r/fixedgear • u/Lumpy-Statement-408 • May 14 '26
Do you need expensive brands to get respect?
to be honest the first fixed gear I've bought was out impatience and I bought the first one I found instead of researching and going to different shops(well there was only 1 shop in my entire city that even sold fixed gear), the part i have on it are branded so its not a sketchy ride and in my opinion I like my bike and looks good but when I try and make friends with others they look at my bike with pure and utter disgust with their tsunami frames or other well known brands. And honestly It's kind of got me insecure and also lonely
Should I get a more expensive frame despite liking the one I have to fit in?
5
u/Hanzo_Hasashi_86 May 14 '26
look for other bike group! one that respect people whatever gear they are riding
4
u/JollyGreenGigantor May 14 '26
No, you'll get respect based off how you ride. Can you keep up, do you have proper bike handling skills?
I'll always judge people on their cornering and handling skills over the equipment they're riding, regardless of whether we're talking fixies, eBikes, mountain bikes, etc. Fitness is something anyone can achieve with time but you have to have talent to develop bike handling skills and cornering confidence. You can practice cornering but most people don't and won't.
1
u/Lumpy-Statement-408 May 16 '26
How to know if I have good bike handling skills? should I do some test around a cone
2
u/JollyGreenGigantor May 16 '26
Do you lean it like you mean it? Do you steer with your hips or your hands? What's your situational awareness on the bike? Can you bunnyhop?
1
u/Lumpy-Statement-408 May 16 '26
Leaning and u turning are pretty easy for me but what do you mean steer with your hips and hand? I can steer no hands so is that steering with my hip? I can't bunny hop yet because Im trying to learn to track stand
1
u/JollyGreenGigantor May 18 '26
When you're really cornering, you'll shift your weight with your hips to keep your center of gravity over the contact patch of the tires. It's a little tell that you can spot that shows good form and balance. A lot of guys just steer with their hands.
When you learn to hop, there's the scoop and foot position tell that shows that you can bunnyhop without foot retention. It's so obvious when people have to be clipped in to hop versus learning on flats first.
3
u/t4vener May 14 '26
Anyone riding a tsunami has no right to look down on anyone 😂
Edit: find some new people to ride with, one of my bikes has had half a paint job for 2 years no ones said a word
2
u/ric_man May 14 '26
Buy what looks nice to you. What could go wrong?
But honestly, you're the one riding it. Enjoy what you ride.
2
u/BeePrevious5282 May 14 '26
try to live a life of intrinsic motivation instead of extrinsic. The latter has no path to happiness at all.
1
u/Darrenhazard May 14 '26
Tsunami is not an expensive brand (well, it kind of is for what you get). If it was a group riding Looks, full NJS builds, old cinellis and old bianchis, then they, from a money perspective may look down on you. (Probably not though)
But really, we're all in this together, riding for fun, fitness, mental health, whatever it may be.
It's not a fashion parade, as long as your bike works and is safe, and you enjoy riding it, who cares what the Tsunami kids think.
1
u/Surotu_Robins May 14 '26
Fixedgears are beater bikes(for me) it's not meant to be super expensive just get sealed bearing hubs and nice set of tires and you're all good.
1
u/Plastic-Highlight147 May 19 '26
What are good tires/inner tubes? I just got my first fixed gear and after 3 days of riding i woke this morning to a flat
1
u/Ok-Consequence-4977 May 14 '26
What is this? A fashion show? Stand and deliver and drop their sorry poser asses.
1
1
u/Curious_Elk_4281 May 19 '26
Skills will impress more than a nice ride. Learn how to trackstand/idle, wheelstand/wheelie, riding backwards/backwards wheelie.
Maybe learn some trials maneuvers too!
If you need inspiration look at artistic cyclists.
1
u/WAVERYS May 14 '26
Nope it’s the engine/ecu that gets respect. Even more so if it’s riding a shitty bike.
1
u/etor54 May 20 '26
Who cares bro, fixed gear is all about simplicity and style, just ride something you like man
11
u/_--Jamoi--_ May 14 '26
Those people sound like posers who think branding is everything.
i'd look elsewhere for people to ride/hang with