The winds of work blew me east today, to what some might call the spiritual home of the urban cycling revival - Hoxton. Now, cards on table, I am of the opinion that fixed wheels belong to the track (in much the same way that mountain bikes belong on trails and I didn't do the Dragon Ride on the PM). All this crap about 'feeling the road' doesn't wash with me - probably the only way the majority of riders in that area have 'felt' the road is when they have gone a over t by forgetting to pedal as they try to stop their arses falling completely out of their jeans. Anyway, back to the story. Being fully prepared to do a little sniping at fixie types I happened upon 14 Bike Co. - doubtlessly a mecca for the aforementioned - and had a look around. Now, there is no denying that a track bike is a thing of simplistic beauty regardless of where it should or shouldn't be ridden and this place is akin to the White Cube of fixies. I'll admit to feeling a little enthused for the genre so asked what looked to be the main man if I could take a few pics. He couldn't have been nicer, 'no problem'. He then proceeded to tell me all about how and where they make the bikes (using Reynolds steel and all in Britain) as if I were an expert and knew the terms and names he was dropping (I stupidly said that I had a blog and he must have assumed I knew something about cycling -the man's a fool!). Anyway, he must have soon sussed my ignorance and left me to it as I happily clicked away (twice). I'm still no fan of the fixed for the road but I do like nice people and got the feeling that had I wanted to know more or (perish the thought) buy one, then the service at 14 Bike Co. would have been excellent.
Click here for 14 Bike Co.
PS - whilst out that way I also saw one of the regular Rollapaluza 'clique' (for a clique it surely is) who was riding a cyclocross bike - no doubt a new trend for winter 2009 (yawn)
Me thinks you do protesteth too much! Is the lure of the fixie lifestyle becoming too much to bear?Have you been tempted to take a hacksaw to the Moultons' bars,cut so narrow that your thumbs overlap?Will you be wearing ramone style jeans and winkle pickers teamed with a cap sleeved t-shirt?Come back to us,come,come back.
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