Much of the known world is being reduced in its financial equity daily. Seems that we’ve cooked our goose well, and now we’re really getting down to the carcass and seeing what that’s worth. From my perspective, probably hopelessly optomistic, we’re seeing an unwinding of a ball of derivative investments combined with a collective throwing-in-of-the-towel take your losses and run epidemic. The upside is if you find a way to weather the “unwinding” there must be a great long term upside.
On the cycling front we’ve fallen headlong into cold weather up in VT, with regular below freezing mornings and some blustery flu and cold inspiring days. Our hard court polo guru, Liam, with his mastery of the properly placed email, has been able to get the flood lights on early. This has nicely facilitated the Weds evening games. Last night was looking to be pretty ideal for some matches, but my lingering flu kept me home.
I live on the local bike path and have been watching the “trends” as they ride by during the warm months. Though I don’t believe our little VT town is ahead of the fixed curve, but the caravan of fix this season has grown in unprecented ways. I’ve watched at times when over 25% of passing cyclists [over an hour, say] have been on single speeds—as far as I can see as they roll by this group is about 75% fixed. This place is well suited to it for ‘muting as there is only about 200 ft of climbing/descending in any direction for about 10 miles. You can do a lot of commuting and never have to gorilla for more than a couple of minutes. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few widowmaker fix-hills here, like Cliff St. [aptly named.] It is really just a thrill to see it all grow like this. There are a few emerging sub-genre of fix around worth noting. I’d be interested to know if they break out like this in your neck of the woods:
1. Glam fix. These are bikes that look like Myspace. They are loud colored, typically brakeless. Their riders have a 93% chance of being under 28. Most will have odd-toothed chainrings/cogs since they are died-in-the-wool skidders.
2. Courier-wannabe. 99% probability of alley cat cards. In this town, also a 90% chance the alley cat card is not from a real race.
3. ‘Muter fix. This category I’m sure could be broken down, as it is our largest. Lots of fenders, bells, lights and front brakes. Trail-like gearing, especially for winter use is common. Brooks saddle, a greater than 50% chance. Rusty chain at least half the year [guess which part.]
4. Training bike. OK, maybe 1%, but I’ve seen a few roadies bundled up in spring trying to truly smooth their pedal stroke.
5. Transfix. The conversions. Almost single-handedly, the Old Spokes Home has put hundreds of converted road/’muters out there. This is somewhat of an umbrella category, living above, in particular, the “‘Muter Fix” category.
6. Riven-fix. These bikes are always clean, have lugs, and cost well more than I make in a couple of months. Ever to date count in Burlington: more than 10.
7. Swobos. I’m not at all a fan of aluminum tubing. That said, they are around, sleek and popular. The shorty riser bars make me laugh. There isn’t any traffic to ride in between here. OK, they do look cool and if you can 180 ollie-to-fakie they appear to be a big help.
8. MTB. I ride one of these for polo. Honestly, I’ve only seen a couple others—at least one of those went back to coastin [jeremy's indy fab.]
9. Polo Fix. Notable for their backing board “aero” front wheels, these are built for polo. They block the front wheels [think solid like an aero wheel on a Kilo bike.] Liam and Eric both have this. It keeps your mallet out of the front wheel. An extra aid to help keep you upright and your bike working.
10. The Blue Loctite Special. Thanks to one fella from the Alpine Shop for showing me his. I promptly applied the same treatment to my Univega] with an EAI 18T and old tied-and-soldered Campy road wheel. This is blingy. [4 years now and it's never slipped---I always use the front brake.]
Well, time to make some cash.
G