fellowshipofthechainring.org

I should probably clarify my disclaimer about not paying for Bicycling Magazine from my last post. I like Bicycling Magazine, but I’m getting sick of reading reviews for multi-thousand dollar Pinarello bikes. I teach high school, so I won’t be purchasing any costly carbon-fiber or magnesium frame bikes unless I want to completely bury myself in debt.

So I may not have Campy components; so I don’t call Cannondales Commondales; I might not have GPS on my cycling computer; my tires don’t cost more than $12 new; I don’t wear Hytrel membrane material.

No, none of that. I only buy a bike every decade or two; I ride that bike till it wears out; I use clinchers; I use thornproof tubes because I would rather increase my rolling resistance by 1% rather than fix a flat every ride; and my rain gear is typical commuter black and yellow. So sue me!?

I am content with where I am and what I’ve got. Little Joe is just fine with me! I have two legs and a decent hardtail that doubles for road riding and single tracking (depending on the tires…somewhat).

I was just introduced to Bike Snob NYC via my free copy of Bicycling magazine, and I gotta say he hit it right on the money with his quote about the recent phenomenon of fixed-gear mania.

People have been racing, training, messengering and commuting on fixed-gears for a long time, but it seems like the aesthetic has collided with the zeitgeist. Now, for a lot of people, they’re just a way to cover short distances in style…

I think they’ve become so trendy that new riders are making choices that are dictated more by style than by function. Like the guy who thinks it’s uncool to ride a fixed-gear with a brake on the street….I want people to be able to identify when trends cross the line into sheer stupidity.

I like his style and attitude. I also like the fact that he used the word, zeitgeist.

I must make this disclaimer though. I don’t pay for Bicycling magazine. I get it free from having joined Performance Team so we could get a great rebate from my daughter’s bike that we bought last Spring.