Yesterday evening was beautiful – crisp & clear, perfect really. You know, a typical Boulder evening. I was returning from a Boulder Digital Arts Event, and it was so nice out that I decided to take the long way home. So there I am, biking along and having the time of my life when I’m struck with a terrible thought. I like to coast. I mean I really like to coast. Standing on my pedals, gliding along, picking my lines and shifting my weight to squeeze every last inch out of the few pedal strokes that I take… pure unadulterated bliss. What’s so terrible about coasting you say? Well it means I’m a fraud. I’m talking about fixies here – one gear, no freewheel – the wheel turns your legs turn. Instant bike cred deserving of respect and admiration. Any time I see a fixie its instant lust, such a beautiful yet simple machine. Biking at its purest perhaps. But with no freewheel, there’s no coasting! I have always operated under the assumption that one day I would pickup a fixed gear bike as a commuter - I've even placed a bid or two through Craigslist. Is it all in vain, do I have to face the facts and admit that fixed gears aren't for me? Is there life beyond the freewheel?
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4 comments:
Holy crap, Mike posted to his blog!! Just in case you're worried, I won't think any less of you if you don't decide to get a fixed-gear.
I'm telling Jacob. I guarantee he's gonna have somthing to say about this!
This same fact has always bothered me most about the mountain unicycle, a machine at least twice as pure than any with two wheels.
Coasting is cool, but the cred of pedaling will easily make up for it. Plus there's a certain bliss to the constant never ending pedaling...it's like being on a stationary trainer. Wait. Never mind.
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