Comments on: Austin By Cycle http://info.bycycle.org/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/ Get There by Cycle! Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:31:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dave Hughes http://info.bycycle.org/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-8613 Dave Hughes Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:20:14 +0000 http://bycycle.org/blog/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/#comment-8613 You said: "In Austin, if you ride a fixed gear bike, you are a badass." I say: "Yeah...either that, or a dumbass!" Your statement is way too generalized. There are two types of fixie riders in Austin, at least. One the one hand, you have the hardcore cyclists (perhaps competitive cyclists) who use a fixie to train on. Others use them for commuting because of their simplicity and low maintenance. THESE are the badasses. On the other hand, you have the young, hip, fashion-conscious types who ride fixies only because it's...well...fashionable. They think it's really cool to ride around in city traffic with no brakes, lights, helmets, or any other safety gear whatsoever. Their only accessory is a (again, fashionable)'messenger bag'. These kids mostly don't know a thing about the technical/mechanical aspects of the bike, nor of the riding itself. They ride them just to be seen riding them...period. And most of them also have no clue at all about bicycle traffic laws, safety, and just plain ol' common sense (no brakes, remember?) THESE are the dumbasses. You said:
“In Austin, if you ride a fixed gear bike, you are a badass.”
I say:
“Yeah…either that, or a dumbass!”

Your statement is way too generalized. There are two types of fixie riders in Austin, at least.
One the one hand, you have the hardcore cyclists (perhaps competitive cyclists) who use a fixie to train on. Others use them for commuting because of their simplicity and low maintenance. THESE are the badasses.

On the other hand, you have the young, hip, fashion-conscious types who ride fixies only because it’s…well…fashionable. They think it’s really cool to ride around in city traffic with no brakes, lights, helmets, or any other safety gear whatsoever. Their only accessory is a (again, fashionable)’messenger bag’. These kids mostly don’t know a thing about the technical/mechanical aspects of the bike, nor of the riding itself. They ride them just to be seen riding them…period. And most of them also have no clue at all about bicycle traffic laws, safety, and just plain ol’ common sense (no brakes, remember?)
THESE are the dumbasses.

]]> By: Dixon http://info.bycycle.org/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Dixon Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:02:36 +0000 http://bycycle.org/blog/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/#comment-580 As a member of the Austin Cycling Association, one of Austin's cycling clubs, it would be great to hear more about this. Please keep this opportunity up to date, or better, let me know if there's anything a fellow techie can do. dcd As a member of the Austin Cycling Association, one of Austin’s cycling clubs, it would be great to hear more about this. Please keep this opportunity up to date, or better, let me know if there’s anything a fellow techie can do.

dcd

]]> By: Trevor in Austin at byCycle.org Blog http://info.bycycle.org/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Trevor in Austin at byCycle.org Blog Thu, 04 Jan 2007 06:28:02 +0000 http://bycycle.org/blog/2006/12/16/austin-by-cycle/#comment-535 [...] As you may have noticed from a previous post, Trevor is in Austin working with various people to try and get Austin integrated into the bicycle route finder. We met him some time last year (at Vita Cafe on NE Alberta) after he contacted us about the idea of bringing the trip planner with him when he moved back to Austin. He is going to be blogging about the proceedings here, so “stay tuned.” [...] [...] As you may have noticed from a previous post, Trevor is in Austin working with various people to try and get Austin integrated into the bicycle route finder. We met him some time last year (at Vita Cafe on NE Alberta) after he contacted us about the idea of bringing the trip planner with him when he moved back to Austin. He is going to be blogging about the proceedings here, so “stay tuned.” [...]

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