My original post (the one that apparently triggered this lengthy thread and several spin-offs) was not intended to portray me as being "anti fixed-gear". I have several friends who ride their track bikes on the velodrome in Baton Rouge and am not opposed to anyone riding a fixed-gear bike. My post expressed my concern for the current fad (and I agree with Stephen that it IS a fad) of taking irreplaceable vintage road bikes and buthering them to build fixed-gear bikes that will probably not be ridden by the majority of their owners once the newness wears off.
I'm wondering how many people on this list would want those vintage steel frames after they've been hacked into "fixies".
Steve Whitting
"The Ciocc Cat"
Prairieville, Louisiana USA
Website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/
From: sandranian <sandranian@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [CR] fixie fad To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, "Jay S" <jvs@sonic.net> Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 8:27 AM
I would imagine that for most on this site, the bikes would be referred to as "fixed gear". The term "fixie" refers specifically (in my book) to the fad...and it is a "fad" in the strictest sense of the word. It is already waning in Southern California...just when most bike shops and manufacturers figured out that it was going on. There are at least three new shops in my neighborhood that only cater to the "Fixie Nation". I will be surprised if any are around in 5 years.
The good news about the fad is that there will be a lot more track bikes available for cheap in the next decade. More bikes to find in dumpsters. This trend is similar to the mountain bike and bmx bike crazes, although I don't think the fixies have the staying power. Of course there will always be a core group.
I like the "fixie nation", have always liked Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), and won't mind the cheap bikes in a few years. Just don't want any of them to butcher bikes (i.e. cut off braze-ons).
Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, California USA http://www.GitaneUSA.com
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From: Jay S <jvs@sonic.net> Subject: [CR] fixie fad To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 8:44 PM
Personally, I think the word "fixie" is stoopid. Fixed gear is what I grew up with. Fixed is......well, my poor cat is fixed. Aside from that, it doesn't bother me that some of the younger set are converting road bikes to fixed gear, but I do admit to surprise at the number of "vintage" frames I see converted. Why can't I find those cool old Colnagos and De Rosas? Love my brake free (off topic) Scorcher!
Ted, what do you think of all this nonsense?
Jay Sexton
Sebastopol, CA