Go Play in Traffc...

Track bi ke cul ture - Summer 2008 - www.fi xed-mag.com

Between the Lines/Bike Polo/From Hanoi to Hackney/
Word To Mother/Whats up, Huf?/Most Wanted/
Jonathan Burkett Bike Check and the best cycling photos out there... +
Two W
heels Good: riding with John C
ardiel.
Setagaya Park: Tokyos newest riding spot
Who the hell is Superted?
Entente Cordiale: London invades P
aris.
Kyle Kelley: The brains behind Trackosaurus Rex.
1
FREE
Startline.
We are often unkind to new creations,
new talent and the new in general -
but the new needs friends...
Hi... Glad you could make it; you are looking
at the frst issue of Fixed Mag. Im typing
this before its even fnished and Im already
excited - and we know you will be too. We
had a lucky start, with riders contributing
from all over the world and we want Fixed
to become even more international... Weve
heard whispers of fxed scenes rising in many
small, far away cities and we want to help
bring those riders to a common, welcoming
new arena.
Were at the beginning of something very new,
which promises to be the most signifcant and
amazing time. This is the no holdsbarred,
anything goes, lets do this and dont give a
fuck what anyone else thinks stage. Believe
me, the dont give a fuck mentality has
brought this magazine a long way already,
and is propably a large part of why you are
where you is!
There is more than enough time for this
evolving culture to branch out and sprout
more specifc sub-cultures, but just hold on a
minute - there aint no rush! Slow down, enjoy
the ride and take a look at who is riding next
to you.
Andy Ellis, Fixed Mag
London, June 2008
Startline.
Lets get this party started
Contents.
A point of reference
Hot Air.
News and views from the track bike world
Ratios.
Damn lies and statistics
Instants.
Moments in time
Antivelo.
A day in Sacto with John Cardiel
Duality.
Friends who ride together
Subscribe.
Get Fixed sent straight to your door
Between the Lines.
Odge Wong looks into the future
Frames.
The worlds fnest riding photos
Flip Flop.
UK artist Word to Mother talks
Most Wanted.
Product to stoke you out
Polo.
Snapshots from the courts
POV.
Evolution - where are we headed?
Bike Check.
Jonathan Burketts ride
Lookout.
Upcoming riders under the spotlight
Contents.
42.
Superted.
Edward James, please stand up
6
8
16
20
24
28
30
32
36
62
82
84
88
90
92
94
Tracko.
Inside the brains of Trackosaurusrex 38.
(Setagaya) Park Life.
Tokyos fastest growing spot uncovered 56.
From Hanoi to Hackney.
Whats fun in one life, is essential in another
72.
Huf.
Whats up, Huf?
80.
Les Rosbifs au Pays des
Grenouilles
Fixed Gear London in Paris
76.
Fixed-magazine
Editor: Andy Ellis
andy@fxed-mag.com
Art Director: Viktor Vauthier
viktor@fxed-mag.com
Publishing Editor: Ian Sansom
ian@fxed-mag.com
Senior Photographer: Cedric Viollet
cedric@fxed-mag.com
Production Manager: Nastassia Conquet
nastassia@fxed-mag.com
Contributing Writers
Sebastien Carayol, Andy Ellis, Will Harmon, Kyle
Kelley, Tom LaMarche, Max Lewis, Louis-David
Najar, Burd Phillips, Sebastien Renard, Ian San-
som, Patrick Straub, Minh-ai Ton, Odge Wong,
Pete Yak.
Contributing Photographers
Ben Broomfeld, Jonathan Burkett, Sebastien
Carayol, Andy Ellis, Massan Fluker, Ken Goto,
Steve Hartley, Marcel Lammerhirt, Jose Marti-
nez, Tom James, Max Lewis, Benedict Radcliffe,
Steve The Slabco Robot, Ian Sansom, Andrea
Schilliro, Mickey Spence, Patrick Straub, Rose
Wind, Lazer Comodore.
Fixed magazine is published four times a year by
Death Trap Publishing and is available free from
select bike shops around the world. Single copies
and subscriptions are available on payment of the
appropriate fee please go to www.fxed-mag.
com for more information. If youd like to stock
Fixed magazine in your shop, please contact us
for details
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Contributors
We welcome contributions, but do not accept
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contact us to discuss your ideas before sending
anything in andy@fxed-mag.com
Thanks to everyone who made this possi-
ble, you know who you are. And thank you
for taking the time to read Fixed. No, really.
Fixed magazine is printed on unbleached,
100% recycled paper using vegetable oil
inks
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Fixed 16
BICYCLE FILM08 FESTIVAL
Photos: J Martinez
Theres a (bike) party going on...
photos by www.negativo.org
Entering its eighth year, the Bicycle Film Festival celebrates
bicycle culture of all kinds with a unique global tour of bike-
related movies. With 17 stops in cities around the world,
the event kicked off in NYC on 29th May and featured a
full program of bicycle movies (including Fast Friday as the
headliner!), related fun, riding and yes, even a little partying.
The Dear Velo art show went down well and threw up all
manner of cool weirdness and the Bicycle Block Party, in
association with Trackstar, provided raucous street fun. Next
stop on the tour is Toronto, with further events scheduled for
Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston,
Tokyo, Austin, London, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, Sydney, Mel-
bourne, Milan and Portland check www.bicyclefilmfestival.
com for dates and schedules and well see you there!
Fixed 18
HOT AIR.
go to www.fxed-mag.com
Items of interest - for up-to-the-minute news
This is the ill shit
To celebrate the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival, the organi-
sers have hooked up with Brooks England and released
a special, super limited edition version of the world famous
Swallow saddle in a beautiful British Racing Green. Limi-
ted to just 100 pieces, every one comes with a unique
serial number (from 1 to 100, you can even choose the
number you want as long as it hasnt gone already) and
is on sale from the www.brooksengland.com shop, or by
clicking through from www.bicycleflmfestival.com. Priced
at $250/159/129, these aint cheap, but then the best
never is...
`Fixed shoes from Vans?
As if producing a range of shoes using artwork from four
of Iron Maidens fnest ever albums wasnt badass enough,
Vans will be releasing their frst fxed gear specifc shoe la-
ter this summer. The Era Fixed from the Volt range comes
complete refective accents and a tool bag that fts under
your seat to keep your essentials safe. But this looks like its
just the start of something. Rumours have it that Mash SFs
Gabe Morford have been hard at work developing some-
thing a bit special... www.vans.com
Profle
These new Profle fxed hubs showed up just before we
went to press. Superted laced them into his Charge rims ri-
ght away and has been out shredding them for the last few
days. The verdict? Sweet! They roll really smooth... With a
long history in BMX, their frst fxed hubs look like a winner
durable, beautiful and bombproof. Theyre currently ship-
ping a fxed/free version, but the fxed/fxed version is ex-
pected this summer. Seven colours are available right now,
with new colourways and special limited editions being
introduced all the time. Theyre on to something good, we
think... For more information, check out the Profle site at
www.proflefxed.profleracing.com
New bikes from Charge
One of the frst bike companies to get their heads around
the fact that riders like good looking complete bikes, Char-
ge from the UK will be introducing two new models to their
range this summer, to join the best selling Plug. The Plug
Freestyler comes with transparent red frame and Deep V
style rims and riser bars, while the Plug Racer features a
chrome frame and drops. Geometries on the Plug range
are a little more relaxed than true track bikes, which makes
them a little easier to ride on city streets. Go to www.char-
gebikes.com and while youre there, search out the video
clips if you havent seen them yet.
Cooler
It seems like every newspaper in the world has run, or is
preparing, articles on Fixed Gear bikes and despite the ine-
vitable no brake madness! headlines that are springing up,
some journalists are actually doing their homework rather
than simply typing fxed gear into Google. Cooler, a Eu-
ropean girls action sports mag, just ran a fve page piece
which, spelling mistakes and over use of the word fxie
aside, is actually pretty decent www.coolermag.com.
Theyve run shots of an all-girl crew The Trixie Chix who
get together every week to ride, play polo, learn tricks and
have as much fun as they can check them out at www.
trixiechix.com
Tonite, Tonite
Check out this awesome hat we
just found. Tonite are a small brand
inspired by the likes of Prince,
Frank Frazzeta, Metallica (Cliff Bur-
ton Era!), 80s Skate Graphix, The
Second Summer Of Love 1988,
Keith Haring, Punk, Funkadelic,
The Boredoms, Etc. and were
established to present streetwear
made with real Love that was for the People. During their
journey, theyve worked with the likes of Royal Trux, Chrome
Hoof, Soulwax, to name a few and theres plenty more to
come. Go to their new website www.tonitesite.com to see
their wares for yourself, where you can also be enlisted to
the Tonite Fanclub where you can become part of TEAM
TONITE. You will receive cosmic transmissions with further
info...
Fixed 20
Ratios.
Ten things you did not know about Trackstar
compiled by Patty Bowman (trackstarnyc.com)
1. Zach wore sweatpants until he was 13
2. They secretly hate everything about track bikes
3. Theyve traded bikes for tattoos in the past
4. They have a courier service
5. They used to pay their messengers in sparks, and
wisdom
6. Zach emits flth from his body at all times and somet-
imes smells like urine, hes not allowed to touch any
thing in the shop thats white
7. Zach, contrary to popular belief, does not eat babys
hearts
8. Customers who are persistent enough can sometimes
actually buy stuff
9. They excel at running race checkpoints
10. Brad hit on Mr. Suginos wife
Ten tricks you should have down by now
1. Backward circles
2. Pop-ups
3. Leg over bar skids
4. Switch skids
5. 180 skids
6. No handed skids
7. No handed trackstands
8. Hop skids
9. Skids anywhere
10. Barefooted trackstand
Ten all time favourite tricks (In no particular
order)
1. Nose wheelie
2. Crank grind
3. Backside disaster
4. Lipslide
5. Bar spin variations
6. The spin
7. Wheelies anywhere
8. One handed wheelies anywhere
9. Pop-ups (no handed)
10. Pop-up wheelies
Fifteen (plus one more)
fxed specifc websites that rule
1. Trackosaurusrex.com
2. Mashsf.com
3. Bootlegsessions.blogspot.com
4. Cadenceclothing.net
5. Pedalmafa.com
6. Trackstarnyc.com
7. Hkfxed.com
8. Londonfgss.com
9. Fixedgearlondon.com
10. Bicycleflmfestival.com
11. Macaframa.com
12. Wolfpackhustle.com
13. Fixedgeargallery.com
14. Fbmfxed.com
15. Fastfridaymovie.com
16. Proflefxed.profleracing.com
Facts, fgures and crap we just made up
Photo : Massan
Fixed 22
PA. USA compiled by Tom LaMarche
(bootlegsessions.net)
1 number of days it took to shoot Toms photos for his
Lookout(see page 96)
80 average gear inch ridden in Philly
200 number of Aerospoke wheels not on the track in
2007
700 approximate number days that Brooklyn Machine
Works frames are on back order
CA. USA compiled by Kyle Kelly
(trackosaurusrex.com)
236 number of Track Bikes in LA before Orange 20 ope-
ned (134 of these were mine)
2,360 Track Bikes in LA after Orange 20 opened
365 the days you can ride a bike in LA a year without
seeing clouds or rain
366 number of days you can ride a bike in LA every leap
year without seeing clouds or rain
2 mountains in LA you can ride a Track Bike up without
changing your gear ratio
3 estimated number of EAI Gold Medal cogs on conver-
sions
5 number of Taco Trucks you will see on your way home
from anywhere
12 estimated number of Aerospokes on conversions
73 average gear inch being ridden in LA (by the smart
people)
Compiled by Andy Ellis (fxedgearlondon.com)
1 number of days it took to shoot all Teds photos for his
interview (see page 42)
6 number of bikes stolen from or otherwise lost by Ted
in 2007
2 estimated London hipster population in 2004
2000 estimated hipster population today
4 Aerospoke wheels known to exist in London in June
2007
200 Estimated amount of Aerospokes now
70 average gear inch ridden in London
2426 number of members on the London forum (www.
londonfgss.com) as of 1st June 2008
France - Compiled by Louis-David Najar
(madbrosrecords.com)
2 total number of Aerospoke w heels known to exist in Paris
as of 1st June 2008
10 Parisian freestyle fxed riders. Maybe less.
60 average speed (in kilometres per hour) of the Thurs-
day pignonfxe crew ride
64 average gear inch ridden in Paris
345 Parisian forum members (pignonfxe.com)
75 number of Parisian fxed riders seen on the streets
on a regular basis
10 number of new bikes being ordered from Cyclope
the only fxed-specifc bike shop) every week
London.
Paris.
Philadelphia.
Los Angeles.
The Numbers game/
Global statistics compiled.
*All fact and fgures on this page were discussed and researched thoroughly. Where a fact didnt serve our
purposes, we substituted it for something that did.
Fixed 24
I worked as a courier in London for a while, riding all over the city and deli-
vering packages to some of the wealthiest companies in the world. Every
day, Id have to use all kinds of elevators, in some of the most amazing
buildings the city had to offer. Most of them have CCTV cameras to make
sure you dont fuck about, especially if they are government buildings...
Its impossiblle to just relax, if you catch my drift, so Id spend my time in
doing one of two things... either standing there, bored or taking pictures
on my camera phone... Words and photos by Andy Ellis
INSTANTS
get lifted...
Fixed 28 Fixed
29
Y
ou al ways say yes. Al ways. Ska-
teboardi ng l egend John Cardi el s
energy i s so communi cati ve, you
never thi nk twi ce. Whatever i t i s,
youre down. Try a new Matte tea?
Check. Learn how to mi x properl y a
Beres Hammond vocal i nto the Morgan Heri ta-
ge one? Check. Go ri de a fi xed gear bi ke al l ni -
ght i n the Sacramento traffi c? Hel l yeah! Then,
and onl y then, you remember the no brakes
thi ng. The fact that Johns l egacy got bui l t on
360i ng Marsei l l e skateparks huge transfer on a
broken board, or droppi ng Portl and Burnsi des
hi ghest wal l . Pl us, oh yeah, no bi g deal , but i t
j ust occurs to me that I ve never, ever ri dden a
fi xed gear bi ke. Just a bunch of shi tty Peugeot
or Fuj i 10-speeds, and thats i t.
Before the real i ty check even ki cks i n, were
headi ng towards a nearby sandy track. Easi er
to l earn to ski d, John expl ai ns. After a few sti ff
attempts, fi nal l y, my back ti re scratches the sur-
face and i t feel s l i ke that fi rst 50-50 on a skate-
board. By the ti me passersby are done fi guri ng
out what two guys on bi kes can be doi ng on
a runners track, and why one of them gets so
hyped up, yel l i ng Yeeeaaah, Seb!, here come
the fi rst ski ds on actual asphal t. No real ti me
to work on my stance so i t doesnt feel l i ke my
hi ps are gonna pop out of thei r sockets when
I brake, were al ready goi ng upstream i n traffi c
i n downtown Sac. The ski ddi ng techni que co-
mes fast when you have no other choi ce. As
expected, John skates these streets he knows
by heart, onl y the medi um has changed.
Youve seen Mash SF, ri ght? Bunny hops ne-
ver l ook the same after youre actual l y ri di ng
a murdered-out, perfectl y pai nted bl ack track
frame John took thi s one to the I ndependent
skate trucks factory, where i t got pai nted wi th
the same process used on I ndys. How much
more skateboard can you get? Cardi el got cl as-
si cal l y-BMX trai ned, and i t shows. He put a PK
Ri pper sti cker on hi s whi te Bi anchi Concept
frame, whi ch rai ses a l ot of questi ons. Some
dude at a bar: Oh do they do PK Ri pper fi xi es
now? I mean, wi th al l the hype around these
thi ngs these days Whatever. Hype or not, i t
doesnt l ook l i ke too many bi ke messengers are
out i n the ci ty at 10 at ni ght not sure you need
thei r bags to carry your Starbucks cup what
real l y counts i s how much fun you have. John
doesnt real l y gi ve a shi t about the whol e trend
thi ng. For one, he bui l ds hi s bi kes wi th moun-
tai n bi ke stems and strai ght bars, and doesnt
understand the whol e pursui t l ook peopl e are
after. You cant see anythi ng, you cant j ump, i t
j ust sucks, dude, he thi nks. I l l have to agree.
I thought we were j ust goi ng to gi ve ri di ng a
shot toni ght, but i ts al ready mi dni ght and weve
hi t so many spots, among them, a skate vi -
deo premi ere i n the al l ey behi nd a skate-shop.
Newl y-fi xed l ocal heroes Matt Rodri guez and
Omar Sal azar show up. Yes, for those who have
seen Omar skate, hes got a bi ke now. I magi ne
that. John doesnt want to stay too l ong, as
hes never at ease wi th the l egend status hes
acqui red over the years, so i nstead we zi p off
through traffi c, ski ddi ng away. Cardi el wants
to show every parki ng entrance, every sl i ck si -
dewal k. He eats i t ski d-sl al omi ng between three
grani te bal l s i n front of some hotel , gets hi s wal -
l et chai n stuck i n a tree gri d. He gri ns. Tears the
chai n and takes off. A securi ty guard manages
to remove the remai ni ng pi ece, two i nches of
now-usel ess wal l et chai n. John gi ves i t to me.
So youl l remember your fi rst ti me ri di ng one of
these, he l aughs. I ts two i n the morni ng. My
l egs ache for the next three days.
Antivlo.
Words & photo by Seb Carayol
John doesnt really give a shit about the whole trend thing. For one, he builds
his bikes with mountain bike stems and straight bars, and doesnt understand the
whole pursuit look people are after.
A Sacramento Saturday night with John Cardiel
Fixed 30 Fixed
31
Seb is your typical French dude always
passionate, slightly arrogant and he loves to
talk but on his bike, he is one of the gnarliest
guys I know I dont think we have ever
ridden in a calm or relaxed manner. Seb loves
to rag it everywhere and the more traffc, the
better! Except for talking, his favourite hobby
is pissing off other road users We have a
lot in common (not the talking bit) I always
fnd it fun to ride with him and its good to
know someone has your back, if you get into
a situation. Pull a wheelie mista!
By Patrick Straub.
Sebastien on Patrick
Patrick on Sebastien
Patrick, a.k.a. Patman! Hes a cool kid, a
good rider and hes fast and fun to be with
on the road. We hang out a lot and ride
everywhere around London together. It
seems the two of us are always in a rush
somewhere, loving the traffc jams and
passing cars. Patrick is a free spirit and I
like his chilled out attitude. I would say that
his style goes between crazy sided skids,
wheelies at high speed and kicking random
objects that happen to meet his wheels. A
player in everything, really, so ladies beware!
Enough now, lets roll Pat!
By Sebastien Renard.
Photos : Cedric Viollet & Andy Ellis
DUALITY.
Riding with friends means learn their every move and how theyre
going to react to different situations. Patrick Straub and Sebastien
Renard describe their experiences on the streets of London town
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Fixed 36 Fixed
37
And its true practised individuals can act and react with ease in situations where
others fnd diffculty. Riding a fxed gear bike, like in skateboarding, surfng or
snowboarding, gives you freedom in the route you choose, but it is the experience
and dedication of these individuals that permits them to defy rules with pleasure
and excitement.
Unlike other sports, cyclists have to contend with traffc, whether human or vehicular.
Despite the many irritating obstacles you may face in a days ride, there is a certain
sense of satisfaction from attacking the citys streets. During certain times of the
day, even when buses and taxi drivers are not enough, there are even battles
amongst our own, cyclists versus cyclists. Although it can be denied, the feeling of
winning against each other appeals to the competitive nature. The fnish line may
not be a common one, but while you ride together you gather what energy and
courage you have and pedal your damn hardest.
Most cyclists follow the path that is presented to them by road rules and traffc, but
fxed-gear riders look for gaps and utilise the entire road in order not to stop. We
dictate our lines. The choices we make detemine the fow. When riding in a pack of
friends, we all know our destination, yet the route there is wide open If you know a
shortcut, you take it. What you try to avoid is to be left behind, to avoid feeling envy
as your compatriot effortlessly takes a perfect line and zips past you and the traffc
to gain those extra yards. You know you have to pedal again, and pick up speed
just to gain back your lost ground. Sure, you can make up for it, but you promise
not to make the same mistake twice.
To sceptics, the brakeless fxed-wheel rider is considered a danger to the public,
but the average cyclist depends solely upon their hand brakes to slow them down.
The very mechanics of fxed-wheel bikes allow the rider to manoeuvre through the
traffc with much more control. The direct drive-train provides momentum, pushing
us along when picking up speed, yet when you apply resistance you immediately
begin to decelerate. The feeling of unity with your bike is achieved as you stop
relying on the use of a fnger-brake and depend on your legs. Due to the absence
of a brake, riders are forced to become more aware of their surroundings and
anticpate what will happen next. It is all about the approach. If you are faced with
sudden obstacles, knowledge of skidding will aid in avoiding it.
With these learned techniques, fxed-wheel riders can be confdent and defant in
their journey through the city. With increased experience the awareness of your
surroundings grows, the faster you ride, the further you can see into the future...
In a short flm about NYC Messengers, director Joshua
Frankel said that riders can see ffteen seconds into the
future, highlighting their relationship with the contemporary
city in which they operate.
BETWEEN
THE LINES.
Words by Odge Wong
Photography by Ben Broomfeld
I
f you are interested in a subject, even if its
something as absurd as collecting toenail
clippings that resemble dead celebrities,
then it is an absolute guarantee that you will
fnd 50,000 internet blogs written by people
who are interested in the exact same thing.
It is also true that there is almost certainly one
specifc blog that you and the rest of your fellow
dead-celebrity-toenail-clipping collectors regard
as the main source of information about your
pastime, the top dog blog, so to speak.
For people into fxed gear bikes, particularly
those who are into pushing the limits of what
can be done on one, that blog is most likely
Trackosaurusrex.com. Tracko has somewhat
become the epicenter of the English-speaking
fxed gear world. If you want kids to learn about
your shop that just opened, or see your new
video, or come to an event that youre pushing,
then the frst thing you do is send the info to
T-Rex and hope that they post it. If they do,
then youre pretty much golden.
Despite what you might think, running a blog
is not easy. You have to put a tremendous
amount of time into it in order to generate
enough content to keep your readers coming
back on a regular basis. Whatever youre blog-
ging about has to be more than just something
you do for kicks it has to be an obsession.
There are plenty of people who are obsessed
with track bikes these days, but probably few
more so than Kyle Kelley, the main man behind
Tracko...
Burd - You live in LA, but youre not originally from there.
You grew up in Southern Indiana, then lived in Chicago for a
while, correct? What made you move to LA? And youre not
allowed to say sex, drugs, or rock-and-roll.
Kyle - I grew up in Evansville, IN and later moved to Bloo-
mington, IN (REFUND!) to attend college. The time I spent in
Bloomington has a lot to do with who I am today, because
it made me fall in love with bikes again. I lived in Chicago for
a while, which cannot be beat in the spring and fall, but the
winter was depressing for me. I always knew I wanted to
be in California and had originally planned to move to San
Francisco, but then I got a job offer in LA. Ive been here for
about three years I cannot think of any place I would rather
be at this moment in my life.
A lot of people hate on LA, but I think the bike community
here is extra great for the simple fact that we really need to
stick together in a city like this. Anytime someone is hating
on LA, I think of the chorus of To Live & Die in LA... Its the
place to be/Youve got to be there to know it... I had my
doubts, too, but now I know.
Burd - Bloomington is obviously famous for the Little 500
and for being the setting for the movie Breaking Away... Did
you start riding fxed when you got there? Or did that start in
Chicago or LA? You used to skate too, right? Did you stop
skating when you started riding more?
Kyle - I saw Breaking Away before I moved to Blooming-
ton, but my frst fxed gear was built after reading an article
in Stance Magazine. Right before I moved to Bloomington
the only bike I had was a custom dual slalom mountain bike
that I didnt want to leave locked up anywhere. The Stance
article was about how to convert old road bikes and it see-
med like an affordable solution for my situation. My mothers
old road bike became my frst fxed gear. I built the bike for
transportation, but it quickly became a much bigger part of
my life. Growing up was mostly about BMX for me, but yes, I
also rollerbladed. Am I allowed to say that? I stopped skating
around the time I moved to Bloomington, but that had more
to do with my interest shifting to flming rather than riding.
Burd Youre probably going to catch some fak for ad-
mitting that... but do you really give a crap about catching
fak from people? You always seem to post things on T-Rex
with a pretty positive spin, even if they are things that you
probably know will generate hate from a lot of the people
who post on your site. Does it ever get you down or make
you not want to post certain things? Or do you just chalk it
up to teh internetz and not worry about it?
Kyle - Yeah... Whatever. I could have been born in a
velodrome, ridden a track bike my whole life and I would still
catch fak. I rode BMX, mountain bikes, snowboards and
rollerbladed growing up. I think they call it freestyle rolling
these days. So, no... I dont really care about catching fak
from people.
Kyle Kelley.
Words by Burd Phillips
Photos by Steve the Slabco Robot & Mickey Spence

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41
because he can afford a custom BMW and I cant. Moving
on... it seems to me that the fxed gear thing is starting to
move away from the whole messenger fashion thing and is
somewhat turning into a retirement home for skateboarders.
John Cardiel is a good example of that, and Ill admit that
I personally ft that description as well. Do you think thats
going to push the fxed gear phenomenon in a completely
different direction? And would that be good or bad?
Kyle - You never know...Kanye is pretty unpredictable.
There are so many types of people riding now that track
bikes cant be defned by one thing; they all bring different
infuences and styles. Skateboarding is one of them, and
it has been on the scene for a while. Jovante Turner and
John Igei have styles that I think could only have come from
skateboarding. But overall I dont think skateboarding alone
has, or will, change the direction of the Track Bike Freak
Out. It seems to me that right now BMX is a bigger infuence
on track bikes and what is being done on them. You can
see it in some of the new frames that are being produced,
the way people are building their bikes and in the tricks
people are doing. I think its important to remember that
the aspect of track bike culture were talking about here is
just one piece of a bigger picture. All the different aspects
and people are the reason I have something to post about
everyday on Tracko.
Q - Tom LaMarche gets irritated when I refer to him as the
fxed gear poster boy. Is it OK if I call you the fxed gear Larry
Flint?
Kyle - You can call me anything you like as long as you re-
place fxed gear with track bike.
Q - How many pairs of shoes do you own now? And be
honest.
Kyle - I have a pair Sambas for riding hills, some Vans for
everyday use, some moccasins for hanging out, running
shoes for running and hiking boots for hiking. I sold all my
shoes to buy bike parts. Oh... I forgot about my two most
important pairs of shoes my Sidis for cyclocross and my
Northwaves for the road bike.
Check out trackosaurusrex.com for the most up to
date track bike information there is. And try not to hate
on the message boards; lets not forget that were all
riding track bikes and all progression is good.
It seems like a positive spin is a must with all the hate these
days. If it is individuals doing something, I dont think theres
any room to hate. That said, there are certain things I wont
post, even if it is individuals doing their best because I know
that if Im not feeling it, the shit talking will go nuts and for me,
thats not what the site is about. I try to keep things honest
and positive. I am usually only negative when I feel like so-
meone is jumping on the Track Bike Freak Out, just trying to
make money or a better name for themselves.
Its the interweb dont worry, just be happy!
Burd - So how did the whole T-Rex site get started anyway?
What gave you the idea?
Kyle - Trackosaurus Rex came about a few years ago when
a friend and I started talking about doing a magazine. It was
going to be track bikes, track bikes, track bikes everything
track bikes and the website originally started as a way to
build interest in the project. We ran into some troubles get-
ting the magazine going, but the website was successful
in building interest. And as time went on, the site became
the resource that I had originally hoped the magazine would
be. I have a lot of ideas about what I want Tracko to be, but
as it has done since the beginning, it will continue to evolve
on its own.
Coming out the gate like two bears in a Buick regal...Kanye
was into Tracko since day one. If you dont believe it, take a
look back at the frst post ever.
Burd - I did go back and look at that frst post, and youre ri-
ght, the frst comment you ever received was from someone
who listed his name as Kanye West. Obviously it wasnt the
real Kanye, but thats pretty ironic considering the mild stink
that was generated after it was revealed that he had pur-
chased a custom built Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta
that looked like it would glow in the dark. How do you feel
about that sort of thing? Does it bother you that track bikes
are becoming more prevalent in certain segments of pop
culture?
Kyle - Wait a second, youre telling me that wasnt really
Kanye?
I am pretty much for anything that brings cycling greater
exposure in the media because it helps make the masses
more aware of cyclists and maybe, just maybe, it will also
get someone on a bike. I am not into the fact that the Track
Bike has become an accessory for some people, no diffe-
rent than a pair of sunglasses or a handbag. Those people
buy what they think is cool and then post it up in their home
waiting for someone to ask about it at their next dinner party.
What I really love more than anything is the pure joy I see
in someones face riding their bicycle down the street. The
big smile... like they dont have a care in the world. Thats
what keeps me going, thats what makes it all right. More
and more people are riding bikes everyday and thats all
that matters.
As for Kanyes bike, I think its great that it glows in the dark.
If it didnt, hed probably get hit riding home from one of
those big concerts he performs.
Burd Yeah right... Im guessing that the frst thing Kanye
did when he got that bike was to check to make sure it ft in
the trunk of his limo, because thats probably the only way
it will ever be on the road. Then again, maybe Im just bitter
There are so many types of people riding now that track
bikes cant be defned by one thing; they all bring different
infuences and styles
Interview
Superted.
Words : Pete Yak / Photography : Cedric Viollet
Fixed 44 Fixed
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I
ts a regular night in the Fixed Gear London
studio. This shared, ex-industrial factory
space has in recent months become
something of a regular stop-off point for
the growing community of fxed gear riders
in Londons East End and tonight is no
exception. While someone is changing a
wheel, another bike enthusiast is using his
numerous contacts to try and source a pair of
those elusive white Vittoria tyres that everyone
is after at the moment. A third tells a story of
a relentlessly unyielding taxi driver who got
his come-uppance when approaching the
bottleneck that is Old Street roundabout.
Calm, serene and seemingly oblivious to all
the ferreting going on around him sits perhaps
the most celebrated of all the riders in todays
London community. Edward James, or Sup
erted, as he is fondly known, has been riding
for such a long time that he is one of the few
who makes it look like his bike is an extension
of his body. Like a master samurai whose skill is
born out of discipline, respect and knowledge
of his tool, Teds mastery has been developed
and painstakingly honed over time. Getting to
be this good on a bike can be something of
solitary mission, with constant practice being
the lynchpin for success. Being noticed,
and the respect of others, is something that
still surprises him, as a recent visit to Paris
proved.It was kind of strange because we got
treated like royalty out there he recalls. The
frst night was pissing with rain, but about 20
people came out. Some of the guys had been
riding fxed for two years without anyone to ride
with, but everyone came out of the woodwork
and by the time we left there were so many
riders that we didnt have time to meet them all.
There are more and more people riding right
now and that can only be a good thing.
Ted picked up sponsorship from bike company
Charge almost a year ago. Their bikes are
I wanted a stripped-down bike for
street riding and was ready for a new
challenge
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49
good, really strong a pre-requisite when
someone like Ted is on the bike. Ive got a slightly
shorter stem now, which is better for tricks. I got
some wider bars, and put some Charge cruiser
forks on it, too The Plug is a great bike for the
money, but Im hoping to design a bike based
around it, which will be tweaked for trick riding. It
is apparent that Ted always looks to modify what
comes off the production-line and this constant
desire to transform goes back to his childhood
in order to train for mountain bike racing,
Ted would ride the famed open-air, concrete
velodrome at Herne Hill the last facility from the
1948 London Olympics that is still in use today.
I used to go every Saturday morning recalls
Ted. I was about twelve when I rode my frst
fxed bike down there My dad was a cyclist
and riding a bike is one of my frst memories,
he explains. He would do charity bike races
and rides and I would watch, although I wasnt
allowed to ride until I had taken my cycling
profciency test, which you can only do when
youre nine. My brother did his the year before
me and as soon as I was old enough I passed,
too, then did a thirty-mile ride and wanted to ride
home afterwards.
The effervescent passion for two wheels lights
up Teds face, but this is no nostalgia trip, as the
glint remains when remembering a more recent
event, the Salisbury winter challenge, when he
took it upon himself to ride the 50km fxed, on
his Charge Plug, which had been adapted with
a front brake. Really hard work, that one. Then
I did the Spring Series Round 3 on the Charge
Stove, also fxed with a front brake and I chose
the wrong gear, laughs Ted Really painful he
adds matter-of-factly.
A few years ago, while working at a bike shop
in Waterloo, Ted observed the steady increase
in couriers who would ride fxed gear bikes, for
speed and swiftness. I thought it was a good
idea for the street, remembers Ted. Couriers
Fixed 50 Fixed
51
Superted is one of the few who makes
it look like his bike is an extension of his
body
Fixed 54
did it because it got them from around fast, but I wanted to do it
because it made sense to have a stripped down bike for street riding
and I was ready for a new challenge I got a cycle speedway frame
with a really relaxed head-tube angle, which made it really comfortable
to ride. Soon after, I moved into a house with my friend and we
started to build fxed bikes from old road frames. Its not like we had
an agenda to start what is now Fixed Gear London, we just liked
riding and building bikes. Back then we used to ride with horns on
our bars, honking at people as we went past. Its come a long way
but its always been fun.
Back then was about two and a half years ago, when Fixed Gear
London was an idea waiting for its time. The reality today is that Ted
still has fun with bikes, whether its building them up from scratch,
fxing them for the stiffs down at City Hall or just simply thrashing the
crap out of them in an event, it is done with a lot of vigour and a liberal
sprinkling of fun.
Aside from all of this, the multi-faceted Superted also builds and
mends bikes for the London Ambulance Service. A guy that I know
from my days working at Condor started up a company called The
Bike Doctor and through that got a contract with the Ambulance
Service and various others. Weve actually just serviced loads of
suspension forks for them... Weve also been teaching them how
to fx their own bikes its a great feeling when you see someone
understand what youre teaching them and then they can work out
problems for themselves he grins.
To fnish up, well leave it to the man himself to describe how he got
his adoptive name. About four years ago I was working at a welding
company. Id lift these heavy beams on my own and the guys decided
to call me Superted And then, when I was working at Evans cycles
guys called me that whenever I fxed a bike That guy Superted can
fx any bike, whatever the problem!
Amen to that!
Getting this good on a bike means constant practice as
the lynchpin for success
Drawing by Fran.
When the sun sets over Tokyo, track bikes descend on the citys Setagaya Park,
where they circle like sharks. The Setagaya Crew dont have a set time to meet, but
when their days chores are over they go and ride. And thats really what its all about
track bikes bringing people together, on the paths around the park where they
can cruise, popping wheelies and backwards circles till their hearts content. Every
week, more riders from West Tokyo come, just guys looking for a no-hassle spot to
ride at and fellow riders to talk with and learn from. The park is full of fresh riders
who are keen to practice and push themselves, thriving on the environment and
who will soon be a regular part of the scene. Because its not all about the tricks and
skills for these guys, its about what theyre creating, the styles theyre setting and
the fun theyre having doing it. Check Setagaya and Destroy 2 when it drops later
this year and a big thanks to Koske for getting everyone together for the photos...
Park Life.
(Setagaya Crew)
photo crew/words : Max Lewis
photo opening : Marcel Lammerhirt
Fixed 58 Fixed
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a.k.a. Tommy from the T19 crew
Bike check
I ride a Hetchins
Favourite phrase
Nothing to lose!
Why did you start riding?
It reminded me a lot of skateboarding
What is the future of track bikes?
At the moment, it looks like track bikes are
going to be moving away from the track
Bike check
Ghetto Bike 555
Favourite phrase
Snow man
Why did you start riding?
I thought it would get me
closer to heaven
What is the future for track
bikes?
Good I wonder how far
this can go?
from 104 Film and minor league
production
Bike check
Gan Well with aero fnn
Favourite spot
Streets of Shibuya and Setagaya
Favourite phrase
Minority
Why did you start riding?
Minority
What is the future for track bikes?
The future is so bright it is shining!
Bike check
Giro
Favourite spot
Honey Drippin
Favourite phrase
Coke please, Akira
Why did you start riding?
Through KD!
What is the future for track bikes?
Its a super environmentally
way to live and travel
Bike check
Kamikaze
Favourite phrase
Information gathering
Why did you start riding?
My friends got me interested
What is the future for track bikes?
There will be even more fun riding
Tadashi Tominaga.
Nakam.
Yuji.
Toshihiko Nakano.
Minato.
Fixed 60 Fixed
61
Bike check
Cinelli Vigorelli
Favourite phrase
Love
How did you start riding?
Through my friend Hiroshi Fujiwara
What is the future for tracka bikes?
Love
Bike check
Alan C Frame
Favourite phrase?
Play both ends against the middle
Why did you start riding?
Through friends
What is the future for track bikes?
Bright
Bike check
The OFF TRACK prototype
Favourite spot
Setagaya park and Komazawa streets
Favourite phrase
Work hard and trust
Why did you start riding?
I was inspired by Mash, T19 and
Kalavinka
What is the future of track bikes?
The future is bright, but beginners
need to practice hard
Bike check
Bridgestone
Favourite phrase
Skateboard
Why did you start riding?
It looked like fun, so I tried it
What is the future for track bikes?
More fun!
Toku. Yushi Aoki.
Koske.
Kota.
Hajime Takeuchi.
Bike check BB
Favourite phrase Way of life
Why did you start riding?
I watched Keirin racing when I was younger and it
grew from there
What is the future of track bikes
Track bikes forever
Yohei Ogawa.
Bike check
My bike is called Fujimi-kun, It means the Undead. Its
a Remington with a Zipp 440
Favourite phrase
A class bitches
Why did you start riding?
I started riding with friends
What is the future for track bikes?
Its a really ecological way to live, so the future is good
Full.
Bike check
BS, Bridgestone
Favourite phrase
Im thirsty
Why did you start riding?
I wanted some excitement and track bikes looked like
theyd give it to me
Gekishi.
Bike check
No brakes
Favourite phrase
Cat
Why did you start riding?
I lost my love and needed something to replace it
What is the future for track bikes?
I want a public track bike park in Tokyo!
Fixed 62 Fixed
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Images : Cedric Viollet
Frames.
Image : Cedric Viollet
Fixed 64 Fixed
65
Image : Andrea Shiliro.
Fixed 66 Fixed
67
Image : Cedric Viollet
Fixed 68 Fixed
69
Image: Andrea Shiliro Image: Ben Broomfeld
Fixed 70
Image : Lazer Comodore.
Whats wrong? Whats so funny? I asked
defensively.
Are you mad? she shouted (not because
she was angry, Chinese women only have one
volume loud)
We used to ride these in Vietnam, but only
because we couldnt afford any better She
continued, laughing, shouting
What do you mean? I asked
Wel l , theyre stupi d, you cant even stop
pedal l i ng!
But thats why theyre good! I said, starting to
realise I was fghting a losing battle
You kids today she said sighing, chuckling.
You dont realise how lucky you are...
My parents grew up i n Hanoi duri ng the
Vi etnam War. My mum and her family were
typical of most poor Vietnamese; living in the
suburbs, riding their bikes, loaded with produce
from the familys land to sell in town. Anything
from vegetables and fruit, to animal feed and
large sacks of rice; they carried as much as they
could. I went there in 2003 and it was chaotic.
Actually, it was insane. The streets were loud,
aggressive, grey, dusty and heaving with
people but somehow it worked.
I had never imagined that my mum would have
ridden a fxed gear bike, but their well known
benefts simple, reliable and cheap are even
more valid in rural Vietnam than they are in ma-
jor cities around the world. I imagine her rushing
to catch the early morning shoppers, weaving
through a city that resembles a shambolic
Critical Mass; where every lane is a bicycle lane
and every colour light means go. Just one of
hundreds of bicycles mixed with rickshaws, mo-
peds, people, cars, oxen and carts. Every day
shed force her way through rough, corroded
and disordered streets on a rusty old bike with
one gear that she couldnt stop pedalling. And
as she remembers it, it wasnt exhilarating and it
certainly wasnt fun.
That made me think about the way we ride the
streets of London, as bold as our bikes. We
see their refection rolling along the smooth sur-
faces of our own specially painted lanes. The
only thing we have to worry about is dodging
a few potholes, drains and the odd car. I think
about the organised rides and how empowering
and liberating it feels to ride with big groups; like
the frst warm day in spring when cyclists are
I had never imagined that my
mum would have ridden a fxed
gear bike
O
n the day I got my fi rst fi xed gear
bi ke, I careful l y rode i t home,
exci t ed t o show my mum I had
been tryi ng to expl ai n what fi xed gear was
and had fai l ed qui te mi serabl y (i t occurred
to me l ater that I had never had say hub i n
Chi nese before). When she fi nal l y saw my
l ovel y, bri l l i ant whi te bi ke wi th i ts shi ny si l ver
parts, her reacti on wasnt what I expected;
she started l aughi ng a gi ggl i ng, mocki ng
l aughter
From Hanoi to Hackney.
one gear thinking spans the globe
By Minh Ai Ton
Fixed 74 Fixed
75
out in force. There is no sense of unity amongst
the cyclists in Hanoi. There is no social Internet
forum where they can discuss their bike-related
annoyances and what actions they can take to
resolve them, just a daily commute on the train
in rush hour; crammed together, claustropho-
bic and irritated, or stuck in traffc sitting side by
side.
Riding a fxed gear bike was my mums only
option. It was a chore, but was (and still is) an
essential part of life and survival in many parts
of the Majority World. Her bike had bells and a
basket not for decoration, but out of neces-
sity. It had a fxed gear not because it made
for a more enjoyable ride but because her family
couldnt afford a free wheel. Fixed gear bikes
were a symbol of the poor. In the same way that
children would laugh at the smelly kid in school,
neighbouring kids would jeer at her: cmon,
hurry up! Pedal, pedal, pedal! theyd shout as
they coasted past; fast and freely down hill on
their way to school. It was all she could do to
watch them fade into the distance; envious of
their better bikes.
My mum didnt have any kind of sentimental at-
tachment to her bike It was reliable and easy
to look after. Even if we could have afforded a
car, we couldnt keep it going. Gas, parts, who
would fx it? She had a point cars are expen-
sive to maintain. I know that mine is a pain in the
arse it has broken down more times than my
bike; and it cant be repaired with a puncture
repair kit.
I have struggled to understand my parents over
the years as they have struggled to understand
me not surprising, given the massively diffe-
rent surroundings in which we were brought up.
But in writing this, I have found something that
we can both relate to. We appreciate our bikes
for essentially the same reasons they serve us
well and they save us money. The difference is
that my mum rode her fxed gear bike because
she didnt have any other choice. I ride my fxed
gear bike because I enjoy it.
Theres a long, winding, quiet stretch of road
near my parents home in England that I love
to ride down. Its an idyllic road for cyclists; with
a slow, slight incline and is lined with oak trees
that separate the road from the lush green felds
behind them. On one recent evening I was riding
down that road, speeding towards the sunset,
trees rustling as they fashed by me in a blur, the
wind fowing through my hair. It was one of those
rides that just felt great, the same feeling you got
when you stuck your head right out of the car
window as a kid, except all over your body. It
was exhilarating. I felt free. And as I rushed down
that hill, I thought to myself how lucky am I?
That made me think about the way we ride
the streets of London, as bold as our bikes
Fixed
77
From Andys journal.
I wake up early. Didnt sleep much. We are due
to leave at 10am and Im expecting everyone to
be late which they are. We get out of the door
at 10:20 and its raining, ten minutes later we are
at Kings Cross station, ready to get the Eurostar
train that goes from London to Paris. It takes just
two hours, much less time than it would take
to go to the airport, check in, wait around, fy,
deal with customs and then get into the middle
of the city. We are running low on time, so eve-
ryone frantically starts taking apart their bikes and
packing them away, ready to put on the train.
Seb is the last one to arrive.
The hardest part of the journey is walking from
passport control to the train we each have
a big bag of clothes and a bike bag, making
moving very diffcult. Once on the train though,
everything is cool were all excited about the
trip! The route cuts through the southern En-
gland countryside and as we get to the coast it
starts snowing What!? While the southeast of
England is hilly and grey, as we emerge from the
tunnel, France is fat, dry and even sometimes
sunny! We arrive in Paris at about 1pm and start
to put our bikes back together on the station
platform. People look at us in strange ways and
some stop to ask what we are doing. One dude
walks around in circles with his dog, scratching
his head. He follows us outside and asks a lot of
questions. He looks like a homeless person, but
we fnd out hes just English.
I
n Apri l 2008 Fi xedgearl ondon deci ded to take a tri p to Pari s to ri de the ci ty and
check out the scene. After bul l shi tti ng about i t for a whi l e, el even ri ders actual l y
got i t together to make the tri p, whi ch i s a smal l mi racl e i n i tsel f. Andy, Odge,
Pouya, Nordi ne, Sebasti en, Benedi ct, Ted and Tom al l made the tri p one Sunday
morni ng, wi th Max, Patri ck, and Jody due to arri ve on the fol l owi ng Tuesday. Here
are excerpts from thei r di ari es.
Paris is a welcome change from London. Its
sunny and warm. We ride through the streets
trying to adjust to travelling on the opposite side
of the road. Wheelies and skids all up in them
streets, blood! I think Im going to have some tyre
issues real soon.
We ride to our friend Alices place on Place St
George, she lives above a restaurant, up a hill
near Mntmart, and we are so lucky to be staying
there thank you, Alice! We dump our stuff and
head out to explore, Louis our French Fixedgear-
london ambassador is the tour guide for the du-
ration of our trip. The Eiffel tower is the frst stop,
then we head up to the Trocadero, which has
some good sets of steps, a few banks and the
foor is completely smooth. Tom rides backwards
down an eight set of stairs, which we are all sur-
prised about seeing as he has only been riding
fxed for a week hes been riding BMX all his life,
though. Afterwards, we head to Palais de Tokyo,
which I have seen in countless skate videos over
the years. It feels strange to be there on a bike!
The skaters are quite accepting, which is a sur-
prise We decide to head to a local BMX spot
and see the frst fxed gear bike of the trip. It turns
out he was waiting for us to show up! His name
is Romain and he co-wrote an article for Cream
BMX mag called Fixed vs BMX which we contri-
buted towards The mag is cool. We tal k for
a l ong ti me about ri di ng i n the ci ty, I ask hi m
about a spot we had seen i n a BMX vi deo
Les
roastbeef
au
pays
des
grenouilles.
Fixedgearlondon in Paris ...
Photos by Benedict Radcliffe, Patrick Straub and Tom James
Fixed 78 Fixed
79
Palais Royale is a square where most of the fxed gear
community meet, once a week. Rumour had got around
that we were in town and slowly but surely, riders come out
of the woodwork.
hard to fnd, but its stocked full of loads of good
stuff. I think they have more frames than there
are riders in Paris! Its such a good setup, a bit
underground just like the scene and as the
scene grows, Cyclope will be at the heart of the
community but on an immense scale. I cant
believe there is no shop like this in London!
Tuesday. We decide to explore on our own to
get footage and photos. Its an amazing feeling
to be riding through the unknown with your close
friends. We end up back at the globe Ted and
Tom are frst to session the spot and they ride it
like its nothing. This thing is so tight it makes you
dizzy after a couple of times around. We spend
two hours riding, get some good footage and a
couple of snaps for the picture book. While we
are there we see a guy getting knocked off his
moped, right in front of a tram two minutes
later everything was back to normal! In London it
would have taken hours to sort that out
The next couple of days are blighted by rain and
late nights out, so theres nothing more to see
from me.
We ride around doing tricks, instigating some
street Keirin and building obstacles out of
wood Tom and Ted get up to some crazy
stuff over a hip we build and the session turns
into a bit of a demo. We really get to know the
French riders, the scene is so young but they
are all super into riding, building stuff and having
fun on their bikes. One difference is the gear
ratio they are riding most of the UK crew are
on around 64 gear inches, Paris is on 80 plus!
My rear tyre is looking really bad, so I speak
to the guys from the only shop in town and
arrange to get one the next day. Cyclope does
not usually open on a holiday Monday but
they do for us. When we arrive, the shop is
packed full of the people we had met the night
before a really good atmosphere. Cyclope is
on a back street and in a basement. Its a bit
a bowl with over-vert and the map of the world
on the surface and he knows exactly where it
is. We ride for 15 minutes to get to this amazing
spot, which looks like a sculpture, but is actually
made to skate and ride! We dont get to ride for
long as its dark and starts to rain.
Pal ai s Royal e i s a square where most of the
fi xed gear communi ty meet, once a week.
Rumour had got around that we were i n
town and sl owl y but surel y, ri ders come
out of the woodwork. Some peopl e had
been ri di ng i n the ci ty for a year or more,
but had never met! Soon there are around
30 peopl e hangi ng out, ri di ng and tal ki ng.
The Pari si an communi ty are al l surpri sed
to see so many peopl e out that ni ght, i ts
rai ni ng a hel l of a l ot and thi s woul d usual l y
be a si gn for most to not come out.
Fixed 80 Fixed
81
with a little help from Oko and Medi we walk
past the ffty people waiting in line and straight
in to the club. It is a rad night and we defnitely
recommend Paris Paris! Its a miracle that we
all make our train back to London the following
morning, with nobody MIA.
We are so stoked on Paris. Its an amazing
city, both to ride and party in. Although the
fxed scene is small compared to London, its
growing fast and were looking forward to the
next trip!
Thanks to everyone for looking after the us whi-
le we were there, we are coming back sooner
than you think!
www.myspace.com/cyclopebikes
www.pignonfxe.com
www.fxedgearlondon.com

Trocadero is amazing, with marble ledges everywhere.
Even the foor is marble, but it rained most of the time
making it too sketchy to ride.
Patricks Journal.
We meet at Louis house bright and early on
Friday morning (12pm or so!) to get in as much
as we can on the last day. Tom isnt feeling
stoked and with the lack of organisation from
the rest of us decides to explore Paris on his
own. He ends up sleeping in some woods not
far from Louis house. Meanwhile, the rest of
us drag ourselves to Trocadero to meet Oko/
Poisson Poulet, a photographer who works
with Pan au Chocolate. We meet up at the Eif-
fel tower and then bomb the hill, Oko on his
skateboard and in pink pyjamas! Trocadero is
amazing, with marble ledges everywhere. Even
the foor is marble, but it rained most of the time
making it too sketchy to ride.
We spend the rest of the day seeking shelter in
various bars and generally being fakey. We pay
a quick visit to Cream magazine to meet some
people and then a longer visit to a bar to meet
some beer. Later we meet at the Fixedgearlon-
don Paris HQ (a.k.a. Alices house) for food and
vodka, then the Pan au Chocolate crew take
it upon themselves to take us to Paris, Paris,
one of the citys most fashionable nightclubs.
Ive never seen so many people dressed to kill in
my life, it is amazing! We turn up at the entrance,
half of us on bikes and the rest on skateboards,
looking a little scruffy to say the least. Rafshas
trousers are in three pieces from his crash and
I am bleeding all over the place from mine, but
Fixed 82
HUF.
Keith Hufnagel interview by Will Harmon
Photography by Ken Goto
Did you used to ride a bike around NYC when you
were a kid?
Yeah I used to ride my Hutch Trick Star when I was a kid. I
was into racing and freestyle BMX.
When did you frst get the idea to get a fxed gear
bike?
Massan introduced it to me. He was working in the store
and showed me it. Then he built three custom bikes about
4-5 years ago. They were Pistas Concepts that we painted
and put the HUF logos on them. No one bought them in the
store, so Massan, Nao and myself ending up purchasing
them.
Whats it like riding a fxie in San Francisco? What do
you do about all the hills?
It can be scary and fun. On the hills you either need to lock it
up or go for it. Lots of serious decisions to make.
B
est known for his jaw-dropping abilities on the
skateboard or nearly as famous as the owner
/creator of the store HUF in San Francisco, it is
safe to say quite a few have heard of the name
Keith Hufnagel. If youve ever seen his feats in his skate
video parts or how much HUF apparel resells for on ebay,
then you know the guy is doing something right. Hailing
from the East (NYC), but now residing out West (San
Francisco) Keith spends most of his time skateboarding,
hangin with his friends, running his three HUF stores,
and developing the HUF brand. But a couple of years
ago Keith picked up a new hobby to rob him of some of
his precious time. Yep, you guessed it, not only does he
fly down those SF hills on his board, but on one of dem
bikes wit no brakes, too!
Whats the difference between riding a bike and
skating?
You can go a lot faster on a fxed gear but a skateboard let s
you do way more tricks.
Does riding your bike help with skating at all?
Not sure. Maybe in endurance, it would suck to get hurt on
your bike and not be able to skate.
I know you carry MASH gear at HUF, do you see a
lot of the fx gear community intertwining with the
streetwear world in San Francisco?
Yeah there seems to be a weird streetwear fx culture. Not
sure if it is good or bad.
Whats up with Hufnagel Bikes?
I just heard of them, my brother met the guys in Portland and
showed me their link. Looks cool.
Do you think recent surge in the amount of fxed gear
riders is a passing trend or its here to stay?
I think it will stay. They are really fun to ride and they look
super clean.
And fnally, skateboard or bike, how do you decide
what to grab when you leave the house in the
morning?
I usually just grab my board these days. Trying to flm for
the Real video so I am putting the bike to rest till I am done
flming.
See what Mr. Hufnagel has been up to at:
http://blog.honeyee.com/keith/
http://hufsf.com/
Word
to
Mother.
Give us the history of Word to Mother
I started writing in 1998 but after studying illustration I began
to shy away from graff and push things in another direction.
I started to call myself Word To Mother when I made the
distinction between graffti and what some people call street
art, or whatever to me its just art. Being involved with the
Stolen Space gallery means my work has a certain associa-
tion, but that isnt a bad thing at all. Im happy to be involved
with that group of people because it helps everyone the
big names help the smaller ones.
How did being taught illustration help your pro-
gression?
At University, we were torn apart and taught to draw what
we were seeing, not what we thought we were seeing. And
that was a turning point for me, because it took a couple
of years of me hating my shit and drawing and drawing and
drawing before I started to progress. Its like it has always
been in me to draw this way, but it was a journey to get
here.
Was it a struggle to get to the point where you are
comfortable with how you work?
Defnitely I like to observe people and the people are
interpretations of moods. Its social observation, really, and
realising that what my relevance is to it at that given time
its also observing myself and recording and documenting
everything that is around me.
How often do you sit and draw?
Every day, man. I may not be into the shit that Im drawing at
any given time and I might draw a hundred things before Im
happy with one or two. And those are the things that I take
on and develop. Id just like to add for the record that Nas
Illmatic is the best album ever made and was played back
to back during the production of this body of work. Make
sure this goes in, its important.
When did you get your frst fxed gear bike?
Probably about eight months agoIve been rockin no
clips for the last four or fve and have been really unlucky
with punctures a combination of bad luck and riding on
Brick Lane which Im sure has the biggest concentration of
broken glass in the whole of London. My chain might be
as baggy as anything, but without that bike Id be fucked
Most people ride their bikes in their spare time but for me
its differentI draw in my spare timeI paint in my spare
timeI see my girlfriend in my spare time. My bike facilitates
those things, gets me from A-B quickly and its fun and fast.
I just like to ride. I love the sense of freedom on a fxed gear
bike. Put it this way, I hate it when I have to get on the bus
and deal with an irate bus driver and the members of the
public that dont want to be there, either.
Back to your work whats next?
Keep drawing, man. That and hopefully have a show in Eu-
rope, the States or both. To make more links with more in-
teresting people and continue doing what Im doing. I prefer
the more patient, natural approach and I feel if that I continue
in the same vein that I have done in the last couple of years
then I dont have to force anything.
www.myspace.com/wordtomother
Images : Cedric Viollet
Words : Pete Yak
E
nter the worl d of Word To Mother, a 24
year-ol d arti st who cut hi s teeth as a graff
wri ter on the south coast of Engl and. Hi s
l oose styl e draws i ts i nfl uences di rectl y from
vi ntage adverti si ng (thi nk Theodore Dr.Suess
Gei sel s earl y adverti si ng campai gns for Gene-
ral El ectri c and NBC), soci al commentary and
the seasi de. I caught up wi th hi m whi l e he was
i n the mi ddl e of produci ng a body of work for
hi s second sol o show Ti l The Hot Runs Col d
at East Londons Stol en Space gal l ery (www.
stol enspace.com)
Fixed 86 Fixed
87
5.
7.
6.
8.
5. Park Tool Patch Kit
www.parktool.com
Theres a lot to be said for the traditional ways of doing things
where would we be without lugged frames? But theres
also a lot to be said for convenience and not fucking about.
Punctures are a daily fact of life on these gritty, shitty streets
of ours, so it stands to reason that we need a way to fx them
quickly. While regular puncture kits do the job well, theyre
messy pre-glued patch kits, such as the Park Tools GP-2,
speed up the time it takes to repair a puncture and keeps
things nice and clean. Just whip out the tube, fnd the hole,
roughen the area and stick on the patch. Park Tool have
been in the business of bicycle tool manufacture since 1963
and make the majority of their products in the USA.
6. FBM Crown Royal stem
www.fbmbmx.com
Before anyone comes kicking our door in with blazing tor-
ches in their hands, yes, this is a BMX stem. Sorry. The FBM
Crown Royal is available in a 47mm reach to keep things ti-
ght for bar spins, but theres also a 52mm version should you
need a little more length in front. Its CNC machined from a
solid lump of aircraft grade aluminium for lightweight strength
and large areas of metal in non-essential areas have been
machined away to reduce weight still further. BMX handle-
bars are 22.2mm diameter, not the 25.4mm that is most
common to road bikes. so your choice of handlebars is limi-
ted to mountain bike jump riser bars (or BMX bars, but they
look kinda retarded). Go to www.fbmbmx.com and while
youre at it, check out FBMs frst fxed gear bike, the FBM
Sword at www.fbmfxed.com
7. Vans shoes.
www.vans.com
In 1966 there were only three companies in the US who
were making Vulcanised shoes and they were all major
players. Vans were the frst of the independently owned
shoe brands and they quickly grew popular with skaters
and surfers for their tough build quality and the excellent grip
that Vans waffe sole gave. Fast forward 40 years and the
sole is just as grippy as it ever was, and the thick sidewalls
are strong enough to last for months. Possibly the best to
ride in are the slip-ons, which have no laces so youll never
know the embarrassment of having to pick yourself off the
foor and try to get your tangled laces out of the drive train.
8. The North Face Cipher jacket
www.thenorthface.com
The North Face make a huge range of technical outerwear
for foul weather conditions. Take the Cipher jacket, made
from Gore Tex softshell; slim cut, yet waterproof and brea-
thable its perfect for the days that try to soak you to the skin.
Not cheap, but then good things never are and with quality
of construction that The North Face can offer, it should las
for years, meaning that you wont have to buy another for
a long time.
3. Knog Frog Light
www.knog.com
Using a super bright LED and a unique, bracketless design
that allows you to attach it almost anywhere, the Frog is one
of the lightest and easiest to use lights weve seen. Two set-
tings, constant and fashing ensure that youre you can be
seen in most conditions. The rear light is the same shape
as the front (with a red light instead of white, duh), which
makes them ideal to slip into your bag, onto a karabiner or
just in your pocket when you head out. Recommended.
4. MKS chain tug
www.mkspedal.com
We love Japanese made stuff and not just when it has that
little NJS logo that drives people wild. What appeals to us
is the fact that its almost always well engineered and made
beautifully and the MKS chain tugs are no exception.
Available in both 3mm and 8mm drop out versions, with
Allen key or hex nut fttings; the MKS tugs are made cast
aluminium for strength and durability. Setting them up is a
cinch and when done right, they offer you perfect chain
tension on your ride. Cheap, strong and work well.
1. 2.
3.
4.
1. Fabric Horse U Lock holder
www.fabrichorse.com
Sitting in the why-didnt-somebody-think-of-this-before? ca-
tegory comes Fabric Horse U Lock holder. which slips onto
your belt to securely carry your Mini Evo, without having to
put it in your back pocket and blowing out the seams.Fabric
Horse take seatbelts from cars found in their local junkyard
and stitch them together to make a product that is well built,
functional and great value for money.
2. Archies Grobags Ninja
www.archiesgrobags.co.uk
Archies Grobags come out of London, England and are just
one of the growing number of small, high quality, hand made
custom bag operations. Their line includes two amazing
courier bags and the Ninja a hip pack that is plenty big
enough for tools plus extra storage space for everyday use.
With a removable waist strap, clips to attach it like a micro
messenger bag and even belt loops to slip onto your own
belt, the Ninja is nothing if its not adaptable.
Most Wanted.
A few products that get our pulses racing
Fixed 88 Fixed
89
Every Sunday, the basketball courts at the top of
Brick Lane in the East End of London, England are
flled with bikes, bags, beers and cyclists from all
over the city. It was originally intended that people
would meet at two to play, but now its more like
three or four and half the court is flled with people
drinking beer or doing tricks, while the other half is
used to actually play polo. I dont really play, so its
been cool just to come, hang out and meet new
people. On my last Sunday in London I snapped
these shots. Its defnitely a really good thing and
something I was glad to be a part of.
Polo.
By Rose Wind.
Fixed 90
The bile that gets posted on blogs about track bike movies
constantly amazes us and weve got no time for the haters
who bitch things out for no good reason. Its true that the
qualilty of some movies and clips is questionable, but pro-
gression doesnt come without a few faltering steps and track
bike culture is no different. Some say that fxed freestyle is
wrong and that tricks should be only done on bikes built for
the purpose BMXs, in other words. But if messengers
hadnt pushed outside their boundaries, none of us would
even be riding track bikes on the road and then where would
we be? What if Mark Gonzales had decided he should only
skate where his board was designed to be skated sidewalk
surfng when the waves were fat? Street skating would never
have been born and everyone would still be skating slalom
around cones.
Mash (www.mashsf.com) started the movement for widely
available track bike movies. Theres almost an hour to the
main flm, a large amount of extras and a photo book for the
case and most importantly its rad. Mash opened the
door to the potential of what could be done and its still the
yardstick by which all others are measured. Drawing contribu-
tions from riders around the world, Bootleg Sessions (www.
bootlegsessions.net) came next, and using footage from local
riders own sessions, Burd Phillips brought them all together
and released the clips as a single movie the frst time it had
been done. The freshly-released Bootleg Sessions 2 steps
their game up hugely the riding is better, the flming is slic-
ker and the editing tighter. Its a massive improvement and
a sign of things to come especially when you consider its
been less than six months since the frst one was released.
Macaframa (www.macaframaproductions.com) promises to
evolve the medium still further. Their approach to production
and promotion has taken the lessons learned from their pre-
decessors and theyre fully utilising blogs around the world
to release snippets, teasers and trailers. Interestingly, theyve
opted for Vimeo (www.vimeo.com) to host their movie clips,
which offers double the resolution (and hence, better image
quality) than the more common YouTube. With a late summer
release date, Macaframa looks like it will be the next big step.
We cant wait to see what comes next...
The Evolution will be televised.
Movements evolve sometimes awkwardly but
without growth, stagnancy sets in.
Fixed
93
Name: Jonathan Burkett
Age: 26
Where are you from: San Diego
Current Location: San Francisco until May, Berlin,
Germany after that
What do you do for a job: Graphic Designer
Sponsors: Sponsors? Nothing is free
Height: 1828.8 mm
Frame: 57ish Cannondale
Fork: Steel
Crank/chainring: Sugino and corresponding 49t
chainring
Bottom Bracket: Only Phil Wood
Pedals: I used to ride cheap MKS Sylvans expensive
pedals are over rated but now Im running Speedplay
Clipless.
Hubs: Phil Wood!
Rims: Velocity Deep V
Spokes: I think 14g Double butted, but honestly dont
really remember
Tyres: Front is Vittoria Rubino and rear is always a
Randonneur
Cog: Phil Wood 16t
Bars: Nitto Horns
Stem: Salsa Front loading for easy swapping to
drops
Grips: Some cloth tape
Headset: Chris King
Seat: Selle Italia Turbo
Seatpost: Cheap Soma seatpost
Anything else: Stickers. They hold the frame together
Describe your bike set up in ten words or less:
All quality, no fash
What part do you wear through or break the quickest?
Tyres obviously. But I dont abuse my bike anymore, so I try
and take pretty good care of it all. Though I have replaced
almost everything at one point or another, except for the Phil
Wood and Chris King parts. Those are built to last
Why did you choose the colour for your bike?
Its a bike, not a fashion statement. Though I guess the stickers
may be a scheme. But it happens when you make friends
travelling stickers are kind of like the international token of
friendship
How often do you get fat tyres and do you patch tubes
or throw in a new one?
I have been lucky lately. Havent had a fat in a long time.
Though I usually just throw a new tube in
What do you have in your personal tool kit when you
ride?
Allen wrenches, tire levers and some CO2 in case of a fat
How often do you do bike maintenance?
I try and keep it lubed and riding silent, so weekly or at the
longest biweekly
What do you never leave home without?
My helmet
How many miles do you ride every week?
On a good week 250, on a bad week its closer to 100
Favourite trick, and why?
I honestly think most tricks on a track bike are ugly or just
silly. Just my opinion there, but if there is one trick it would be
bunny hops done right. Gabe Morford has that on lock
What do you do for an every day job?
I try to make things look good for people, and if I am lucky
there is some meaning behind it.

Its a bike, not a fashion
statement
JONATHAN
BURKETT
Bike Check
Name: Romain Camus
Age: 24
Gear ratio: 46x20
Years riding Fixed: 0 (about 5 months)
Favourite place go ride: South Bank
What inspires you to go ride: Weather
Worst injury: Fils de pute
Person to ride with: Myself
I dont leave home without: My keys
When you arent riding: It seems like
Im working instead...
LOOK
OUT
Romain
Camus.
Photos : Cedric Viollet
For the latest
track bike news,
check :
www.fixed-mag.com
Photo : Steve Hartley
Name: Tom La Marche
Age: 18
Gear ratio: 76 gear inches
Years riding Fixed: 2 1/2 I think..
Favourite place go ride: FDR, but Ive been getting into
a lot more off road stuff recently
What inspires you to go ride: Having fun, learning new tricks,
pushing limits, watching others.
Worst injury: I nose dived trying to jump stacked cinder
blocks into a bank and landed fat on my back. That
took me out for a couple months.
Person to ride with: Friends
I dont leave home without: Tools, and other essentials for bicycle repair.
When you arent riding: Im either with the lady, drawing, at school,
or wishing I was riding.
LOOK
OUT
Tom Lamarche.
k
u
.
o
c
.
Fixed mag issue two drops on 30th August 2008, featuring...
Making of a monster: the story behind Macaframa
Ich Bin Ein Berliner - Track bikes in Germanys capital city
Dustin Klein: on Cadence, Fast Friday and the future
plus much more...
Check out www.fxed-mag.com for the latest news...
Want to stock Fixed mag in your shop? Email ian@fxed-mag.com for more details
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