to keep in mind: The police DO focus on crime. They have different divisions that handle different areas. Traffic enforcement, homocide, narcotics etc. The cop writing you a traffic ticket is not the guy in charge of gang violence of murders. Separate division.

If you don't like the laws put together an itelligent plan to change them. Don't wait for the cops to pull you over and say "F*$#! you pigs! You're just on a power trip."
Report abuse »
#7
16:53 June 30, 2009 by joninberlin
Get brakes, a front brake will do. As for the police, I also find them quite relaxed - I've been given a ticked only once (also well deserved) in the 6 years I've been riding here. I've got no complaints when it comes to cops in this country.
Report abuse »
#8
17:07 June 30, 2009 by JeffZ
Since there?s no freewheel on a fixie, the pedals continue to rotate as long as the bike is moving forward. This means the rider either has to slow the bike by fighting the momentum or break by locking up the back wheel to skid to a stop.
Remember, everyone - contact those skilled experts at The Local for all your translating and English copy-writing needs
Report abuse »
#9
17:18 June 30, 2009 by Portnoy
Make sure you cast that stone straight out Jeffz. Maybe it won't bring the whole glass house down...
Report abuse »
#10
20:46 June 30, 2009 by Binaural
Get brakes, a front brake will do. As for the police, I also find them quite relaxed - I've been given a ticked only once (also well deserved) in the 6 years I've been riding here. I've got no complaints when it comes to cops in this country.
Frankly, a single working brake on the front is superior to two poorly adjusted and maintained brakes on the cheapies most people ride anyway.

I do like the look of fixies, but I usually ride too far for one to be useful for me, so I roll a stealthy beast with gears and brakes. I'm riding a considerably shorter distance now though, so maybe I should think about it...
Report abuse »
#11
21:27 June 30, 2009 by Chocky
Frankly, a single working brake on the front is superior to two poorly adjusted and maintained brakes on the cheapies most people ride anyway.
OI! I resemble that comment!
Report abuse »
#12
15:40 July 1, 2009 by eefes
Does it mean if I have a front break and still a fixed back wheel everything will be fine for the police? I wanted to go back to Berlin in a couple of years I hope the situation will be diffrent by then...

Everyone who rides a fixie for a while won't go back to freewheel as you feel very connectd to your bike and the cycling feels very smooth and relaxed. I don't like the hype about it too much and some people shouldn't ride a fixed as it can be very dangerous if they don't know what they're doing!
Report abuse »
#13
15:50 July 1, 2009 by Krieg
The 80 EUR fine is nothing, but the 3 points in your driving license is another thing. I totally approve this.
Report abuse »
#14
20:58 July 1, 2009 by green idea factory
NOTHING angers me more than the untrained and sometimes socially-deficient cyclists careening down the pavements (sidewalks) at all times of day (I am speaking mainly of Kreuzberg), without lights or bells or even a "hey, here I am!". So when possible my old dogs and I walk in the middle of the street.

That said, I have had no problems with Fixie-riders and I wish them luck, but wish they used lights and bells.

Berlin police and traffic officials (and cyclist groups) have a huge challenge ahead which it's not even clear they fully recognize: Training all the immigrants (many of them Europeans or North Americans) how to safely ride a safe and legal bike.

For these novice cyclists and the rest of us we have an even more difficult task: To confront the automobile industry and its symptoms, among them the propagation of fear amongst sometimes otherwise normal adults who cycle on the pavement even when the street is free of cars (or because it's a little too cobbled).
Report abuse »
#15
21:49 July 1, 2009 by Chocky
Ok, let me make a few things absolutely clear. Bells on bikes are gay, reflectors on bikes are gay, shopping baskets are gay, mudguards, chain guards, wing mirrors are all gay. I know Germans like their bikes 'fully loaded', but you will be more likely to see me naked, painted blue, with sparklers sticking out of my arse, on a skateboard; than being forced to put all that crap on my bike.
Report abuse »
#16
12:55 July 2, 2009 by artsrc
Young children can't safely brake with a hand brake so their bikes just have "back pedal" brakes which are no more effective than a fixie. Is there any evidence that fixie's have an unacceptable accident toll?

My fixie has brakes, but that is just because I want to go faster.
Report abuse »
#17
13:00 July 2, 2009 by Timmeh
I disagree. The freewheeling back pedal brake is far more effective than a fixie, especially for a child. How would a child have the strength to stop a fixie in an emergency? I'd never ride a fixie for that reason...oh, and they're Berlin-Hipster-Gehy and I don't have the flouro 80's sunnies to accompany it.
Report abuse »
#18
14:16 July 2, 2009 by Krieg
"back pedal" brakes which are no more effective than a fixie.
Tell me another story.
Report abuse »
#19
17:07 July 2, 2009 by LeonG
Ok, let me make a few things absolutely clear. Bells on bikes are gay, reflectors on bikes are gay, shopping baskets are gay, mudguards, chain guards, wing mirrors are all gay. I know Germans like their bikes 'fully loaded', but you will be more likely to see me naked, painted blue, with sparklers sticking out of my arse, on a skateboard; than being forced to put all that crap on my bike.
Different riders, different needs. I have an old bike I got from my friends father. Sat in a garage for the last 20 years, squeaks a little but otherwise runs good. In your opinon, my bike is almost as gay as possible for for my needs it's perfect. I ride it to work leisurely in the lowest gear with my packed lunch sitting in the basket or I ride it to the store for a bit of grocery shopping. For me, not to have a bell means I will have to holler at the clueless pedestrians who are walking alongside each other by 3 or 4 making sure they are closing the path completely and not having mud guards means I'll have a wet stripe up my ass when it rains. Don't have a wing mirror though, maybe should get one
Report abuse »
#20
14:47 July 3, 2009 by Furor Teutonicus
“I was stopped by eight or nine cops who looked totally bored. I tried to tell them they were taking away how I make my living, but they didn’t seem to care.”

So. Are you suggesting that my next door neigbour, who I reported to the police last week, should be able to keep his stasch of Heroin and coke, JUST because it is "the way I make my living"?
Report abuse »
#21
14:39 July 6, 2009 by Stheunis
Furor, you seem to be under the impression that someone riding fixed is a criminal, according to you a courier, a highly experienced rider is the same as a drug dealer. Who do you think makes deliveries in Berlin?

The only issue with fixies is when people don't know how to ride them and must have a brakeless fixie as a fashion statement. Given you can't enforce common sense, this maybe a necessary evil so long as the police demonstrate some restraint when they should enforce it. In the case of an experienced cyclists who can safely ride fixed, let them do so.

In terms of whether people need to have bells, lights, mudguards... why not be individuals? let those who want nothing have nothing, and those who want more have more. I am tired of discussions which are geared to some kind of cyclo-normativism. I enjoy diversity, lets all do our thing and stop lecturing each other on what to do (ironically prescriptive, I know).
Report abuse »
#22
14:58 July 6, 2009 by Chocky
Furor, you seem to be under the impression that someone riding fixed is a criminal, according to you a courier, a highly experienced rider is the same as a drug dealer.
Furor is either: a troll, or a German who is doing his best to reinforce the stereotypes that expats have about Germans as automatons who stick to the rules rigidly no matter how ridiculous they are.

I suspect the latter, in which case, all hail our new robotic overlord!
Report abuse »
#23
15:13 July 6, 2009 by juliandfb
Edited wrong window
Report abuse »
#24
20:36 July 6, 2009 by Binaural
Tell me another story.
He's actually not far wrong, but not for the reasons he thinks. During hard emergency braking, you get about 80% of your power from your front brake because of the transfer of weight onto the front wheel, allowing you to draw down harder on the lever before locking up. The rear brake is pretty incidental to the process, especially since all but very skillful riders tend to lock up the rear under emergency braking. So there's next to no real-world difference in stopping time and distance for fixies fitted with a front brake, but brakeless fixies are a menace by the same argument.
Report abuse »
#25
23:43 July 6, 2009 by dessa_dangerous
Ok, let me make a few things absolutely clear. Bells on bikes are gay, reflectors on bikes are gay, shopping baskets are gay, mudguards, chain guards, wing mirrors are all gay. I know Germans like their bikes 'fully loaded', but you will be more likely to see me naked, painted blue, with sparklers sticking out of my arse, on a skateboard; than being forced to put all that crap on my bike.


  • bells: do the same thing as shouting "haaallloooooo" at clueless idiots walking in the bike lane, and convey 90% less aggravation than would be evidenced in your (my) voice. No one shouts back at a bell, but don't let your voice be dripping venom when you call out to a knuckle-dragging moran waddling in your path.

  • reflectors: dang, i like life. I am fanatic about my ghey bike lights too and have been known to walk instead of cycle when the batteries are low or dead.

  • mudguards: not everyone puts their bike in the basement when the cooler months roll around. Those of us who use our bikes as our primary form of transportation like to show up to work/school/dinner with the in-laws NOT looking as if we've just been sitting in the front row at a monster truck rally.

  • chain guards: chocky is a ghey who wears spandex 365 days a year naw im just with you but on the real you should see how many of my pants legs have been chewed up by my bike chain. Luckily I now ride a super-gay old lady bike with a chain-guard the size of Texas, problem solved.

  • shopping baskets: dang, i like food and spontaneous shopping. Nothing better than realizing that not everything will fit in your backpack and remembering that extra cargo hold on your ride. Also ideal for when you're out without a backpack and want to bring something home. My basket was a birthday gift and has single handedly made my life easier than has any other aquisition of the year.

  • wing mirrors: totally ghey. no argument there.



i would pay a lot of money to see you riding a skateboard with a sparkler sticking out yr arse LOL
Report abuse »
#26
07:56 July 7, 2009 by LeonG
Furor, you seem to be under the impression that someone riding fixed is a criminal, according to you a courier, a highly experienced rider is the same as a drug dealer. Who do you think makes deliveries in Berlin?

The only issue with fixies is when people don't know how to ride them and must have a brakeless fixie as a fashion statement. Given you can't enforce common sense, this maybe a necessary evil so long as the police demonstrate some restraint when they should enforce it. In the case of an experienced cyclists who can safely ride fixed, let them do so.

In terms of whether people need to have bells, lights, mudguards... why not be individuals? let those who want nothing have nothing, and those who want more have more. I am tired of discussions which are geared to some kind of cyclo-normativism. I enjoy diversity, lets all do our thing and stop lecturing each other on what to do (ironically prescriptive, I know).
I wouldn't equate the two but are fixies illegal or are they not? Is there a law that says you need to have all this crap on your bike or no? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, even if it's a totally stupid law, you can't really argue with it if you are stopped and fined for it. If the answer is no and there is no such law, tell the cops to jump and you'll see them in court.
Report abuse »
#27
16:08 July 9, 2009 by Krieg
In terms of whether people need to have bells, lights, mudguards... why not be individuals? let those who want nothing have nothing, and those who want more have more. I am tired of discussions which are geared to some kind of cyclo-normativism. I enjoy diversity, lets all do our thing and stop lecturing each other on what to do (ironically prescriptive, I know).
We can do the same with cars, let the people individual and decide if they need lights, horn, blinking lights, safety belts, etc. Then we can enjoy even more diversity.
Report abuse »
#28
14:51 July 10, 2009 by HAL9000
Have you ever noticed 95% of the people riding these bikes are complete idiots. No brakes, no brains, no responsibility. I hope to see them soon dragged under the wheels of a bin lorry with no steering. A bright orange gay bin lorry mind you with the number 69 printed on the side.
Report abuse »
#29
15:32 July 10, 2009 by juliandfb
I have to agree a basket for my bike was one of the best purchases I have ever made. Means I only have to cycle to Lidl once a week instead of twice
Report abuse »
#30
19:30 July 10, 2009 by mnordine
I am planning on moving to Berlin in August/September, and I will be bringing my fixie with me.

I have a front break and lights on the bike, so, should I have some worries?

Also, where is the best place to get your self a bicycle courier job?

I speak a little Deutsch, but that improves everyday I am here.
Report abuse »
#31
12:59 July 11, 2009 by HAL9000
Perhaps you should have worries if you have the complete inability to read a thread about something that is important to you? Would you like a tip about how you can find someone to clean your arse as well? That would be in the family section. Non German speaking Cycle couriers in the capital of Germany tend to be well down the lists of wants or needs these days. There is a cull however each Saturday close to the river Spree which can be a good laugh if nothing else.
Report abuse »
#32
13:08 July 11, 2009 by mpfl
Ok, let me make a few things absolutely clear. Bells on bikes are gay, reflectors on bikes are gay, shopping baskets are gay, mudguards, chain guards, wing mirrors are all gay. I know Germans like their bikes 'fully loaded', but you will be more likely to see me naked, painted blue, with sparklers sticking out of my arse, on a skateboard; than being forced to put all that crap on my bike.
Extra weight just slows you down.

Then again, I've been eyeing off a 120dB air horn for my bike... Is that "gay" as well?

:-D
Report abuse »
#33
03:19 July 12, 2009 by mnordine
To HAL9000:

"Perhaps you should have worries if you have the complete inability to read a thread about something that is important to you? Would you like a tip about how you can find someone to clean your arse as well? That would be in the family section. Non German speaking Cycle couriers in the capital of Germany tend to be well down the lists of wants or needs these days. There is a cull however each Saturday close to the river Spree which can be a good laugh if nothing else."

Was soll man sagen zu so einem Kommentar, der nicht nur nicht hilfreich, sondern auch völlig am Thema vorbei ist?!

Mit Sicherheit ganz unten auf der Liste der "wants or needs" eines jeden Berliners stehen engstirnige, aggressive und von sich selbst überzeugte Mitbürger jedweder Nation, die aus vollkommen suspekten Gründen annehmen ihre wenig konstruktive Meinung sei erbeten oder erwünscht.

Schade, dass du nichts besseres mit deiner Zeit anzufangen weisst, als solch dämliche Kommentare zu schreiben.

Sorry, aber das geht echt gar nicht!
Report abuse »
#34
10:36 July 12, 2009 by HAL9000
Osloer Straße 7 Päkchen und Pakete. Danke.

So have you read the thread yet? Your German friend is a bit odd mind you.
Report abuse »
#35
09:22 July 13, 2009 by The Beaver
A bit unrelated to the discussion at hand, but I saw some cool fixies on my trip to Indianapolis last week. We sat and chatted with these guys for a bit. The friend I was with is from Austin, Texass and is a big roadie and had a lot of questions for these guys. I'm not sure how a lot of these guys afforded these bikes with their McJobs - or the couple of Mac laptops they had sitting around. Yes, the hipster, mac-loving, ill-informed enviro weenie stereotype about fixie riders holds true in the midwestern US. They'd fit in well in San Francisco. Did you know that 85% of Germany's energy comes from Nuclear Power? I didn't either until these guys all filled me in Apparently, Europe is an environmental utopia and I'm very, very lucky to live here. Well, the lucky to live here part may be true... Don't mean to rag on these guys too hard, but they had some interesting thoughts/opinions. Fun to talk with though and they were good on their bikes. Very nice bikes they were, too.

[attachment=107326:Fixie_Bikes_web.jpg]

[attachment=107327:Fixie_web.jpg]
Report abuse »
#36
12:11 July 13, 2009 by Steven192
Really don't get this subject at all.

Those bikes look like something I made when I was a kid from parts off the scrappie.

No brakes, no gears, no mud guards, cheapo paint job and odd sized wheels/tyres - yep exactly the sort of thing we used to make.

Bet they cost an arm and a leg though? They saw you coming
Report abuse »
#37
12:17 July 13, 2009 by Krieg
I am planning on moving to Berlin in August/September, and I will be bringing my fixie with me.

I have a front break and lights on the bike, so, should I have some worries?

Also, where is the best place to get your self a bicycle courier job?

I speak a little Deutsch, but that improves everyday I am here.
You need 2 brakes.
Report abuse »
#38
12:25 July 13, 2009 by keepingtime
Really don't get this subject at all.

Those bikes look like something I made when I was a kid from parts off the scrappie.

No brakes, no gears, no mud guards, cheapo paint job and odd sized wheels/tyres - yep exactly the sort of thing we used to make.

Bet they cost an arm and a leg though? They saw you coming
Yep!! Those who did this back when were happy to have a bike. But, now it is some type of phenom there is someone making money off of those who want to have the newest. And those who are stupid enough to spend their money on something that is really not so spectacular.
Report abuse »
#39
13:01 July 13, 2009 by Portnoy
That's not true Keepingtime. Most of these are old road frames that no one wants anymore with similarly aged parts on them. The most expensive thing is probably the high-flanged track hub and cog, if they even go this route. These are pretty much the same DIY bikes we had as kids.
Report abuse »
#40
13:52 July 13, 2009 by Steven192
That's not the impression I get from reading The Beavers post and from others who post on this same subject.

It always seems as if they pay a lot of money for their fad bikes which is why I don't get the point of paying for something any 13 yearold kid could make for you from scrap.
Report abuse »
#41
14:04 July 13, 2009 by miwild
... Did you know that 85% of Germany's energy comes from Nuclear Power? ...
12.5% to be precise ...

[attachment=107356:bild2754...gross4x3.jpg]
Report abuse »
#42
15:56 July 13, 2009 by The Beaver
That's not the impression I get from reading The Beavers post and from others who post on this same subject.

It always seems as if they pay a lot of money for their fad bikes which is why I don't get the point of paying for something any 13 yearold kid could make for you from scrap.
The bikes in the pictures I posted cost a couple of thousand dollars at least. The frames are all custom-made along with most of the rims/wheels. These guys were serious about their fixies and were pretty damn good with the fixie tricks. Not my cup of tea, but they were pretty impressive. Wish I would have got some better pictures of them mucking around on the stairs doing spins and wheelies and all that stuff.

I know of some guys in Portland and SF that do put their own fixies together on the cheap. I'm sure there are a wide variety of fixie types and personalities.

[attachment=107393:fixie_trick_web.jpg]
Report abuse »
#43
16:49 July 13, 2009 by William Thirteen
in other fixie news...

http://www.berlin.de/polizei/presse-fahndung/archiv/132155/index.html
Report abuse »
#44
17:46 July 13, 2009 by Krieg
http://www.berlin.de/polizei/presse-fahndu...2155/index.html
The Police is lying, fixies can brake even faster than bikes with traditional brakes. I learnt that here.
Report abuse »
#45
19:30 July 13, 2009 by Binaural
Bet they cost an arm and a leg though? They saw you coming
There is a cottage industry springing up to supply classic fixie converted bikes to hipsters without the mechanical aptitude to build up their own bike, but building one yourself is cheap as hell for the knowledgeable.
You need 2 brakes.
Legally, yes, in practice, no, as I commented before due to the weight transfer during hard braking. If they want to take the miniscule chance of getting fined for riding with only a single front brake then that's their problem but there is no danger to the public from riding a fixie with a single front brake.
Report abuse »
#46
13:51 July 14, 2009 by teddy
wow this is a really annoying thread. sorry to revive, but i needed to put in my two pence.

a proper fixed gear bike is a track bike, with very different geometry to that old bike you threw together as a kid from random parts. it's got a specific track hub, cog and crankset. and, if you're into tricks and showy stuff, it's got specially sourced hipster handlebars. they're specialist frames with specialist parts, and their value is reflected in that.

fixed gear riders in berlin can handle their bikes, and i feel safer riding with them than i would with more than 50% of the rickety ill-maintained shoppers that i see out on the streets.
Report abuse »
#47
13:59 July 14, 2009 by Chocky
i feel safer riding with them than i would with more than 50% of the rickety ill-maintained shoppers that i see out on the streets.
Like these bloody things. I have had more near misses with people wobbling around on the side of a road on one of these than with anyone riding a racer, (or any other 'regular' bike), this one probably weighs twice as much as my aluminium frame MTB.

[attachment=107464:opa.jpg]
Report abuse »
#48
13:59 July 14, 2009 by Portnoy
Proper or not Teddy, most of the fixies I see around town are actually repurposed roadbikes with a quick cog slapped over a five-, six- or seven-speed hub. Handlebars are usually sawed off bars of another ilk, nothing specialty. And, as a former Cat 2 cyclist, I think it's all great. The more people on bikes the better.

However, the thing about handling their bikes so well doesn't hold up considering recent events. I give you a press release from the Berlin cops from yesterday:

http://www.berlin.de/polizei/presse-fahndung/archiv/132155/index.html

Bei einem Verkehrsunfall in Mitte wurde heute fr?in "Fixie"-Radler schwer verletzt.

Gegen 9 Uhr 20 befuhr der 32-J?ige mit seinem Rad, das lediglich mit einer Vorderradbremse ausger?t war, die Friedrichstra? in Fahrtrichtung Unter den Linden.
Report abuse »
#49
16:04 July 14, 2009 by Steven192
Yes I know they are all high tech low weight super duper jazzed up things but they LOOK like something a 13 year old made from junked parts.

If you want to spend thousands to look like that then you go right ahead but don't complain when you get nicked for breaking the law.

You would soon scream if you get totalled by someone in a car that followed the same way of thinking re brakes and genral legal roadworthiness.
Report abuse »
#50
20:07 July 14, 2009 by teddy
so... there's been an unfortunate accident involving a fixed gear bicyclist? oh, well clearly ban all fixed gears then. yes, that makes sense. because of the weight and wheelbase, cargo bikes and recumbants require more stopping time than a racer. maybe let's ban those, too, eh?

my point about most of the cyclists i see in berlin still stands. many have no concept of road safety or how to deal with traffic, and i cannot tell you how many deathtrap bikes with poorly adjusted shakey brakes i see every single day. the police should be spending time taking these dangerous cyclists and their bicycles off the road, rather than hassling skilled fixed gear riders.
Report abuse »
#51
20:26 July 14, 2009 by LeonG
I once saw a guy on a major city road taking one lane wobbling back and forth riding against traffic It was not in Berlin mind you. Of course he was getting honked at a lot. I was not close enough to see if he was just ignoring it or if he was smiling and waving. Right next to that road was a quiet service road he could have been riding along without any problems but go figure.

Anyway, yeah, the police should be going after all unsafe riders and bikes instead of focusing on certain types of bikes. Then again, if you are riding your fixie without a brake, it is an unsafe bike. Maybe you are super good at it but what if somebody borrows it?
Report abuse »
#52
20:38 July 14, 2009 by mpfl
Really don't get this subject at all.

Those bikes look like something I made when I was a kid from parts off the scrappie.

No brakes, no gears, no mud guards, cheapo paint job and odd sized wheels/tyres - yep exactly the sort of thing we used to make.

Bet they cost an arm and a leg though? They saw you coming
But if you know a thing or two about bike mechanics, I imagine they're quite cheap to maintain.

Until the frame is bent when you're hit by that truck that you couldn't stop in time to avoid.
Report abuse »
#53
11:40 July 15, 2009 by teddy
Maybe you are super good at it but what if somebody borrows it?
aaaaaaah, see this is what separates a lot of fixed gear riders from other bikers. i'd never lend my bike to anyone. and my friends know better than to ask.
Report abuse »
#54
11:57 July 15, 2009 by Clapoti
Fixies don't look safe to me, but they should start by cracking down on people with headphones and people not stopping at red lights, this is even more dangerous IMO.
Report abuse »
#55
18:27 July 15, 2009 by teddy
it seems pointless to be arguing this point on here, but i'm a glutton for punishment so i'll give it a go. yes, intuition says that a bike without brakes is dangerous. but fixed gear bikes have a really good braking system built into them -- you can stop the bike very quickly and efficiently by controlling the speed of the rear wheel using the pedals and chain. it works exactly the same way a traditional rear brake does (slowing down/stopping the wheel), except it doesn't loose efficiency in the rain and the brakepads don't need to be replaced twice a year.

german law states that a bike must have two independent mechanical braking systems. i've put a front brake on mine, and my drivetrain is a very effective braking system, so i therefore am biking within the law.
Report abuse »
#56
18:32 July 15, 2009 by LeonG
aaaaaaah, see this is what separates a lot of fixed gear riders from other bikers. i'd never lend my bike to anyone. and my friends know better than to ask.
But what if they didn't ask
Report abuse »
#57
18:36 July 15, 2009 by teddy
you mean what if someone stole my bike and was riding around and got into an accident? i've very little pity in my heart for bike thieves... i'd hope that they ended up at the very least with a few broken bones.
Report abuse »
#58
18:48 July 15, 2009 by LeonG
Yes, that is just punishment for the thief but how about the broken bones of the people they ran into because they couldn't stop?
Report abuse »
#59
18:49 July 15, 2009 by teddy
let me use an analogy. fixed gear bikes are like skateboards or in-line skates or recumbant bikes or ...

if the average person got on one for the first time, they'd be dangerous. but once you learn the basics, how to control it and how to stop, you're fine. but we don't suggest banning any of those things from our streets/pavements.

remember that it takes children several weeks to learn how to use a bicycle.
Report abuse »
#60
18:50 July 15, 2009 by teddy
Yes, that is just punishment for the thief but how about the broken bones of the people they ran into because they couldn't stop?
sorry. are you seriously suggesting that your arguement against fixed gear bikes is that someone might steal one and not be able to handle it?
Report abuse »
#61
18:54 July 15, 2009 by Steven192
it seems pointless to be arguing this point on here, but i'm a glutton for punishment so i'll give it a go. yes, intuition says that a bike without brakes is dangerous. but fixed gear bikes have a really good braking system built into them -- you can stop the bike very quickly and efficiently by controlling the speed of the rear wheel using the pedals and chain. it works exactly the same way a traditional rear brake does (slowing down/stopping the wheel), except it doesn't loose efficiency in the rain and the brakepads don't need to be replaced twice a year.

german law states that a bike must have two independent mechanical braking systems. i've put a front brake on mine, and my drivetrain is a very effective braking system, so i therefore am biking within the law.
Well within the law as it pertains to brakes maybe, and that is debatable but what about all the rest of the gubbins the German law says you need to be street legal. I would guess that you probably have about zero amount of that?

As for the brakes you reckon it is a good system but I can't see how it can be when the only way to slow down your back wheel is to pedal slower than the wheel is turning which means the only brakeing mechanism is your muscles which are no way as effecient as a decent roller brake or even the old fashioned back pedal type brakes, which also do not lose efficiency in the rain or wear the brakepads out.

I am not saying you shouldn't ride your junkheap bikes and enjoy yourself but no complaining when you end up either fined by the cops or splattered across the road when your "more efficient" brakeing system lets you down.
Report abuse »
#62
18:59 July 15, 2009 by teddy
wow. why so full of hate, mate? chill out, the world's not out to get you, you know?

i can only speak from personal experience (and from what i see from my friends), but my braking distance is the same on my brakeless fixed geared bikes and my geared road bikes -- none of which, i might add, are junkheaps.

oh, and german law otherwise says that to be streetlegal, your bike needs to have a bell, lights and reflectors, and to not damage the roadsurface. should police be confiscating bikes that don't have bells, too?
Report abuse »
#63
19:46 July 15, 2009 by LeonG
sorry. are you seriously suggesting that your arguement against fixed gear bikes is that someone might steal one and not be able to handle it?
Yes, just like if you'd lend it to your friend. If your bike is unsafe in everybody's hands except yours, then maybe it doesn't belong on the road. I could say my cars brakes are shot but because I drive slowly and gear down, it's ok. I am afraid that wouldn't fly with the law.
Report abuse »
#64
20:36 July 15, 2009 by teddy
that's a bad analogy. i'd say its more like a ferrari. safe if you're used to driving it, but i wouldn't borrow my mate's enzo and expect it to drive like a ford escort.

or, say, if i'd only ever driven an automatic, i'd feel uncomfortable borrowing my friend's stick shift and thinking that i'd be safe.
Report abuse »
#65
09:17 July 16, 2009 by Steven192
wow. why so full of hate, mate? chill out, the world's not out to get you, you know?

i can only speak from personal experience (and from what i see from my friends), but my braking distance is the same on my brakeless fixed geared bikes and my geared road bikes -- none of which, i might add, are junkheaps.

oh, and german law otherwise says that to be streetlegal, your bike needs to have a bell, lights and reflectors, and to not damage the roadsurface. should police be confiscating bikes that don't have bells, too?
No hate just exasperation at the whineing of "it's not fair" when people get nicked and fined for breaking the law.

The reference to junkheap bikes was from the earlier posts - do try and keep up.

As for confiscating bikes - I know that the cops do fine people for not haveing bells/reflectors etc usually as an extra when the rider gets stopped for doing something else dangerous.

Still can't see how you can claim that your leg muscles are as efficient as a friction brake though.
Report abuse »
#66
18:30 July 16, 2009 by teddy
Still can't see how you can claim that your leg muscles are as efficient as a friction brake though.
well, we'll have to agree to disagree. again, i'd say that i pose no more hazard to myself or others on my brakeless fixed gears as on my geared bikes. i have, to stay within german law (and moreover to not have my bike confiscated) put a front brake on my fixed gear bikes though.

and i would heartily agree that a fixed gear novice shouldn't ride brakeless.

a front brake, by the way, provides 75-80% of the stopping power on a bicycle equipped with both front and back brakes.
Report abuse »
#67
23:40 July 16, 2009 by Blue Cow
a front brake, by the way, provides 75-80% of the stopping power on a bicycle equipped with both front and back brakes.
can't disagree with you on that one

but please remind us all how good a front break is in the wet?
Report abuse »
#68
00:01 July 17, 2009 by Binaural
The braking power is cut by the same percentage as a front and rear braking set-up would be. Stability might even be better because you are less likely to lock the rear.

PS It's "brake", for you and several others in this thread
Report abuse »
#69
00:09 July 17, 2009 by Blue Cow
Thank you for your answers Binaural but I was hoping that Teddy would comment on it hence the reason I quoted him

so I will await his reply before making further comments

(and yes I know my spelling is bad but a least I give it a go)
Report abuse »
#70
00:15 July 17, 2009 by Binaural
(and yes I know my spelling is bad but a least I give it a go)
Haha, I wasn't having a shot but I hang around a few bike forums and that, after derailleur, must be the most commonly misspelt words
Report abuse »
#71
10:41 July 17, 2009 by teddy
Thank you for your answers Binaural but I was hoping that Teddy would comment on it hence the reason I quoted him

so I will await his reply before making further comments

(and yes I know my spelling is bad but a least I give it a go)
The braking power is cut by the same percentage as a front and rear braking set-up would be. Stability might even be better because you are less likely to lock the rear.
Report abuse »
#72
11:18 July 17, 2009 by Blue Cow
ok so your agreeing with Binaural then I take it

so would you say a front brake give you better stability & braking in the wet is what I am reading here
Report abuse »
#73
11:39 July 17, 2009 by teddy
well again it's sort of dependent on your set-up.

one of my roadbike has carbon rims, with carbon braking surfaces and carbon-compatible brakepads (front and back). it has virtually no stopping power at all in the wet. i'm exaggerating a bit, but i do have to squeeze the brakelevers so hard my hands get tired. i don't ride that bike a lot when it's raining.

my other racer has normal metal rims, and again they get pretty seriously affected by being wet, but not as much. i think my stopping distance probably doubles in the rain.

with my fixed gear bike with front brake, the front brake becomes similarly less effective in the wet. i rely on my drivetrain/back wheel to stop (which isn't as effected by being wet). in the winter, i put tyres on my fixed gear bikes that have a bit more traction. i think fixed gears are great on slippery roads. you can modulate your speed really effectively using the drivetrain. backpedal brakes are really dangerous (verging on unsafe) in the wintertime.

if you're wanting a bike where weather doesn't compromise your braking at all, go for a mountain bike with disk brakes and chunky, knobby tyres. not that fun to ride around the city though.

this is all getting a bit bikegeek now. is that what you were asking about?
Report abuse »
#74
11:40 July 17, 2009 by Timmeh
What Wikipedia has to say on fixies & braking:
Some fixie riders think brakes are not strictly necessary, and brakeless fixed riding has an almost cult status in some places, based on the perception by some riders of the experience of riding in a state of intense concentration or 'flow' where brakes are thought not to be needed. Other riders dismiss riding on roads without brakes as an unnecessary affectation, based on image rather than what is practical when riding a bicycle. Furthermore, riding brakeless may jeopardize the chances of a successful insurance claim in the event of an accident and, in some jurisdictions is against the law.

Physics and techniqueIt is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike by resisting the turning cranks, and a rider can also lock the rear wheel and skid to slow down or completely stop on a fixed-gear bicycle, a maneuver sometimes known as a skid stop. It is initiated by unweighting the rear wheel while in motion by shifting the rider's weight slightly forward and pulling up on the pedals using clipless pedals or toe clips and straps. The rider then stops turning the cranks, thus stopping the drivetrain and rear wheel, while applying his or her body weight in opposition to the normal rotation of the cranks. This action causes rear wheel to skid, which acts to slow the bike. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or until the rider desires to continue pedalling again at a slower speed. The technique requires a little practice and using it while cornering is generally considered dangerous. As with the technique of resisting the cranks, the maximal deceleration of this method of slowing is also significantly lower than using a front brake. A wet surface further reduces the effectiveness of this method, almost to the point of not reducing speed at all.

Some fixed gear riders only equip their bike with a front brake because if the rider of a fixed-gear bike only has rear wheel braking, the maximal deceleration is significantly lower than on a bike equipped with both a front and rear brake. As a vehicle brakes, weight is transferred towards the front wheel and away from the rear wheel, decreasing the amount of grip the rear wheel has. Shifting the rider's weight aft will increase rear wheel braking efficiency, but normally the front wheel might provide 70% or more of the braking power when braking hard (see Weight transfer).

Knee health

Braking by resisting the turning cranks greatly increases stress on the knees which can lead to injury.
Seem to be a bit to me. Give me regular brakes over less effective, more dangerous and potentially physically damaging fixies anyday
Report abuse »
#75
11:47 July 17, 2009 by Krieg
Normal brakes are not hip.
Report abuse »
#76
11:57 July 17, 2009 by teddy
wikipedia is, as you know, written by anonymous internet users rather than experts. always take it with a pinch of salt.

the reason that many fixed gear riders don't ride with brakes is that a proper track bike isn't drilled for brakes. brakes aren't permitted on a velodrome. when i got to berlin, i had to order a special clip-on front brake from japan. it has, admittedly, become a sign of how skilled you are (and in berlin, a symbol of rebellion against stupid rules) to ride brakeless. people only talk about "the flow" to stupid mainstream journalists, i don't think anyone takes that "zen riding" crap seriously.

there's lots of different stopping techniques on a fixed gear bike. skidding is the most dramatic and showy -- but also probably the least effective, and goes through tyres quite quickly. to shorten the stopping distance, most riders slide the rear wheel sideways to one side slightly (or back and forth). i normally use jump-stops, where you lift the backwheel off the ground, stop the wheel in the air and then bring it back into contact with the road. doing a few of these in quick succession is very effective.

again, from my personal experience, my stopping distance on my fixed gears is only fractionally longer than on my geared bikes equipped with front and rear (properly adjusted and well-maintained) brakes.

and feel free to keep riding a bike with a freewheel and whatever braking set-up you'd like. nobody's trying to force you to start riding a fixed gear.
Report abuse »
#77
12:03 July 17, 2009 by Timmeh
wikipedia is, as you know, written by anonymous internet users rather than experts. always take it with a pinch of salt.
With an accuracy equal to Encyclopedia Britannica.
the reason that many fixed gear riders don't ride with brakes is that a proper track bike isn't drilled for brakes. brakes aren't permitted on a velodrome. when i got to berlin, i had to order a special clip-on front brake from japan. it has, admittedly, become a sign of how skilled you are (and in berlin, a symbol of rebellion against stupid rules) to ride brakeless.
This is why they are called track bikes and are rightly not legal for road use.
i normally use jump-stops, where you lift the backwheel off the ground, stop the wheel in the air and then bring it back into contact with the road. doing a few of these in quick succession is very effective.
And will you have the presence of mind to do this when in an emergency situation?
again, from my personal experience, my stopping distance on my fixed gears is only fractionally longer than on my geared bikes equipped with front and rear (properly adjusted and well-maintained) brakes.
Could be the difference between being under a truck or not.

I couldn't care less what you ride, but it's a load of to try and argue that these bikes are as safe as properly set up road bikes and that they shouldn't be illegal for road use.
Report abuse »
#78
12:03 July 17, 2009 by Krieg
Laws are meant for the safety of the average people, not for the so called "experts". 10 years of motocross taught me how to do tons of tricks that would be very useful on the street while riding a motorbike but I understand why there are laws about what I can do and what I can't.
Report abuse »
#79
12:43 July 17, 2009 by teddy
until you've ridden a fixed gear bike and seen firsthand how they operate and how they stop, you really aren't in a position to talk about the various braking methods of bicycles. people get hung-up on the word "brakeless" because, hey, brakeless means no brakes! brakeless fixed gear bikes aren't brakeless. they just use a different method of braking. but...
With an accuracy equal to Encyclopedia Britannica.
... most of the time. if you read a bit critically and go back and read that entry again, you'll notice how fact and opinion are mixed. wikipedia is notoriously inaccurate for topics that are the least bit contentious. if i were feeling particularly vindictive, i'd amend the article, just to prove my point. but i won't.
This is why they are called track bikes and are rightly not legal for road use.
well, in fairness, a lot of fixed gear bikes on the road aren't proper track bikes. most, in fact, are road bikes that have been converted to fixed gear. and, according to german law, if you put a front brake on them, they are legal for road use.
And will you have the presence of mind to do this when in an emergency situation?
one of the really amazing things about the human brain is that it adapts. movement isn't controlled consciously. walking becomes instinct and is controlled subconsciously; you don't have to think about moving your feet to walk around, you just have to think "i want to go over there". your brain treats things like driving and bicycling in the same way. you don't have to consciously remember to use the clutch before you shift, or to spin the wheel to turn left. likewise, once a certain braking method becomes behaviour, you don't have to think about using it, you'll just do it.
Could be the difference between being under a truck or not.
yes, and again, if i wanted to ride a bike that was 100% set up for safety, it would be a very different bike to the ones i currently ride. i keep all my bikes well-maintained and adjusted; the stopping capabilities of my roadbikes aren't the norm. the stopping distance on my fixed gear bikes -- even without using the front brake -- is shorter than 90-95% of the bikes currently on the road in berlin.

and to be perfectly honest, the difference in stopping distances is so slight that the way that you react in an accident situation (ie. which way you steer, how you transfer your weight, how you lay your bike down if you have to) is more decisive on how/if you'll walk away from that accident.
I couldn't care less what you ride, but it's a load of to try and argue that these bikes are as safe as properly set up road bikes and that they shouldn't be illegal for road use.
if safety was the main concern, it would be illegal to ride a bike with a dented tube, with rust at any of the joins or on the chain, with loose spokes, without taped handlebars, with improperly inflated tyres, that's the wrong size for you, etc etc. but it's not. we make allowances and compromises every day with our safety (as does the government, with it's laws).
Report abuse »
#80
12:56 July 17, 2009 by Timmeh
until you've ridden a fixed gear bike and seen firsthand how they operate and how they stop, you really aren't in a position to talk about the various braking methods of bicycles. people get hung-up on the word "brakeless" because, hey, brakeless means no brakes! brakeless fixed gear bikes aren't brakeless. they just use a different method of braking. but...
I have ridden a fixie, for 3 straight days, all day, at Bike Expo. I don't claim they don't have brakes. I claim they aren't as effective as a regular bicycle. The evidence tends to back this claim up.
... most of the time. learn to read a bit critically... go back and read that entry again and notice how fact and opinion are mixed. if i were feeling particularly vindictive, i'd amend the article, just to prove my point. but i won't.
No , but what is factually incorrect in there? That's the only thing that actually matters.
well, in fairness, a lot of fixed gear bikes on the road aren't proper track bikes. and, according to german law, if you put a front brake on them, they are legal for road use.
As far as I'm aware a single attached front brake still doesn't make a fixie comply to Hermish law.
one of the really amazing things about the human brain is that it adapts. movement isn't controlled consciously. walking becomes instinct and is controlled subconsciously; you don't have to think about moving your feet to walk around, you just have to think "i want to go over there". your brain treats things like driving and bicycling in the same way. you don't have to consciously remember to use the clutch before you shift, or to spin the wheel to turn left. likewise, once a certain braking method becomes behaviour, you don't have to think about using it, you'll just do it.
Maybe you're right, but grasping the levers directly in front of my hands seems a far simpler and faster method to slow down, allowing you to easily take evasive action at the same time, compared to doing lots of little jumps to slow down.
Report abuse »
#81
14:21 July 17, 2009 by Steven192
I don't think logic or facts are going to make much impression on Teddy somehow.
and in berlin, a symbol of rebellion against stupid rules
There is no arguing with that sort of mindset.

BTW Teddy if you are so worried about your brakes not working in the rain then fit a set of roller brakes. You can brake underwater with them.
Report abuse »
#82
17:16 July 17, 2009 by teddy
how do you think that caliper brakes work? they're not some magic device that bends gravity, they apply friction on the rim to slow the wheel. fixed gear bikes can do exactly the same thing, using road friction on the tyre. same principle, different method. in thinking it through, a fixed gear bike with a front brake would have exactly the same stopping distance as a roadbike with front and rear brakes.
BTW Teddy if you are so worried about your brakes not working in the rain then fit a set of roller brakes. You can brake underwater with them.
i'm not worried about my brakes not working in the rain. i ride a fixed gear bike, so if my front brake is not functioning at 100%, i can brake perfectly fine with my drivetrain.

don't get personal in debates, steven. it demeans yourself. i've been thoroughly logical throughout. and btw, that rebellion thing... thats not my opinion, that's just what i see on the streets. cops confiscating brakeless bikes has meant that a portion of those that ride brakeless now see it as a statement of rebellion. as i've said before, i personally ride with a front brake.
Report abuse »
#83
17:19 July 17, 2009 by Krieg
how do you think that caliper brakes work? they're not some magic device that bends gravity, they apply friction on the rim to slow the wheel. fixed gear bikes can do exactly the same thing, using road friction on the tyre. same principle, different method. in thinking it through, a fixed gear bike with a front brake would have exactly the same stopping distance as a roadbike with front and rear brakes.
That's like comparing a car servo-steering / power-steering with a normal one. They have the same concept, but one helps to multiple your power.
Report abuse »
#84
17:26 July 17, 2009 by teddy
thats not true at all. there's no particular mechanical advantage to where you apply the torque. brakepads don't somehow multiply the friction.
Report abuse »
#85
08:11 July 18, 2009 by Steven192
If skidding the wheel is such a safe and efficient way to stop why did they bother inventing ABS?

Anyway this is a pointless argument as you are obviously entrenched in your position and logic and common sense will not shift you.

Oh and if you think mentioning your name is "getting personal" then you need a reality check.
Report abuse »
#86
00:59 August 13, 2009 by Binaural
Ha, ha

For the haters (who ride) out there
Report abuse »
#87
11:29 August 20, 2009 by Michael.Sammut
Isn't this a fixie?

These girls must be the best couriers around
Report abuse »
#88
11:36 August 20, 2009 by Clapoti
I don't understand though why they are supposedly faster than a normal racing bike...
Report abuse »
#89
16:11 August 20, 2009 by Hutcho
They are not. They are for punks and are completely inefficient. It's just typical Berlin bullshit - for people trying really much too hard to be cool and different.
Report abuse »
#90
17:54 August 20, 2009 by Binaural
They are not. They are for punks and are completely inefficient. It's just typical Berlin bullshit - for people trying really much too hard to be cool and different.
Quite true. Whatever reasons people have for liking fixes (aesthetic, hipster, like mechanical tinkering), raw speed is not one of them. If anyone tells you otherwise, consider it notification they are a clueless hipster. Refer my earlier video for what roadies think of fixie riders ;-)
Report abuse »
#91
18:58 September 29, 2009 by joninberlin
"Don't knock it 'till you rock it"

As a kid, I spent my summers in the BMX race ciruit and since converting my road bike 3 years ago, riding has never been so enjoyable. I've never felt so in control of my balance, strength and coordination.

Perhaps someone has already made this comparison (I can't be bothered to read the whole thread) - Its like driving a sports car with manual transmission instead of automatic transmission. Its all about complete control.

Furthermore, I tend to disagree that only hipsters or punks ride fixed-gear bikes although I do agree there are several out there riding/pushing them around.

I ride with a brake, so I can ride as fast as I want, my bike looks quite normal (no fancy rims, no bright colors) so I can't really see how bike enthusiasts like me automatically get categorized as hipsters. I can't understand why so many people are into hating on fixed-gear bikes when half of them don't rides bikes themselves or are not even capable of recognizing a fixed-gear bike if they saw one.

Like I said, don't knock it 'till you rock it.

Try it out sometime.
Report abuse »
#92
10:23 October 2, 2009 by Indifferent
@ Binaural

Clearly you didn't get the gist of the entire video's existence.

It wasn't a roadie dissin' a fixie-riding hipster. It's addressing the issues of cycling, being a sport. With money, you can get a bicycle, and it being a sport, well you still need a bicycle.

Compare it to jogging, where you rely wholly on your body for performance, than a bike. The "McSpandex" video just disses all kinds of cyclists by claiming their performance increases along with the pricetag on the bicycle they get.

Which isn't the case, it's the rider, not the bicycle.

And why is it so hard to get a front brake? I'd rather lose the style-points and stay alive.
Report abuse »
#93
19:45 October 6, 2009 by Airic
Another reason not to move to Berlin! Seems people in Berlin have so much time on their hands to complain about things (Toy Town)…maybe they should complain less and try to improve the job situation there…being a lazy starving artists is no different than being a broke ass hipster! Riding a fixed gear or not all you Berliner¦#39;s need to stop complaining and improve the living and job situation there…the world is tired of hearing you complain when you have things so good!!!
Report abuse »
#94
20:37 October 6, 2009 by Binaural
@ Binaural

Clearly you didn't get the gist of the entire video's existence.

It wasn't a roadie dissin' a fixie-riding hipster. It's addressing the issues of cycling, being a sport. With money, you can get a bicycle, and it being a sport, well you still need a bicycle.

Compare it to jogging, where you rely wholly on your body for performance, than a bike. The "McSpandex" video just disses all kinds of cyclists by claiming their performance increases along with the pricetag on the bicycle they get.

Which isn't the case, it's the rider, not the bicycle.

And why is it so hard to get a front brake? I'd rather lose the style-points and stay alive.
Eh, I think you're the one who has failed to get the gist. It is obviously by someone who (a) knows the fixie "scene" deserves some mocking and also ( knows that racer types who criticise them also look a bit ridiculous. I did hear on a bike forum the other day that that movie was actually make by some manufacturer, so I could be wrong.
Report abuse »
#95
08:42 October 7, 2009 by gills
On a related note, I have one of these bikes for sale (Munich). My husband had it made in Toronto, he hasn't used it for years and we have a limited amount of locker space. He describes it as: a freewheel's Mavic rims; single handbrake; Shimano clips; Brooks leather saddle; single-gear track bike hybrid. I don't know the frame size but he is 6 feet tall. PM me if interested.
Report abuse »
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
For comment quoting and other advanced formatting features,
try posting via this article's discussion forum page instead.
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Match-fixing ring rocks European football

Some 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games may have manipulated in a huge match-fixing scandal, German prosecutors said on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: a screenshot of taz.de

Editorial feud erects artistic six-metre penis

In a massive escalation of a long-standing editorial feud, the newspaper Die Tageszeitung has unveiled an artwork depicting the naked editor-in-chief of its right-wing rival Bild sporting a six-metre penis up the façade of its headquarters. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Disabled woman fired for eating pâté meant for patients

A disabled Hannover woman working at a nursing home has been fired after 18 years on the job for eating pâté intended for patients, daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Friday. READ (16 COMMENTS) »

A file photo of Hitler in 1925 at an NSDAP meeting in Bavaria. Photo: DPA

France finds lost spy file on young Hitler

Secret French intelligence service documents on the young Adolf Hitler have surfaced in the country’s national archives, daily Le Monde reported on Friday. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Von der Leyen moots expanded child subsidy for poor families

German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen has proposed expanding a monthly child subsidy for low income parents, daily Passauer Neue Presse reported on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Defence minister expects Karzai to take action

NATO countries expect "more than just words" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai after he promised to combat corruption, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Springlike highs expected for weekend

Anyone planning a weekend outing will enjoy sunshine and springlike temperatures in the coming days as a high pressure system moves over the Alps and into central Germany, the DWD weather service reported on Friday. READ »

Photo: DPA

Chestnut tree kills pedestrian

A 47-year-old Frankfurt woman died late on Thursday after a chestnut tree suddenly fell and crushed her, police reported. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

More Society
More popular articles »
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Born amid Cold War rivalry yet loved by children on both sides of the Iron Curtain, Germany’s bedtime TV character the Sandman celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Sponsored Links
Jobs in Germany, in English

579 jobs in Germany, in English
323 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden
Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline
Noticeboard
SHOW ALL NOTICES »
Toytown Germany
FULL INDEX »
Snappy summary of the week's best stories
The newsletter is sent out every Friday with an easily swallowed digest of the week's happenings allowing you to pepper your conversations with nuggets of news about the issues of the hour.
SIGN UP HERE>>>
Advertising 2.0
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
Sales manager - Berlin
The Local is seeking a talented and experienced media sales professional for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Best Foreign exchange rates dealing - all major currencies
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>
Editorial intern - Berlin
The Local needs an editorial intern at its office in Berlin starting in January
FULL JOB DETAILS
JOB: Account Executive Global Brand Team
Edelman, the worlds largest privately owned PR agency, is looking for a native English speaking Account Executive (m/f) for the Global Team in Hamburg (starting in January 2010)
FULL JOB DETAILS
Food and drink gift baskets
We offer a wide range of exquisite and unique hampers, elegantly decorated for all occasions. Our service is first class and allows you to send personalised baskets to your loved ones across Europe.
FIND OUT MORE

The Local Europe GmbH
Linienstrasse 214
10119 Berlin
Germany