I wrote this a few months ago for a book being put together by LFGSS. I don’t think the book has been published yet, but this article was about the power of internet community spirit in hard times. The reason I focused on people I didn’t know and not the great friends and family that rallied round, is just because of that: I didn’t know them. So thanks again, not just the LFGSS guys, but everybody else who supported us then and now.

Everybody goes through life thinking “it’ll never happen to me,” and then one day, it does.

A second custom order along similar lines to Black n’ Blue. This build is a more modern fixie / singlespeed with a basic track style frame. All steel frame and forks, with track fork ends on the back. Made with completely new components in the customer’s choice of white, black and yellow. Not much to say, it’s a very simple set up. Flat bars, comfy gel saddle, caged pedals with toe clips and a flip flop hub for fixed or freewheel.

A mash up of my personal favourite – Fat Frank – and the most asked about model I’ve created – the Star Rider. This is the Baron, which I see as a kind of a gentleman’s off road bike. A comfortable path racer with vintage style. With its mountain bike geometry and massive tyres, this machine would be just as comfortable on a country lane as it would in the city.

Tally ho!

I did this as a custom order. It’s a bit more modern than I would have usually styled a bike, but it turned out pretty good and was surprisingly light and agile. I started out with a new old stock Raleigh road frame – I’m guessing it’s from the ’80s. I got some new steel forks and a threaded headset, and teamed these up with riser bars, sports saddle and flip flop wheelset.

I was chatting to a guy the other day who was curious about riding fixed gear and I’ve noticed in my conversations with road bike riders that fixed has a kind of reputation as the choice of hipsters or danger loving loonies. Why? Well that one’s pretty difficult to put into words, especially if you don’t want to sound like a wanker, because all those claims about fixed giving you a greater connection to the bike – a sense of oneness – are true. It’s like Zen cycling.

The brakes debate is one of those arguments you can never win. Just like the helmets debate. The best thing to do is do what you want and keep quiet about it. I’ve only been riding fixed less than a year and always run a front brake, for days just like today, so I’ll add my two cents to the argument.

The Viking is sleek and black and mean. If you want a nippy singlespeed or fixed commuter this is the ticket. Brand new steel track frame, forks and bars. New headset and bottom bracket. Flip flop hub on the rear wheel so you can go fixed but at the moment it’s set up as a singlespeed with front and back caliper brakes.

On Sunday July 31st. At Mabley Green E9. Bikes, workshops, tandems, racing, the works. Even bamboo.

Of course it is really. We all know the game exists, but I only discovered this today. Find out where you are in the Silly Commuter Racing hierarchy and get working on your ‘no pain’ expression.

I’m a 7 apparently.

Sign up and join the London Cycle Challenge. You can log any miles cycled between 9am 18 June – 11.59pm 15 July and there’s prizes etc. for those that rack up the most. It’s a great excuse to get on your bike if any excuse be needed at all.