With summer suddenly and oppressively upon us, there is a natural inclination to turn our attention to outdoor activities. However, in light of Bostonist's interest in all things hip and youthful (Bostonist, like Wu-Tang, is for the kids), we will not focus on softball, mini golf, or croquet. Instead, we offer a primer on that hip-to-death-to-the-point-of-being-over subset of cycling, the fixed-gear bike.
For the uninitiated, a fixed-gear bike (of which many many examples can be found here) has but one speed and does not allow for coasting. This means that when the rear wheel is in motion, the pedals are in motion at a corresponding speed. This obviates (somewhat) the need for brakes: when the rider wishes to slow down, she can simply resist the motion of the pedals or, in an emergency, lift the back wheel slightly, stop the pedals entirely, and make the bike skid (video of this technique can be seen here - click on 'Pix' then on 'Trackstands, Vids and Skids').
All early bicycles were fixed-gears, and they have long been used in track racing (which is actually really fun to watch, if you manage to stay up until 3:00 a.m. during the next Olympics). They are also the industry standard in the bike messenger community and are the ride of choice for alleycats, the semi-legal, in-the-midst-of-traffic races that messengers frequently organize.
Fixed-gear bicycles are appealing for a number of reasons. When we worked as a messenger, Bostonist preferred one because of its low-maintenance simplicity - no gears, brakes, or cables to malfunction and stay us couriers from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. We still ride one today for that reason, and we subscribe, as many fixed-gear enthusiasts do, to the belief that the rider feels more connected to the bike and more in tune with the road when his constant motion is linked to that of the wheels. Fixed-gear bikes can also have a punk-rock, do-it-yourself appeal: although ready-made fixed-gear bikes can be bought, many riders take old road bikes and resurrect them as snazzy, customized fixed-gear rides. Bostonist can't help but think they look cool.
Bostonist has noticed over the last couple of years, and especially this spring, a great proliferation of these bikes among non-messengers, especially on the streets of Cambridge and Allston among the group that is sometimes sneeringly referred to as "hipsters". As someone who has been riding one for years (since our messenger stint in New York), we were initially appalled at the mass-market adoption of something once relegated to a subculture to which we belonged, but then we thought of literacy and voting, and decided that just because an activity used to be exclusive doesn't mean it shouldn't be practiced more widely. Of course, we have our doubts as to the longevity of the fixed-gear craze: not only do we remember those leather eight-ball jackets (see verse two, seventh line from the bottom), but we can recall a time when people other than Flava Flav really walked around with enormous clock necklaces; fashion is a fickle thing. Nevertheless, we like the fixed-gear riding and hope our dear readers won't be discouraged from giving it a try just because it's a trend. Boston is lucky to have many bike shops with fixed-gear knowledge and parts, including Harris Cyclery in West Newton, home of Sheldon Brown, who is probably the foremost authority in the country on fixed-gear bikes (and quite friendly and accessible - Bostonist has asked him technical questions in the past, and he always responds to our e-mails within a day). We also like Cambridge Bicycles for general know-how, Broadway Bicycle School for friendliness and hard-to-find old parts, and Ace Wheelworks for good mechanics a selection of more high-end items. Our fair metropolitan area also has a well-developed racing scene. Just remember to wear your helmet.
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