FIXIE BIKES: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Trendy young urbanites have a new toy: Fixies, lean bicycles without superfluous bells and whistles, without brakes, without gears and – if desired – without a freewheel mechanism. These “naked bikes” stand for individuality and extravagance and satisfy the desire for simplicity in a confusing world. The new collection for 2011 is breathtaking.

Stylish! That is what almost everyone says who sees such a bicycle for the first time. But a bicycle without a rear wheel break? That seems too dangerous to most people.

Fixies polarize. There are those who reject the new and those who are open to the new.

Six years ago, Holger Patzelt and Recep Yeşil decided to make these bikes, which used to only be ridden at races in velodromes, accessible to a mass-market and founded FIXIE Inc | Cycles for Heroes. Back then, the pitying looks of those who reject anything new dominated. By now, these new kinds of bikes, which derive their name from an affectionate version of “fixed gear,” have become an inherent part of the bicycle traffic of many major cities.

The stylish appearance is obviously one reason for that. But much more important is the wonderfully organic and intuitive way to ride a bike. Those who try it and get into it, who ignore the initial restive feeling and “break in the mustang” will soon experience how the erratic traffic-staccato turns into foresighted and fluid riding. Those who might find the practical “engine brake” too strenuous after all can switch from fixed to freewheeling with a simple flip of the rear wheel and can thus at least keep the uncompromising appearance.

Riding bikes has become cool again and that is a good thing. By now, the entire world is talking about e-bikes but trends come and go. Yet the Fixie is here to stay because in the end, it is the most genuine way to ride a bike: pure, immediate and sexy. And definitely also a little irrational.

FIXIES are available in Portugal through www.e-mobility.pt

See also www.zootmagazine.com/2010/12/02/zoot-christmas-calendar-day-2-hebie-bootbag-donated-by-e-mobility/