When something is described as 'like surfing or snowboarding but you can do it outside your front door in London' I'm listening. This was how fixed gear bikes were first described to me back in March, but having not had a chance to ride one, I just trusted this friends opinion. That was until I went to the launch party for the first international magazine dedicated 100% to fixie bikes, Fixed, in Hackney, London on Saturday; now I completely agree - fitting as in the UK, it's national bike week.
Booze, bikes and beards filled Carhartt's East London warehouse store, as fans of fixies congregated to celebrate the mag with music courtesy of DJ Jay Stephenson, a premiere of movie the Bootleg Sessions 2, comps plus pick up free copies.
Available for free in bike shops across the world - currently London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles - you will also be able to download a PDF of the publication for free from www.fixed-mag.com very soon.
I could explain what a fixed gear bike is - but Wikipedia's description is far better than anything I can do. The Fixed Gear Gallery and Fixed Gear London will give you an idea too.
Ok, I know the link to surfing, snowboarding and skating is tenous now - but trust us; ex pro skaters and snowboarders are already hooked on these back-to-basics machines, which means the rest of us are bound to follow; in a year or two we'll all be riding a new bike. Keep an eye out on Nollie for news and shiny new bikes to get you stoked on cycling soon..
Love this? Then read: Go Skateboarding Day | NASS returns | Shaun White on the cover of Nylon | Cooler vs SurfGirl: summer issues launched