Successful fads - fixie/singlespeed? country bikes? or 650B?

Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the 650B/584mm
wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

In San Francisco, and probably other major urban areas, it appears to
be the fixie/singlespeed. You see those types of bikes everywhere.
Especially, among the younger generation. Tons of kids riding
"messenger style" with their chrome/acme/timbuk2 "messenger" bags on
track bikes with or without brakes. They fly through stop sign and cut
between cars. They're looking for danger and appear to be lovin' it!

Don't see too many country bikes other than people commuting with old
touring or cyclocross bikes. But front racks/baskets seem to be a big
deal with this crowd.

650B, seems like the least successful but its hard to tell how many
people are riding that wheel size. I've seen a few Kogswell, but
that's about it.

What's been your experience?

In article
,
bfd wrote:

Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the
650B/584mm wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

In San Francisco, and probably other major urban areas, it appears to
be the fixie/singlespeed. You see those types of bikes everywhere.
Especially, among the younger generation. Tons of kids riding
"messenger style" with their chrome/acme/timbuk2 "messenger" bags on
track bikes with or without brakes. They fly through stop sign and
cut between cars. They're looking for danger and appear to be lovin'
it!

Don't see too many country bikes other than people commuting with old
touring or cyclocross bikes. But front racks/baskets seem to be a
big deal with this crowd.

650B, seems like the least successful but its hard to tell how many
people are riding that wheel size. I've seen a few Kogswell, but
that's about it.

What's been your experience?

The fixed gear/single speed thing has been far and away the biggest of
these three fads in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. But still nowhere
near the size of the mountain bike fad, replete with knobbies, all over
the roads and trails here.

I see lots of "country bikes" but most of the riders have no idea. They
just think of them as their bike. Most bikes built prior to about 1985
could reasonably fall into this category...

There's a few dozen 650B bikes I know of around here, and my LBS has
build at least 100 sets of 650B wheels for locals and e-mail order. Of
the three I'd say this is the least populous of these fads.

BFD asks:

What's been your experience?

I built a SS/FG w/650B's 3 years ago. Utilized the Hercules standard
dual drive hub and frame. I really liked how those 650B's felt on the
local crappy roads.

Bike was a rocket. I couldn't ride it easy. I'm to old to "just" crash
any more so I sold it for "preventative" health reasons!

Put it up for sale locally with no luck. Listed it on Ann Arbor
Craigslist and sold it the same day.

I've had success converting older Schwinns to SS's and selling them to
MSU students.

But I've never sold a SS or FG to anyone over 30 years old.

Anyway, this will turn into a 650B flame war thread but damit, I
like'em!

Best Regards - Mike Baldwin

bfd wrote:
650B, seems like the least successful but its hard to tell how many
people are riding that wheel size. I've seen a few Kogswell, but
that's about it.

What's been your experience?

Do you have some sort of investment in 650B? Here's why I ask:

http://tinyurl.com/4yezwg
http://tinyurl.com/465vdq
http://tinyurl.com/4efgdn
http://tinyurl.com/3n2epz

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu

On Oct 14, 4:14*pm, bfd wrote:
Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the 650B/584mm
wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

The racing bike with no room for tires larger than 25mm and no braze-
ons for fenders or racks is incredibly popular around here, ridden
mainly by people who do not race. However, practical bikes are making
a comeback, the neighborhood racks are laden with all sorts of beasts
these days--and this is the buckle of the bible belt. This
neighborhood, however, is an aberration.

Fixies are not ubiquitous around here. There are a few hipsters that
ride them a few blocks to the bar, and I've seen a couple over by the
colleges. Mainly it's more serious riders on them--a lot of bike shop
guys, and racers training--fancy that! Hopefully D. from the LBS and
I on our sensible fixies will set a more decent tone than in the
hepper cities.

The biggest success story, is indeed the mtb. Ugh. But--fitted with
slicks, it makes an inelegant but practical city trooper!


I'd just like standard three speeds to become more commonly available!
You know, at Xmarts and stuff--for $250 or so. I know ya can get stuff
on line, but I mean in store. People should be able to go to Target
and get an elegant shopping bike and a basket for under $500. You
know--a normal bike like the rest of the world rides.

landotter wrote:
On Oct 14, 4:14 pm, bfd wrote:
Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the 650B/584mm
wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

Easily the fixie, which was totally consumer drive unlike country bikes
and 650B, IMO.

The racing bike with no room for tires larger than 25mm and no braze-
ons for fenders or racks is incredibly popular around here, ridden
mainly by people who do not race. However, practical bikes are making
a comeback, the neighborhood racks are laden with all sorts of beasts
these days--and this is the buckle of the bible belt.

Oh come on! We all know that's Birmingham, AL.

\\paul
--
Paul M. Hobson
..:change the f to ph to reply:.

On Oct 14, 3:14*pm, bfd wrote:
Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the 650B/584mm
wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

In San Francisco, and probably other major urban areas, it appears to
be the fixie/singlespeed. You see those types of bikes everywhere.
Especially, among the younger generation. Tons of kids riding
"messenger style" with their chrome/acme/timbuk2 "messenger" bags on
track bikes with or without brakes. They fly through stop sign and cut
between cars. They're looking for danger and appear to be lovin' it!

Don't see too many country bikes other than people commuting with old
touring or cyclocross bikes. *But front racks/baskets seem to be a big
deal with this crowd.

650B, seems like the least successful but its hard to tell how many
people are riding that wheel size. I've seen a few Kogswell, but
that's about it.

What's been your experience?

Tons of fixies here in the 'republic'. Cheap, easy to fix, weather
generally pretty civil even in the winter. Seems like the new
skateboard.

On Oct 14, 9:55*pm, "Paul M. Hobson" wrote:
landotter wrote:
On Oct 14, 4:14 pm, bfd wrote:
Over the last few years, several fads have developed - the fixie/
singlespeed - mostly found in city/urban areas; the "country bike, an
all-arounder style bike for both on and off roading; or the 650B/584mm
wheel size. What has been the biggest success?

Easily the fixie, which was totally consumer drive unlike country bikes
and 650B, IMO.

The racing bike with no room for tires larger than 25mm and no braze-
ons for fenders or racks is incredibly popular around here, ridden
mainly by people who do not race. However, practical bikes are making
a comeback, the neighborhood racks are laden with all sorts of beasts
these days--and this is the buckle of the bible belt.

Oh come on! *We all know that's Birmingham, AL.


Tell the Bumminhammians that we's got the bulgeless Billy Graham
statue!

http://tinyurl.com/4nj2lg

Check out that rugged cross, mofos!!!

On 10/15/2008 6:30 AM landotter wrote:

Tell the Bumminhammians that we's got the bulgeless Billy Graham
statue!


Why, he...he gots no wiener! I swan, Nashville simply /must/ be the envy
of everyone in the South! It is a miracle.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"

On Oct 14, 5:52*pm, Dave wrote:
bfd wrote:
650B, seems like the least successful but its hard to tell how many
people are riding that wheel size. I've seen a few Kogswell, but
that's about it.
What's been your experience?

Do you have some sort of investment in 650B?

No. 650B does have some merits - making older "racing" style bikes
more useful by allowing the use of fatter tires. At first glance, it
seemed to be a good idea. However, if the response from this group and
the ibob list is any indication, it is not a "good investment."
Further, most shops look at 650B/584mm wheels as "yet another wheel
size" and appear to be reluctant to invest money into things like rims
and tires for it. Of course, 650B parts can easily be obtained "mail
order," and for those many who like that size is usually the way to
go.

Similarly, "country bikes" or all-arounders are also not big. If
people are interested in a bike for *all-roads,* they usually build up
an older touring or cross style bike.

In contrast, fixies/singlespeed bikes are all the latest rage,
especially in large, mostly flat urban areas like NY and LA. In the SF
Bay Area, I know of several shops that have "invested" in parts,
wheels and track frames for these types of bikes and seem to be doing
quite well.