The Popularity of Fixies

These days, we are all part of what is known as the bike culture. Everywhere you look, you'll see bike lanes filled with avid cyclists in varying shapes and sizes commuting to and from work. In the old days, bikes were merely machines that took you from point A to point B, a swifter means of transportation than walking but bikes these days, have become more than that.

Bikes, particularly fixies, also used to be toys kids and pre-teens played with, a means they used to go to friends' houses to hang out and at some point, they even became a status symbol of sorts. In heavily-populated cities around the world, the bike serves as a great alternative to driving since it allows you to zip through any traffic jam and lets you arrive for work on time, albeit with wind-blown hair along with mildly crumpled clothes. For eco-warriors, the bike is the best alternative to gas-guzzling cars that spew pollutants like it was dispensing candy.

For health enthusiasts, the fixie is also another means to get their adrenalin pumping, a cheaper alternative to paying a lifetime membership fee at the gym. This is because the fixie is unlike any other bike because how it moves and how fast it moves depends entirely on rider input. Many people are challenged by the commitment and discipline it demands, as well as from the sense of adventure that it brings out when you ride it down mean, busy streets.

Riding a fixie means you can't coast, you can't rest so the benefits as far as muscle building and weight loss are concerned, are substantial enough to make any beginner want to give it a try. It is not for the weak of heart and is perfect for anyone who is into adventure and adrenalin rush. Once you ride a fixie, you can't stop and stopping is itself quite an art because you'll need to shift your weight to the front wheel, lock your knees to absorb the momentum then skitter to a stop in a somewhat controlled fashion. Not everybody can do this without looking as if they're about to fall off the bike but once you get the hang of it, watching you perform the perfect "stoppie" is just like magic.

Fashion has also made its presence felt with the fixie, with more and more riders customizing their bikes to suit their personal tastes, matching it with their outfits or accessories. Biking apparel has also become quite a hit with the in crowd as more and more people began to reach for spandex in order to show off those toned physiques. Charity events are no longer limited to marathons and triathlons - they also coordinate bikathons as well.

In case the ever-growing bike lanes, bike parks, bike racks and bike boulevards don't convince you that people are more into fixies than cars, get your head out of the clouds, wake up and smell the gear oil. The fixie has become an iconic fixture in current society and it doesn't look like it will be going away anytime soon.

If you want to experience the popularity of the fixie, you only need to go to one place. Check out fixies for sale at Chappelli and understand what makes them tick.