Why do bike messengers ride fixies rather than bikes with gears?

The story I heard about the history of fixies when I first started the bike business is that to save time, bicycle messengers often threw their bicycles on the ground on arrival, brake levers on their bicycles soon get broken. If these were never replaced why should they consider getting geared bike which will be more costly to replace and add weight to their load, affecting their speed?

Here is a story that most of you may not be aware of. Messengers speeding on their bicycle without brakes for courier companies look cool to young Asians and that is an American culture that they want to adopt.

Young cyclists deliberately removed the brakes levers and cables on their own bicycle so that they could do 360 degrees twists and turns on their bicycle too. So, manufacturers in China started making fixed gear bicycles with the front brake cable inserted through a hole in the centre of stem and it comes out from the base of the steerer tube to be attached to the brake calipers, as shown in this photo.



This 20" fixed gear bike comes with alloy sport rims installed is suitable for child of six and above.  Due to its designer look, children should be able to ride it till their adulthood just by changing the handlebar.

Problem pumping air?

Do you know that most fixies (fixed gear bicycles) have presta valve tyre tube installed? However, most tyre pumps sold in the market are meant for tube with schrader valves. So, what you need to get yourself is a valve adaptor for your tube which will convert your presta into a schrader valve.

Here is a video to show you exactly what I mean.

 


 This tyre tube adaptor

is sold in my shop at

Jom Johan Trading and Services
No 43A, Jalan Prima Saujana 1/1A
Taman Prima Saujana Sek 1
43000 KajangSelangor
Tel: 03-87369398

Don't leave your valve adaptor screwed on the tyre tube of your bicycle.  It can go missing on you.