La Voz

Within the wide world of bicycle sports, there is a small but growing subculture of cyclists who do things differently. These enthusiasts consider themselves the elite guardians of the purest form of cycling, the fixed-gear or messenger bike.

Fixed-gear bicycles are the simplest and oldest form of bicycling, dating back to the late 1800s. They only have one speed and no freewheel. As long as the bicycle is in motion, the pedals move.

It's impossible to coast on a fixed gear. Sometimes these bicycles do not have brakes and instead have a backpedal for reversing the force applied to the pedals to slow down.

Fixed-gear bikes were limited in the past to bicycle messengers in large cities such as San Francisco and New York. Not having gears or brakes saves critical weight while out on deliveries.

Fixed-gear riding has started to gain popularity in the suburbs, and at college campuses all over the nation, even here at De Anza.

Student Steven Holmburg has been riding fixed gear for three years. He prefers fixed-gear riding largely because of the extra work out he gets riding one. "It's great strength training," Holmburg said, "especially on the hills when you're climbing grades." He also said that now that he's been on a fixed gear, he wouldn't go back to normal road bikes.

Enthusiasts are known as fixxies ' within the subculture. There even exists a lingo pertaining to these bikes, as well as an established fashion including funky colored shoes.

"It's the attitude," Holmburg said. "Fixxies do things with one speed that takes most others 12 speeds or more."

All of the major bicycle manufactures such as Bianchi, Schwinn, Redline and Motobecane offer messenger bikes in their model lineup. Prices range from $500 to well over $1000.

Most fixxies, however, prefer to make their own fixed gear out of old ten speeds, which can be done for as little as $50 and requires only minimum mechanical skill.

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