On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Bob W <p...@web-options.com> wrote: > over here it seems to be part of the cool factor associated with bike style, > at least among a certain crowd (not necessarily messengers). I often see > them drifting along on their bikes around the Clerkenwell/Farringdon part of > London, looking great, but smoking, which kind of kills the look for me > (smoked for ~20 years). <snip>
As I understand it, over there they're called "Fakengers" (as in fake messengers, but I'm sure you all cracked that code). Here they're more often called Hipsters (although really they're just a sub-genre of the true hipster, whoever they are). They ride single speed bikes, often with no brakes, wear the typical messenger cotton work pant cut off just below the knees, a cycling cap and a messenger bag. Their bike and bag are usually immaculate, as are their clothes - that's how you tell them from a real messenger. That and the fact that many fakengers really don't know how to properly ride a fixed gear no-brake bike safely. I guess it's fun that some people try to copy us; the irony being that I've never done the "messenger look", usually wearing roadie stuff (spandex bike shorts with a proper racing jersey). It's just more comfortable... Speaking of which, I've just got clearance from the doctor today. The Achilles tendon is healed. Back on the bike on Tuesday (tomorrow being a holiday around these parts). Woo Hoo! cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
