Dijon Vu
Thu, January 14, 2010 I get many hits from bike forums where a page on this blog is often linked to a topic under discussion. I am amazed at how many “Fixie” forums there are from all over the world.
This youth craze that appears to have started in the US has spread to all corners of the globe. (Does a globe have corners?)
I see fixie forums from countries as diverse as the US, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Israel.
I came across the above video from Dijon, France. And these “Shit fer Brains” riders really think they are mustard. (Pun intended.)
Riding at night without lights, they switch randomly from the street to the sidewalk as it suits them, weaving between pedestrians.
Blasting through red lights without so much as a cursory glance to the left or right.
One guy is shown using parked cars as an improvised slalom course, as he zig-zags from the inside to the outside of the line of cars.
My thought is this; what if there are passengers exiting or entering one of these parked cars from the passenger side as this lunatic comes zipping by?
This craze shows no sign of ending soon although it is bound to end sometime as all youth crazes do.
Reader Comments (10)
Don't want to seem pedantic (but knowing full well I will) but the cars he was weaving through were stationary traffic. I agree they're not the best advocates of cycling though; still, in France traffic laws seem to be entirely optional
Is it that new though?
Consider the "scorchers"? Fixed gear riders from almost 100 years ago, ripping down dirt paths on brake less machines terrorizing other walkers/users.
It's the same thing with a modern spin now.
On a Globe everyone is the center of their universe.
At that point you get all the attention you wanted.
It's comforting to know that the world is full of morons who like like to ride like jerktards, and that they're all not members of the USA moron's club.
Oh Dave... really?
You're familiar with the concept of sped-up video playback, correct?
So you're aware that the "slalom through parked cars" involved much lower speeds than it appeared?
And the near empty sidewalks those French teenagers were hopping on and off of?
I'll be honest, this just makes you seem very old, and very out of touch (and this is coming from a 35 year old).
Clearly you have an axe to grind... don't let me stop you.
With any luck the fixed-gear fad will, like so many fads, end soon. The big sport of the moment is guessing what will come next. While we're on the subject of scorchers, might I suggest Barnstorming as the next big thing?
I don't know if fixed gears are a 'fad'.
They've been around for a long time, and have always had adherents. While I'd admit that the recent surge in 'NJS' parts, track drops, brake-less setups etc., fits the definition of a fad, there are still a few users who just ride fixed-gears as bikes, not fashion statements.
I'm almost 35, incidentally, and I ride one. No skinny jeans for me, though. I use ankle reflective bands to keep my pant legs out of the chain. In no way do I fit the definition of hipster chic.
Hey, time trial records were set and broken on fixed gears, as you've pointed out before, Dave. Beryl Burton set a few on some amazingly high gear ratio!!
How about doing an article on her? I'd like to read that.
Certainly, what the guys in the video were doing would be considered to be stupid by most people. However, downhill riding (or whatever it's called) is no less dumb, to my mind.
The bright side of the current trendiness of fixed gears is that a wider variety of parts are available... 15 years ago for the life of me I couldn't find a chainring under 47T for Sugino 75 cranks. Now they're widely available.
Admittedly the rise of e-commerce may be part of why there's a lot more (seemingly) available now.
It's like this: I'm 32 and a former skateboarder. Started riding fixed (hate the word) = track bikes for 2-3 years ago, and felt the same vibe with these guys as when we were younger riding our boards. Of course youngsters will behave as they do - just hope they're safe doing their stooped ish.
What a bunch of FAGs, what south park episode from season 13 for more details, sooo funny
I agree, they are wankers.Best not to give them any exposure. Delete the post.