Fixed gear freestyle and injuring my foot
- 6 years ago
Here's the next video: https://youtu.be/UjmlhGpqXbw
Most cyclists are familiar with fixed gear bikes, or fixies. Amidst the rising popularity of fixies came a sport called fixed gear freestyle. It's a mix of BMX and fixed gear.
The bikes have the reliability and simplicity of a fixie, the sturdiness of a bmx, 26" wheels, and some other unique details. There are no brakes, and your feet are attached to the pedals with clips or straps.
Sounds fuckin awesome to me... but last night I had the opportunity to ride one of these bikes at Brian Piccolo skatepark, and I quickly learned why so few people can master this disciple.
The first thing I'll have you know is that fixed gear freestyle is hard as shit. You're always pedaling, and any time you stop you'r either airborne or skidding. Anyone who does this successfully deserves serious respect, but the truth is that to an outsider it doesn't look more impressive than BMX. We know better, of course, but a bystander would never be able to appreciate the nuances of different drivetrain types. For that reason, it's difficult to make the sport appeal to the masses. So sadly, it hasn't proliferated the way mountain biking, bmx, or trials have. Maybe it's better as a niche anyway. It's easily the most difficult cycling disciple next to trials.
Naturally, I couldn't help but think of what I could do on this bike if it could coast, so I came up with the brilliant idea of taking the chain off and using the ramps to pump around the skatepark. That was the beginning of the end. Combine, this with a bike I'm not used to, fatigue, and 10 years since my last skatepark visit, and well, I smashed my foot.
My foot got smashed so hard that I honestly didn't even have words. I was just sad, knowing I would hobble away and not be able to ride for a while. If my calcaneus was shattered, it would mean my foot would never be the same. The pain was terrible, but that thought was much worse. I already had all the stuff the doctor gave me the last time this happened, so I waited until the next day and took a trip to the podiatrist. She had pretty "good" news for me.
I'll ride again, and nothing is shattered. Until I heal up, I have plenty in store, including hacks, question & answer, and more. I also have a lot of friends who can put down some demonstrations while I explain, so the show goes on!
Most cyclists are familiar with fixed gear bikes, or fixies. Amidst the rising popularity of fixies came a sport called fixed gear freestyle. It's a mix of BMX and fixed gear.
The bikes have the reliability and simplicity of a fixie, the sturdiness of a bmx, 26" wheels, and some other unique details. There are no brakes, and your feet are attached to the pedals with clips or straps.
Sounds fuckin awesome to me... but last night I had the opportunity to ride one of these bikes at Brian Piccolo skatepark, and I quickly learned why so few people can master this disciple.
The first thing I'll have you know is that fixed gear freestyle is hard as shit. You're always pedaling, and any time you stop you'r either airborne or skidding. Anyone who does this successfully deserves serious respect, but the truth is that to an outsider it doesn't look more impressive than BMX. We know better, of course, but a bystander would never be able to appreciate the nuances of different drivetrain types. For that reason, it's difficult to make the sport appeal to the masses. So sadly, it hasn't proliferated the way mountain biking, bmx, or trials have. Maybe it's better as a niche anyway. It's easily the most difficult cycling disciple next to trials.
Naturally, I couldn't help but think of what I could do on this bike if it could coast, so I came up with the brilliant idea of taking the chain off and using the ramps to pump around the skatepark. That was the beginning of the end. Combine, this with a bike I'm not used to, fatigue, and 10 years since my last skatepark visit, and well, I smashed my foot.
My foot got smashed so hard that I honestly didn't even have words. I was just sad, knowing I would hobble away and not be able to ride for a while. If my calcaneus was shattered, it would mean my foot would never be the same. The pain was terrible, but that thought was much worse. I already had all the stuff the doctor gave me the last time this happened, so I waited until the next day and took a trip to the podiatrist. She had pretty "good" news for me.
I'll ride again, and nothing is shattered. Until I heal up, I have plenty in store, including hacks, question & answer, and more. I also have a lot of friends who can put down some demonstrations while I explain, so the show goes on!