This past week, The New York Times picked up on the recent fixed-gear trick riding trend, publishing an article which charges that the once admired messenger “image” has lost its appeal, and for 2010, bar spins are the new messenger bags.
“No one cares if you’re a messenger anymore,†one messenger said. “It’s all about the tricks.â€
The article explores this somewhat elusive culture, and struggles with exactly what to call a bunch of hipsters riding their bikes backward in circles while doing bar spin-wheelie combos. The author offers up a variety of names, including “fixed freestyle”, “700cmx”, and even “fixed mountain bike street”.
There is also a brief section on the discipline’s influence on bike fashion, noting that “flat-brimmed fitted hats are common, as are small designer T-shirts.”
It’s an interesting read, getting an outsiders perspective on this cult phenomenon. You can read the full article here, and there is also an audio slide show of a group doing tricks under the Brooklyn Bridge from the New York Times here.
