Gonna try my hardest not to sound too precious here but – out of all the misreadings of the hipster polemic, the most unfortunate is the conclusion some have made that I am anti-bike. I guess this can be attributed to certain readers just skimming through the copy, reacting to any particularly catchy sentence and then giving up on the piece, their opinions mired with indignation.
That’s the reality of reading these days though, I’m guilty of the skim-react on a daily basis. I often find myself just glancing at the body of an article, then sliding all the way down to the last paragraph to “get the jist” before I read the comments, which are often more interesting than the piece itself. Check out Nicholas Carr on Google = Stupid and Sam Jordison’s Guardian piece for more thought on the subject.
That being said, bikes are of course, totally awesome. Poseurs aside, the growth of bike culture (be it mountain, low-rider or fixed-gear) is one of the most important ongoing social revolutions of the 21st century. As you may know (scroll down a few posts) my bike was recently stolen and I’m currently in the market for a new one. Any suggestions?
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At least ten speeds, skinny tires, and drop bars.
Fixed-gear bikes are beautiful because they’re so simple. They also take a lot of skill to ride effectively (and safely). Someone putting a break on a fixed gear clutters their frame, destroying the simple beauty, and betrays their inability to ride well. One suspects that the bicycle has become more a fashion statement than a tool, like a golden-headed hammer.
Comment by notendo August 4, 2008 @ 5:49 aminternuts.
Comment by Grimey August 4, 2008 @ 12:16 pmthe source for all things fixie:
http://www.superchampionshop.com/
Comment by paul August 4, 2008 @ 8:17 pmsave the money on the expensive hipster bike and get a bmx…handle bars, seat, peddles, its got it all except for the ultra cool factor and huge price tag….
Comment by nofutureface August 5, 2008 @ 10:00 amwoot woot!! you rock!!
Comment by a reader August 5, 2008 @ 11:12 amYour hipster article that was linked to is amazing! I’ve felt similar things since I started high school (I just graduated) and witnessed “emo”, but naturally, could never put it into words (also I didn’t see as much of it as you do, apparently). I feel a bit more justified not having adhered to any fashion or “genre” of person in high school, whereas once upon a time ago it seemed like a detriment. After searching through blogs to read for a while and finding yours, I thought something was different about yours; the other ones, looking back, may have fit into that “hipster” category. I’m rambling but, in short, that article just solidified a regular reader.
Comment by Jay Furly August 9, 2008 @ 5:52 pmHi Douglas,
Comment by Adrian August 15, 2008 @ 3:42 pmI enjoyed reading your article on hipsters. The first time i saw a fixed year bike in Sydney, it was being ridden by a 70yo racing cyclist who hadn’t bought a new bike in 40 years. He was completley oblivious to fixed gear bike culture. Anyway, I’m glad to hear that you like bikes.
“Poseurs aside”-sure hope this was your attempt at humor.
Comment by mishel August 15, 2008 @ 5:26 pmLast time I checked, bicycles have been in use since the mid 1800’s.
@ #1: Dude, if you’re worried about bikes becoming more a fashion statement than a tool, why do you say that putting brakes on a fixed gear “clutters the frame, destroying the simple beauty, and betrays their inability to ride well”?
Comment by Plus August 16, 2008 @ 10:01 amIt’s hard to tell a fixed gear from a freewheel single speed, so how can it just be a fashion statement? In fact, the easiest way to tell by looking is noticing the absence of brakes. So, doesn’t it seem hypocritical to rail against the fashionability of bikes while arguing against something that would make them less fashionable and more utilitarian?
check my latest blog… the iF mode is what im saving up for
http://design2refine.blogspot.com
Comment by rich August 25, 2008 @ 12:29 pmWhat the hell is a bike poseur? You just put it between your legs and go – how can anybody fuck that up?
Please tell me how I can become part of your super awesome “Authentic Bike Riders” club so I can fart around on my bike without fear of ridicule or accusations of “posing.” Is there a membership fee? Do we get decoder rings?
I’m with dude up there. I fucking hope you were joking, otherwise this entry makes you look like a bigger ass than the Hipster article it’s referencing – and that’s hard to do.
Comment by kendallmck August 31, 2008 @ 1:24 am