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Riding a bike down hills against other people is something I like to do and I've written a little prattle in Dirt magazine about what strange places and thoughts I go to and through in my attempts to do so. This is a mere precursor to my full thoughts on racing other people on off-road bikes...
All you lot that ride around cities on thin tyred bicycles, I've found the answer to all your woes.
I was lucky enough to receive a fixie a while ago to race the Red Bull Minidrome, I found it fun but having since tried riding the thing around the streets I have encountered numerous problems. I even had to deny a girl a backie as I was scared I wouldn't be able to stop.
I have now tinkered with the bike; my additions are wider bars, a shorter stem, flat pedals, a back brake and for all you die hards to hate me, a freewheel. I imagine that may be a dirty word in the fixed scene.
Wow, what a bike it is now though! I can now ride down hills fast, stop without blowing out my knees, give girls backies, stand up to get my phone out my pocket and I can do wheelies that don't require me to keep pedalling, they're loads better and called manuals!! I won't be doing any other tricks on it though.
I suggest everyone with one of these bikes follows suit. I don't know what the scene would be called if wheels weren't fixed but by golly it's nice to be freewheeling again. All I need know is a basket and it would be the perfect town bike.
Here it is on a bridge over a railway near my house. Those guys in the background are train spotters, I thought that was apt (I hope you can see the funny side?)
The beautiful county of Shropshire, that I live in, almost looked tropical on my ride in the evening sun last night. Just the slightest hint of summer has got me all the more excited about riding bikes. The tracks are perfect at the moment. A bit of moisture for grip but not enough to make a mess of your clothes.
