The top-ten thing gives me an easy out on the prose and can be kind of humorous. I’ll try not to wear the formula thin.
1. The fixed gear community rallies to get Dave Nice another bike when his gets stolen while he rested at a roadside stop. Fantastic.
2. Fixed gear bikes become more common everyday in my town, courtesy of a motivated LBS: The Old Spokes Home.
3. Fixed gear cycling, culture and cross-pollination reach an all-time high. Unfortunately, so does our visibility. High publicity citations for brakeless riders in cities such as LA and Portland, OR do nothing to improve awareness of cycling for non-enthusiasts.
4. I continue to ride with a brake or two, having persistent nightmares of broken chains while leg braking down some VT steeps. I’d probably ride a brakeless bike at least occasionally if I lived somewhere flat.
5. Reports of chain breaking are very very rare. I don’t know of any amongst my clan. More likely your demise comes from throwing your chain (same effect as breaking it…or worse.)
6. Lower gears are great for trails but they are rough on tires, especially if you commute on your knobbies. This is a habit I seem to be completely unable to abate. And it’ll cost me some new rubber next spring.
7. I know now that riding the fix all summer has really kept my legs up…even for hiking: not a claim you can make about riding a coaster.
8. Fixed gear cycling is not for everyone, but it really is just plain rewarding to those of us who take to it.
9. Irreverence towards phrases like “long-travel” “full-face” and “hydraulic” has risen to the point where, amongst my clan, the subjects just don’t come up.
10. Sadly, at some level, the popularity of fixed reminds me of the growth of telemark skiing. I’d have to say that a custom ti fixed trail bike with a front disc can be super cool. But I’m nostalgic. My weakness is for repurposed cast-offs who find a new life as a scorcher or road fix. It’s all good.
It’s been a good summer here. And fall riding and prep for snow season is at hand.
I’m going to fully commuterize the Uni for winter with a bigger gear, some fenders and dedicated lights-on-bike. The REK will get recycled (wallered drive-side crankarm.) It’s a bit too big for me and I think (with Ab’s ok) should go to a taller, more road oriented rider. More on that later. The Vulturian will continue to coast, and will see a bit more time on trail this fall. I promise.
OK. Sorry to be so staccato, but I’m juggling again.
Yours in one-ness.
G
Its been a pertty good year,
more fixie action frome dave nice next year and a few more things to do this one as well.