Fyxation

Plume Mud Guard

fyx8tion — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:20:55 +0000

I spotted this product for the first time the other day on Pedal Consumption. The Plume Mud Guard is a cool take on a removable bicycle fender. They are about to launch their kickstarter campaign and we wish them the best of luck. I definitely think from a design perspective this is way better than the Ass Saver.

Plume teaser from Plume Mudguard on Vimeo.

About Plume

LET’S MAKE A BETTER MUDGUARD
Plume is a recoiling bicycle mudguard. It hides in plain sight, and still looks great when it’s covered in mud. We’re pretty excited about this.

Today, many mudguards are made from chunky, brittle plastic. They suck the life out of your bicycle and then they break. We’re not trying to be debbie downers here, but something needs to change.

Allow us to introduce Plume. Built from resilient materials like stainless steel, Plume will stay loyal for years. And when the ground is dry, it can recoil into a small circle under your saddle.
It’s also super fun to use.

Milwaukee Messenger Invitational – MMI XII

fyx8tion — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:31:51 +0000

Last weekend was the 12th run of the Milwaukee Messenger Invitational. This event is 12 years strong and draws riders from around the Midwest for a weekend of riding and racing in the middle of the Mil. This years ride rolled out from Breakway Bicycle Couriers and headed directly to Milwaukee’s lakefront where riders had to lock their bikes and run down Government Pier. From their riders split off following their manifest throughout the Eastside, Riverwest and out as far as the polo courts in Washington Park. Local polo legend, courier and cycling advocate Jake Newborn took third overall aboard the Fyxation Quiver and Matt U. took home the overall win and a new Eastside frameset. Congratulations to all that participated!

The BikeSpike Gets Funded

fyx8tion — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:42:39 +0000

Even though there are a lot of haters out there I think Kickstarter is an awesome idea for many reasons. First of all banks suck and you don’t want to have to sell your soul to an “angel” to get funding to get a company or product off the ground. A lot of the companies that go on Kickstarter fully plan on going into production regardless of their funding success but use it as a way to pre-sell a ton of gear and “kickstart” their company. It’s also a PR machine and a great way to get your company quick attention on a global scale.

Anyway, a very cool product called the BikeSpike just got funded and we thought we’d give them some love here on our blog. Bicycle theft is a huge problem and bikes are very rarely recovered in the condition that they were in when they were “jacked”. The BikeSpike is basically like a LoJack system for bikes and let’s you and the fuzz find your bike quickly after it gets stolen. BikeSpike lets you track your bike in case of theft but also use it like Strava to record your rides and even to alert family/friends if you wreck. To get super geek they even have an open API that allows other hackers/developers to build useful apps around this product. It’s a pretty cool product and it just made it’s $150K funding goal by raising $152,000. Great job guys. Good luck with your new venture.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1054587410/the-bikespike?ref=search

The BikeSpike from Bike Spike on Vimeo.

Factory Five Lo Pro Frameset

fyx8tion — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:22:14 +0000

I just spotted this great picture that John Watson took of the new Factory Five Lo Pro Frameset. John has been in China the last few weeks touring with the guys from Factory Five and Mission Workshop and getting some great photos and video from his tour. Factory Five is a Fyxation dealer in Shanghai that sells a mix of their own frames and products from companies like Brooks, Thomson, Nitto and of course Fyxation. This build features a set of bullhorn bars with Fyxation bar ends. Great shot!

More info here on Prolly is Not Probably – http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2013/04/beautiful-bicycle-tylers-factory-5-low-pro-track/#1

Retrospec Fixies on Huckberry

fyx8tion — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:16:22 +0000

Fixed gear bikes on sale! Everybody loves a sale right? Everybody that is except all the Retrospec dealers out there that just realized that anyone can buy a Retrospec fixie on Huckberry this week for $199.00. Or the people that bought a Retorspec fixie last week for full price. Or anyone that wants to buy a Retropec fixie next week and they think $325 is a good deal until they realize they’re paying $325 for a $199 fixie. That’s even cheaper than the guys at Critical Cycles. Critical Cycles fixed gear bikes sell for $219 every day with free shipping.

Not Just Fixed Gear Pedal Straps

fyx8tion — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:45:39 +0000

When we launched our Gates pedal straps a few years ago the market for pedal straps was dominated by a few key players that got their inspiration for their products from riding fixed gear bikes. HoldFast straps, Burro Bags straps and YNOT straps are all great products that like our Gates pedal straps, are well designed and work great on a fixed gear bike. While there are similarities between these products there are also a number of differences. Our Gates pedal straps are made here in Milwaukee out of the best materials and we pride ourselves on making a high quality pedal strap that is affordable for any rider. At only $43.95 our straps are one of the most affordable high quality pedal straps on the market.

One of the things we’ve noticed over time though has been that while our Gates pedal straps are great for riding fixed gear, they also make a great alternative to traditional toe clips, cages and straps. Whether your commuting to work or simply going out for a ride with friends, the ability to quickly adjust the straps depending on what shoe your wearing make the Gates pedal strap an ideal foot retention system for any style of rider. You don’t have to have a “fixie” to use our straps.

Over time we’ve added our Gates Pedal Strap Kits and Gates Slim Kits to make it even easier to buy a set of pedals and straps. Rather than having to guess which straps work with your pedals, the Gates Kits are designed to make it easy to get up and running a nice wide platform pedal with straps and prices start at only $59.95.

Leader 735 Fyxation Build

fyx8tion — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:53:10 +0000

Our good friend Sherwin from Cycle Project Store in Singapore just sent us this great Leader Bike build that featured some of our parts. Leader Bikes is under a ton of pressure these days as companies like State Bicycle Co are launching aluminum track frames and complete bikes. The State Bicycle Co. Undefeated track bike is a very solid complete bike and is also available as the Undefeated Track Frameset. There are also companies like Unknown Bike Co and Aventon Bikes that have some nice and affordable framesets that are going right after a market that Leader has pretty much dominated the last few years.

Anyway, this Leader 735 build features our Comet Track Drop bars, Rodeo 4 bolt stem and our Gates Slim pedals. Nice build Sherwin!

Marathon Crash Race Report: Addison Zawada

fyx8tion — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:22:04 +0000

We are proud to be one of the sponsors of the 904 Fixed team, a crew of riders based out of Florida that participate in local and national fixed gear bicycle races. 904 Fixed team rider Addison Zawada just went out to LA to the Wolfpack Hustle Marathon Crash Race and rocked a 3rd place finish. Considering there were over 2000 riders in this race, I’d say that’s pretty good. Check out the complete race report from Addison below.

Adrenaline pumping, heart racing, blood boiling fast racing from beginning to end. The Marathon CrashRace is a race put on by the WolfPack Hustle group from LA, Ca. The race takes part on the streets of LA, specifically the streets already blocked off for the LA marathon. The CrashRace gets its name by doing just that, “crashing” the LA marathon course before the actual marathon begins.
3:00AM, Wake up to 6 alarm clocks screaming, looking outside to the cold darkness and the thermometer showing barely 50. Time to roll out of bed and start a pot of coffee, cook up a few packs of Oatmeal, slam down a protein shake. A few passes on the foam roller and a click of the buckle. Bibs, jersey, shoes, helmet on and out the door.

4:00. A quick stroll around the corner to sunset blvd brings us to Tangs Doughnuts and most importantly the starting line for the race. Rolling up to the starting line we begin to realize just how big this race truly is, as far as the eye can see, nothing but blinky red and white lights. Seeing hundreds, maybe thousands of cyclist raring and ready to go is a sight to behold. Positioning ourselves in the front row and anxiously waiting. The nerves begin to sink in. I remember thinking “This is it, this is the moment I have trained and worked so hard for. But is it enough?”. Then my minds goes blank and I forget about the doubt, push it aside as though I knew I would win. We begin to move and get set for the rolling start. Following the police escort for a mile or two, and with the flick of a finger and the thrust of an arm we are off.

The first sprint begins as the street begins to rise. Time to separate the pros from the amateurs. With the quick ascend and a little bit of struggle the worst is over. It’s all downhill from then on. Speeds increase and reaching upwards of 32 mph, the real race is on. Trying to remain within 5-10 wheels(people) of the front. Looking around I notice there are more fixed gear racers than I had imagined would be in the front pack. The roadies don’t seem to want to do any of the work, conserving energy by drafting behind the fixed riders out front. I take my turn a few times pulling the group but quickly rotating to the back to keep the speed up and conserve my own energy. Turn after turn I begin to become anxious, wondering when the final turn and the big sprint would show their ugly faces. The road begins to fall away and speeds continue to increase. Riding consistently around 35mph for a mile or two and I realize the final turn must be coming soon. Getting prepared for what lays ahead, I work my way back up to 3rd wheel(3rd rider) and begin to conserve as much energy as possible. The group gets tighter and tighter until, BOOM! Down goes a rider, extremely hard. The sound of carbon fiber shattering fills the air and stints the group for just a moment. But not for long, back to the grind. Rounding a corner I see the lead rider stand up and begin to sprint. “This is it” I thought to myself, “here we go”. I stand up and begin to sprint, trying desperately to grab some draft from the rider in front of me. I can’t seem to grab his draft but I continue on in agony. The sprint seems to last forever. Just as I feel as though I can’t go on I remind myself of how hard I have worked. Shutting the pain out as if it was not there, my legs were on fire. Now sprinting at speeds of about 40mph, I can’t seem to spin my legs any faster to catch the racer just infront of me. He seems so close yet oh so very far away. My legs begin to give out on me, riding on the edge of my saddle, giving it everything I have left in the reserve tanks. And suddenly a light appears in view like a light from the heavens. “could it be?” I ask myself as I try to coax my legs along. Finally the end is in sight. With one last burst of energy I stand up give it that one last bit of energy I have. It’s not quite enough. I couldn’t reel in the 2nd place fixed rider. I pulled a 3rd place in the biggest race so far in my career. Podium when I was hoping for just a top 10. Hundreds of riders showed up to compete and I conquered most to pull a 3rd place. I will take that and be perfectly happy with it. Until next year when I get a second chance and the animal that is CrashRace.

Elbows, bumped bars, yelling, hot heads, and desires for 1st place lead to careless riding and unnecessary crashing. The further into the race we get the sketchier it becomes. Tight turns and uncertainty of direction, box trucks and narrow pathways are all recipes for disaster. The race was one of the sketchiest, gnarliest races I have every attended. But I guess the name CrashRace has a double meaning after all. I would say I can’t wait till next year, but the nerve racking nature of that race, I can only handle that once a year. A good race, a little disorganized, super sketchy, but all around good race and such a great concept. I had a great time and cannot wait to go back for next year.

What’s in Those Boxes?

fyx8tion — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:42:28 +0000

What’s in those boxes you ask? Just the next step in the evolution of our company. When we launched Fyxation 4 years ago the market was very different than it is today. There were very few companies offering complete fixed gear/single speed bikes that were affordable. Most people would simply go out into the garage and take an old bike and convert it into a fixed gear or single speed bike. Fast forward to today and the market is flooded with cheap fixies that are all pretty much made from the same factories in China. Yes there are some nice bikes on the market and yes you can still get a quality steel or aluminum frameset to build up a nice bike, but the market for an affordable yet high quality complete single speed/fixed gear bike is pretty limited.

The Eastside complete is positioned to change that. Based off our high end Eastside 4130 Cro-moly frameset, the Quiver comes complete with a long list of Fyxation parts. From our popular Rodeo Pursuit bar to our Accela tires with Street Guard puncture protection, the Eastside is ride ready from the minute you take it out of the box. We can’t wait until these land!

Wisconsin Bicycle Industry – Cog Magazine

fyx8tion — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:25:33 +0000

Yesterday we were hanging out at our warehouse and our upstairs neighbors, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, came in to pick up one of our bikes for a photo shoot they were doing on the Eastside of Milwaukee. Peter from Cog Magazine had set up a photo shoot the neighborhood that was the inspiration for our new frameset and complete bike – the Eastside. Now if you’ve never seen the creative work of Peter DiAntoni you’re definitely missing out. Peter set up a few great shots including the one below.

The guys at the Bike Fed are working on an article highlighting the bicycle business here in Wisconsin and that was the point of the photo shoot by Peter. Besides Fyxation, there are a lot of other companies involved in the cycling industry based here in Milwaukee and in other parts of the State. Milwaukee Bicycle, Trek Bicycles, Schlick Cycles and Waterford were the bikes used in the photoshoot and they’re all Wisconsin based. There are tons of other great brands with a presence here in Wisco and we’re proud to be part of the family.

Aventon Bikes: Aluminum Track Frames

fyx8tion — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:38:38 +0000

I recently came across a company called Aventon Bikes on facebook and thought I’d give them a little love here. Aventon Bikes is a new company based out of SoCal that has just released a new aluminum track bicycle frame. The Aventon Mataro is a smooth looking double butted aluminum frameset that includes a hydroformed top tube, areo-dynamic fork and integrated sealed bearing headset. These guys are planning on officially launching the frame at the Marathon Crash race in LA tonight. They plan on launching a few aero framesets and based on the look of their first frameset, I bet they’ll do well. Best of luck to them!

Aluminum track bikes have grown in popularity over the last few years with companies like Leader Bikes and Cinelli leading the charge. Other companies have seen these frames flying off the shelves so of course they’re hopping on the bandwagon. Companies like Dosnoventa and Low Bicycles have been doing these frames for a while and offer a more boutique custom framesets that are high quality and fairly expensive. Recently our friends here in Wisconsin EigthInch launched their aluminum track frame the EightInch Manifest which looks pretty nice. State Bicycle Company has been teasing their own aluminum complete bike recently and I’m sure it will drop soon. My favorite has to be the Zyclefix Throne for no reason other than the fact it’s made by a company named Zyclefix.

I think that Leader Bikes is about to feel the heat because a market they’ve pretty much dominated over the last few years is about to get very crowded. My guess is there are a lot more of these frames about to drop and once companies like PureFix get involved it basically becomes a game of limbo – how low can you go?

Be on the look out for aluminum track bikes in your neighborhood.

Orange Sports Supply Turns 15

fyx8tion — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:10 +0000

We just saw a quick article on Bicycleretailer.com that our distributor in Canada just celebrated their 15th year. Orange Sports is based in Vancouver, Canada and offers a great mix of cycling products for dealers throughout Canada. Being located in BC they have access to one of the greatest cities to ride in but also some excellent mountain biking terrain. Their product mix reflects the diversity of their local riding scene and we are proud to be distributed by such a great company. If you work at a bike shop in Canada you can get our entire catalog at Orange Sports.

Orange Sports is a great company and the people over there are great to work with. Congrats on turning 15 and thanks for supporting Fyxation.

By the way they just launched a sweet new website – check it out here.

http://www.orangesportsupply.com/

Dosnoventa Knows How to Party

fyx8tion — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:04:47 +0000

I just came across this video from the Dosnoventa store launch party in Barcelona recently. Hot Spanish girls, great frames, sushi, drinks, dancing… needless to say this party looks like it was sweet.

Dosnoventa is based in Barcelona, Spain and are the makers of some nice aluminum track frames and it looks like they plan on launching a cylcocross and road frame as well. Dosnoventa was started by a few riders in Barcelona and in a few years have developed quite a following and a great reputation. The Dosnoventa Houston and Dosnoventa Tokyo look like great framesets and if you can swing 900 Euros they could be all yours.

Anyway, here’s the video I was referring to. Enjoy the party!

Dosnoventa Headquarters Opening 2013 from CREAM Bikes & Things on Vimeo.

Superb Bicycles Sprint Track Frame

fyx8tion — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:57:50 +0000

Our buddy Kirk at 904 Fixed just sent us over some great photos that we had to share. This came to us via Locked Cog a great cycling blog and they posted it from the Superb site. Now that we’ve got that cleared up, let’s talk about this beauty.

Superb is a bike shop in Boston that specializes in all things track bike. They’ve been selling high quality parts and bikes for a number of years and recently have started to offer their own line of track frames and parts. The pictures below are of their Superb Sprint track frame that they built up for one of their customers. The Superb Sprint is a 6061 Aluminum double butted track frame with a 1″ headtube and 120mm rear spacing. This bad boy can be built for speed or you can top it off with a classic looking quill stem. On this build they finished things off with a SRAM Omnium crankset, 1″ carbon fork and our Rodeo Pursuit bars. I love seeing our stuff on great builds and this is one of the better ones we’ve seen.

For more info and custom builds head over to Superb’s site – http://superbbicycle.com/

More about the Sprint from Superb’s site:

“With a steep head angle and short wheelbase our Sprint track frame is designed for speed. Our custom shaped and flex resistant 2 inch thick downtube is ready for blistering sprints and railing the corners. The lightweight double butted aluminum frame is compatible with standard brakes making it equally at home on the velodrome or your city streets.

Frame: 6061 Aluminum Double Butted with Smooth Welds, 1″ Headtube, 68mm English Thread Bottom Bracket, 27.2mm Seatpost, 120mm Rear Spacing. Metallic blue finish.

Fork: Lugged 1″ track fork. Threaded with brake hole. Metallic Blue finish.

Available in 6 sizes XXS-XL”

Support Your Local Bike Shop!

fyx8tion — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:51:27 +0000

Fyxation sponsored rider Kirk Tsonos from 904 Fixed just sent us this quick edit he put together for his local bike shop, Open Road Bicycles in Avondale, FL. Kirk put this video together after building up his new 2013 Raleigh Rush Hour Pro track frameset that he purchased from Open Road. Enjoy!

Kirk for Open Road Bicycles from 904 Fixed on Vimeo.

What’s in your Quiver?

fyx8tion — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:20:25 +0000

In early 2012 when we started to work on the Quiver our goal was to introduce a frameset that was affordable, versatile and flexible enough that with a few different parts you could build your ideal bike. Whether you need an aggressive commuter, a comfortable city bike or an affordable frameset for cyclocross season, we feel the Quiver is the frameset for you.

Relaxed road geo, plenty of room for large tires and fenders plus Fyxation’s unique combination of removable derailleur hanger and cable stops make this frame just as at home as a single speed, internal or 1×10 build. Designed with horizontal dropouts, removable derailleur hanger and removable cable stops, the Quiver can be run as an ultra clean single speed or as a 2×10 build. We also made the rear wheel spacing 132.5 to accommodate a road hub or internal gear hub. Want to run a large tire? The Quiver can take up to 700x47c. Need fenders or a rack? The Quiver comes equipped with dual eyelets in the rear dropout and fender eyelet on the fork.

The Quiver is in production now and will be in stock at Fyxation dealers in mid April. More info and specs here: http://www.fyxation.com/products/catalog/quiver-road-frameset

Fixed Gear Freestyle Rise Bar on Sale!

fyx8tion — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:36:05 +0000

About a year ago we introduced the Steely HT rise bar. The Steely HT is a heat treated rise bar that has a 22.2 clamp diameter and targets modern fixed gear freestyle rigs. FGFS has evolved a lot the last few years and as a manufacturer of bike parts it’s pretty hard to keep up with all the changes. Rather than trying to keep up with the fast pace of changes we’re going to sit this one out and watch as the sport progresses. Because of this we’re currently offering the Steely bar at a close out price of only $19.95 (MSRP $57.95). We only have about 30 left and when they’re gone that’s it.

Pick one up here: http://www.fyxation.com/shop/en/54-daily-deals

The Steely bar is a wide and stiff bar that’s built to take abuse. Because the Steely is heat treated there’s no need for a cross bar.

Eastside Complete Fixed Gear Bike

fyx8tion — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:32:55 +0000

In late 2012 we introduced our Eastside track frameset which is a full 4130 cro-moly frameset that looks as good as it rides. Ever since we launched the Eastside people have been asking us for a complete Eastside and we’re pleased to announce that in early May we’ll be launching a complete Eastside single speed/fixed gear stocked with mostly Fyxation parts that will be available through us and your stocking Fyxation dealer.

For those of you that can’t wait until May we are now offering complete custom builds using your choice of our Eastside Frameset and Fyxation parts. We’ll be adding some builds to our web-store in the next few days but for now you can set up a design appointment with us by emailing us at info@fyxation.com.

Complete builds like the one pictured below start at $595.00 with free shipping. You get to choose the frameset color and type/color handlebars, saddle, pedals and tires. Don’t settle for a cheap fixed gear/singlespeed that comes stocked with throw away parts. After you’ve spent the time and energy upgrading the parts, you still won’t have a build as clean and polished as what you can build with our team.

904 Fixed: Rivercity Crit 2

fyx8tion — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:10:41 +0000

The crew at 904 Fixed are hosting their second annual Rivercity Crit race this weekend in Jacksonville, FL. We’ve been working with the guys at 904 Fixed for about a year now and they definitely have their act together so my guess is this is going to be a great event. This is a fixed gear criterium style race with a chance to win both cash and prizes. We signed up a sponsor this year so expect to see some of our gear when prizes are handed out. Head over to 904 Fixed for more info.

Check out a preview of the course below and their full event flyer.

YNOT Cycle 2013 Product Update

fyx8tion — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:38:54 +0000

YNOT Cycle in Canada is one of the companies that we keep an eye on and it looks like they’ve been very busy these past few months. YNOT is a small company based in Toronto that originally started as a messenger bag company. They also sell a popular line of pedal straps and most recently have really expanded their line up. New for 2013 is the YNOT Cobra, Mongoose, Saddle Roll, Multi-tasking Tool Roll and Adept Wallet. All of these products look well made and I’m sure position YNOT to compete better with the likes of Chrome Bags, Mission Workshop and even Holdfast which has been releasing everything from FGFS frames to tool bags recently.

Anyway, head on over to the YNOT Cycles website for more info: http://www.ynotcycle.com/

EighthInch Manifest Aero Track Frameset

fyx8tion — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:31:55 +0000

The guys at EighthInch have been selling fixed gear frames, fixed gear bikes and fixed gear parts for the last few years and were one of the first companies that were able to do this while providing a quality and affordable product. The EighthInch Scrambler has been on the market for the last few years and is one of the most affordable framesets on the market. For only $149.50 you can get the frame, fork, seatpost, clamp and headset.

Today they just announced that their new aluminum frameset the Manifest is now available. The EighthInch Manifest follows in their tradition of selling on price and retails for only $299.50. This frameset goes straight at Leader Bikes and offers a frameset that looks similar to the Leader frames and is priced well below any of their models. I’m sure that the guys at Pure Fix and State Bicycle Co. aren’t too far behind and this can only mean that prices will go lower. More info about the Manifest fixed gear frameset is below.

The EighthInch Manifest is a light, stiff, and versatile aluminum track frameset. Race through the streets during the week, then tear up the track on the weekend. With aggressive geometry and tight handling you’re sure to have an exciting ride. The aero tubing and semi-integrated headset give the frame clean lines and a seattube cutout lets you slam your wheel and achieve a nice short wheelbase. Frame, fork, seatpost, seatclamp and headset are all included so your parts list just got a little shorter.
Product Features

Frame: 6061 Aluminum Aero Track Frame
Fork: Matching 6061 1 1/8in. Aluminum Fork *Included*
Sizes: 49cm, 51cm, 53cm, 55cm, 57cm, 59cm
Color: Pitch Black
Weight: Coming Soon When Full Size Run Arrives
Spacing: 120mm Rear 100mm Front
Dropouts: Replaceable 10mm Stainless Dropout Inserts
Headset: 1 1/8in Semi-Integrated *Included*
Seatpost: 27.2mm Post and 32.mm Clamp *Included*
Brakes: Accepts Front and Rear Caliper Brakes
Bottom Bracket: 68mm English Threading
Tire Clearance: Up To 32c Rear, 28c Front
Decal Sheet Included But Not Applied

Custom Bike Builds Available Soon…

Mesa 61 Alloy Pedals Now Shipping!

fyx8tion — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:16:15 +0000

We are pleased to announce that our Mesa 61 alloy platform pedal is finally in stock and available through your local Fyxation dealer. The Mesa 61 is versatile platform pedal that looks just as good on your urban assault vehicle as it does on your snow ready fat bike. Weighing in at only 380 grams/pair, the Mesa 61 is an all purpose durable thin platform pedal made out of lightweight 6061 aluminum, includes 20 stout replaceable pins and is anodized for durability.

The Mesa 61 rounds out our current line up of Mesa pedals that includes our nylon Mesa and Mesa MP (metal pin) pedals. The Mesa line of pedals was originally designed to offer a wide platform for urban cyclists but was quickly embraced by many different styles of riders due to it’s versatility, durability and affordability. The Mesa ($47.95), Mesa MP ($59.95) and now the Mesa 61 ($96.95) all offer a wide, thin platform and include sealed bearings, DU bushing and a cro-moly spindle. The Mesa 61 is also pedal strap compatible and works with most of the popular pedal straps currently on the market.

Photographer: Scott Nogrady. Rider: Gus Molina

Photographer: Dave Noakes

Photo Credit: Fat-Bike.com

Fat Bike Approved: Mesa 61 Alloy Pedals

fyx8tion — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:52:12 +0000

We haven’t officially announced that our new Mesa 61 replaceable pin alloy platform pedal but they’ll be available next week here at Fyxation and at our US distributors. We let the guys over at Fat-Bike.com get their hands on a set of the Mesa 61 pedals and they just posted a quick preview before their official review.

The Mesa 61 is a great durable thin platform pedal that is great for many styles of riding. While the Mesa 61 is a great ubran platform pedal that is pedal strap compatible, it also works great on dirt and snow. Fat bike riders need a nice wide platform with plenty of grip so they can use these pedals in snow and ice and with boots. The Mesa 61 is ideal for those conditions and because we designed these pedals to accommodate pedal straps, there are foot retention options to secure your feet to the pedal that aren’t available with most alloy platform pedals.

Check out the full write up here on Fat-Bike.com – http://fat-bike.com/2013/01/fyxation-mesa-61-pedals/

Handsome Cycles Fredward

fyx8tion — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:29:49 +0000

I just saw a post about Handsome Cycles over at BikeRumor and wanted to share it here. Handsome Cycles is an urban bike company based in Minneapolis, MN and they make a pretty diverse line up of complete bikes and framesets. I actually met Jesse the owner of Handsome back in the day when I was in college and still have the snowboard he sold me then as proof. Jesse comes from a cycling family and grew up working at his Dad’s bike shop – The Alt in Minneapolis.

Handsome Cycles has been growing over the last few years and they are actually in the process of opening up a retail storefront in Minneapolis. It looks like their new frameset the Fredward is now available and if you swing by their shop in MN you can get one built up as a custom build. Head over to the Handsome Cycles website for more info: http://handsomecycles.com/bicycles.php

All-City Cycles Thunderdome Track Frame

fyx8tion — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:15:45 +0000

We just saw that the new All City Thunderdome is in stock and shipping out to dealers so we thought we’d give a shout out to our friends at All City. All City is one of the QBP house brands that makes a complete line of bikes (geared and not) and parts that target the urban cyclist. They have a great product mix with that includes track frames, FGFS frames, their Nature Boy cross bike and the Mr. Pink road bike. The Thunderdome is their latest frameset and I believe is their first aluminum bike frame.

More about the All City Track frameset below:

We are at the core of our very heart a track bike brand, always have been, always will be. Because of that, we wanted to up jump our velodrome game, and create a full on race specific alloy sprint monster.

Enter the Thunderdome.

We’ve taken our tried and true Big Block geometry and adapted it to a shorter axle to crown carbon fork and alloy frameset. Because we love the lines of the old Cannondale track bikes, we went with traditional round tubing, a standard 1 1/8″ headset, and to give it that AC touch, polished panels on the downtube and chainstay.

It is stiff, fast, and ready to race.

Gates Pedal Strap Kit Release

fyx8tion — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:55:18 +0000

Over the last few years velcro pedal straps have become a very popular alternative to traditional toe clips and clipless pedals for fixed gear riders but also for commuters who are looking for a secure and adjustable form of foot retention. Because we sell both pedals and straps people are always asking us which pedals work with our straps and vice versa.

Pedals and straps go together like San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge but finding straps and pedals that work together isn’t always easy. Although we have four pedals out now that work with our Gates Straps, we decided to take the guess work out of the picture and now offer our Gates Pedal Strap Kit. The Gates Pedal Strap Kit is now available for purchase from your local Fyxation dealer.

The Gates Pedal Strap Kit is available in an easy to display compact retail package that was designed with the local bike shop in mind. Available in seven color combinations, our new strap kit includes a set of Gates Pedals and Straps for only $59.95. The Gates pedal offers an impact grade nylon body, cr-mo spindle and rebuild-able loose bearing design. Our Gates straps are built from tough 2″ seat belt webbing and offer secure foot retention and easy adjust-ability. The wide webbing is easy on your shoes and provides quick adjustment for a wide range of shoes that isn’t available with toe clips.

Whether riding fixed, commuting or just running to the store our strap kit provides more performance than flat pedals without the hassle of clipless pedals and cleated shoes.

Introducing the Gates Slim Pedal

fyx8tion — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:20:15 +0000

Platform pedals come in all shapes and sizes and range from a traditional BMX style platform pedal to high end sealed bearing alloy pedals. These pedals continue to be a popular option as they offer a nice wide platform for many styles of riding and with various price points, there’s pretty much a platform pedal for anyone out there. Fyxation currently offers a complete line of pedals that includes our BMX style Gates platform pedals and our sealed bearing Mesa, Mesa MP (nylon w/replaceable pins) and Mesa 61 pedals (alloy w/replaceable pins). We’re happy to announce that our line of pedals just got a little bigger. Today we’re announcing the introduction of our new Gates Slim pedals.

Like our Gates pedal, the Gates slim has a tough impact grade nylon body, chromoly spindle, rebuild-able loose ball bearings and is pedal strap compatible. As it’s name implies, we slimmed down the height of the pedal to just 14mm and dropped the weight to 345g making the Slim 70 grams lighter and 50% thinner than the Gates. The slim package increases pedal clearance while still providing a wide platform. The Gates Slim is the perfect hybrid between our Gates and Mesa pedals and offers you all the benefits of a thin profile platform pedal yet retails at a fraction of the cost of other thin profile sealed bearing pedals. The Gates Slim has a US retail of only $29.95.

Check out our Gates Slim commercial below and feel free to take our 360 Pedal view for a spin.

The Slim is available in black, white, green, orange and pink. We also offer the Slim as a strap kit including our newest pedal and straps here. The Gates Slim is currently available through Fyxation’s worldwide distributors so reach out to your local shop to pick up a set.

Fyxation Human Monday Sale

fyx8tion — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:35:38 +0000

In our efforts to stray from the herd this year we are putting our own unique spin on Cyber Monday. I always thought Cyber Monday sounded so cold, like it should be the title of the next of the next Terminator movie. What we wanted to do over here at Fyxation this is year is put the “Human” back into Cyber Monday so the best deals are only available when you deal with an actual person. Here is the deal.

For today only you can get 10% off any Fyxation part on our web-store by using the coupon code CYBERMONDAY. However, savings of up to 50% off are available on some of our items via our Live Chat feature when you talk with one of our customer service reps. All you have to do is go to our online store and start a conversation with us via our Live Chat feature. Simply click on the Live Support Online icon on the left hand side our page to start an online chat session and start up a conversation. Our customer service reps are standing by with answers about gear or any other help you may need. They’ve been authorized to give up to 50% off select items or if you’re nice, your entire purchase.

Help us put the human touch back into Cyber Monday. Reach out to us via Live Chat and see what types of deals are in store.

Fyxation Web-store – http://www.fyxation.com/shop/en/

Thanks!
Fyxation Team

Soul Poles: Bamboo Ski Poles

fyx8tion — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:52:43 +0000

Occasionally here on our blog we’ll put up a post that may seem a bit off topic for an urban parts/bicycle company but when we’re not on our bikes, we do have a few other interests. One of them is skiing. My brother and I (co-founders of Fyxation) grew up outside of Detroit where there are actually a number of places to go downhill skiing. Every Saturday we got put on a bus and shipped off to a ski hill for a day of skiing with our local ski club. Our parents were stoked because we were out of their hair for a day and we were stoked because well, we got to ski all day. Those early days of skiing had a huge impact on me. So much so, that I’m writing this from my house here in Park City, UT where I plan to get my gear ready and go skiing in a few minutes.

There’s a local company out here in PC called Soul Poles which makes a bamboo ski pole that we wanted to share with our readers. Their company uses Bamboo as the shaft for their ski poles and the poles are manufactured here in Park City. The product looks super cool and sounds neat but knowing that in Asia they use bamboo as scaffolding on construction sites, these things are probably durable as hell. Their company has a great message and a great product and we wish them the best of luck. Check out this amazing video about their manufacturing process that somehow only has 900 views on Vimeo. I’d love to write a review here on our site so if the guys at Soul Pole use Google Alerts and they see this post, shoot us a message .

Soul Poles from Mike Schirf on Vimeo.

Fyxation Parts in 360

fyx8tion — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:50:35 +0000

We know how hard it is to really appreciate what a product looks like when you see it on a website. We do our best to bring our products to life with studio shots and rider images but it’s just not the same as actually picking up the product, turning it around in your hands and checking it out from all angles. To get a closer look at our gear a lot of people will head to their local bike shop but admittedly, very few shops stock our whole line of parts and frames. In order to improve your Fyxation parts buying experience and to give you an under the hood look at all of our parts, we are proud to introduce you to Fyxation 360.

Optimized for mobile devices, Fyxation 360 view was developed to enhance your experience when visiting our website and to make it that much easier to buy our products site unseen. Whenever we first see a new product like our Gates Slim Pedal Strap Kit pictured below, the first thing we do after wiping off the drool is to pick it up and check it out from all angles to really get a good look at it. Now you can have the same experience that we do on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with a simple click and drag. We will be rolling out our new 360 product view for all of the products on our website over the next few weeks so stay tuned.

Take a spin and let us know what you think.

AFC Uproar 2012

fyx8tion — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:36:21 +0000

The AFC Uproar all fixed competition returned to the Cow Palace for another year. This year’s event featured a street course with both amateur and professional classes competing, with the amateur winner allowed to compete with the pro’s. Riders went head to head in timed sessions in an elimination style event. Riders from SF based iMiNUSD swept the final with Matt Reyes taking first followed by Jakob Santos and Deadwood.

AT’s Showdown at 2012 SF Bike Expo

fyx8tion — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:55:55 +0000

As if there isn’t enough to do at the SF Bike Expo, the AT’s showdown returned once again this year to delight crowds with head to head dirt jump competition. This annual event brings out some big talent and riders are pushing big tricks. With it’s two up format, riders drop from the gate and roll down a large hill to enter the course and meet the first kicker half way down.

This year saw Anthony Messere take home first place in Best Trick and Brett Rheeder taking home first overall.

iMiNUSD – Fixed Gear Boutique

fyx8tion — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:34:18 +0000

In the fast changing world of fixed gear freestyle, if you turn around for a second the bikes and style of riding change. It’s not easy for most bike shops to stay on top of what riders are looking for, unless they put themselves at the center of FGFS culture. One shop that excels at this is San Jose based iMiNUSD. We had the chance to spend some time talking to the crew at iMiNUSD last weekend at the SF Bike Expo; these guys are a brand, bike shop and online hub for all things FGFS.

With frames in stock from BreakBrake17, Specialized, SE and Leader Bikes iMiNUSD has what riders are looking for. As expected they also include the full range of parts to put together the perfect build. Whether hubs from Sadio, foot retention from Y-Not or bars from The Grime, they carry the gear to round out your FGFS build.

But iMiNUSD isn’t just about FGFS, they also carry a full line of go-fast fixed gear frames and parts, including Cinelli and Pake, for riders looking lay down miles. If you’re in the Bay Area, and looking for a single speed fyx, definitely hit up the crew at iMiNUSD.

Fixed Gear Race to the Bottom

fyx8tion — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:50:28 +0000

The last few years we’ve seen a ton of newcomers to the fixed gear bike scene and it seems like every time I see a new company selling “fixies” their prices for their complete fixed gear bikes get lower and lower. Just today I saw an ad in Urban Velo for a new company called Critical Cycles. They have no contact info on their website and there’s no other info on the web about them other than that they sell a complete fixed gear bike direct to consumer for $219 with free shipping. What? I’ve always said the cheap fixie companies are competing with each other in a race to the bottom and these guys have proved me right again.

When I first saw the guys at State Bicycle Company selling a fixed gear bike for $429.00 with free shipping I thought there was no way anybody could touch that. Then the boys from Pure Fix came along and started selling fixed gear bikes for $325.00 and they were quickly followed by Retrospec, Zycle Fix, Sole Bicycles… the list goes on. Pretty much all you need to start a bike company is now is a web browser to find a factory in China and a little bit of cash. Now these guys that sell the $325 fixie also sell their bikes to shops so there’s obviously money to be made discounting a $325 fixie by about 40% so shops can make money selling them.

Just the other day I found a new company on Google called Aerofix that sells a $299 fixie with free shipping to the customer, free lights and free pedal straps. When you look close enough it’s pretty easy to tell that Aerofix is the direct to consumer side of PureFix Cycles. This way they can sell direct to consumer without offending their shops and still make some good money in the process. Pretty smart move!

Now you have the guys at Critical Cycles that are probably working the same factories as the guys just listed but they are cool with buying a complete fixed gear bike out of China for about $100 and selling direct to consumer for $219. When you account for shipping/import duties to bring these bikes in and the cost of free freight to consumers, these guys can’t be making that much per bike and for whoever is running Critical Cycles that’s obviously not an issue.

I can’t wait to see the $150 fixie. That should be good!

Fixed Gear Frameset – Fyxation Eastside

fyx8tion — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:09:15 +0000

We just finished with a photo shoot down by the lakefront here in Milwaukee and we wanted to post a few pictures up here on our blog. Our Eastside track frameset is on the water and will be in stock in our new Milwaukee warehouse in early December. We are super pumped to finally be offering our own framesets and can’t wait to offer some custom builds on our website for customers looking for a Fyxation complete bike.

The Eastside frameset is made out of 4130 Chromoly and in our opinion is one of the nicest and affordable fixed gear framesets on the market. We see the Eastside as a great way for people and shops to build up the fixed gear bike or singlespeed bike that they’ve always wanted to without breaking the bank or having to settle for a lot of the cheap hi-ten fixed gear bikes that are on the market today. When we launch the Eastside we’ll be offering 3 colors – black, gloss white and copper – with more colors to follow in early 2013. My favorite is the copper but the gloss white track frameset with the chrome fork featured below is a close second.

More info here: http://www.fyxation.com/products/catalog/east-side-track-frameset

Leader Bikes 725 MID at City Grounds

fyx8tion — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:59:38 +0000

I saw this on a few blogs this week and thought I would post it up. Leader Bikes just launched a few custom colors of the Leader 725 track bike that are only available at fixed gear shop City Grounds. The Exclusive City Grounds/Leader colors are a cool burnt orange and silver. City Grounds is a southern California bike shop that also has a large web presence. They are one of the biggest sellers of the SE bikes including the SE Draft and SE Lager and they also crank out a lot of Leader, Linus and Cinelli. Sorry but no Fyxation gear on these shelves Fyxation fans.

Win a Fyxation Eastside Track Bike

fyx8tion — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:54:38 +0000

We are excited to announce that in early 2013 we will be launching our Eastside track bikes. The Eastside complete bikes will feature our 4130 Cro-mo Eastside track frameset and a bunch of Fyxation parts including our Rodeo Pursuit bars, Rodeo Stem, Pilot saddle, Pilot Seatpost, Accela tires and our Gates pedals.

Full product info here: http://www.fyxation.com/products/catalog/east-side-track-frameset

If you can’t wait until then and you live in So Cal, head on over to the Benny Benassi concert at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, CA on October 30th for a chance to win the Fyxation Eastside complete! We recently partnered up with DNA Imagery and Collective Efforts Events and will be giving away a pre-production Fyxation Eastside Track bike at the concert. In order to be eligible to win you have to ride your bike to the event so leave your car at home.

The guys over at DNA Imagery put together this sick video to help promote the event and the Eastside. If you like bikes, music and dancing tacos I suggest you give it a play. Our parts are featured on the Cinelli and the SE in the shoot and the Eastside makes an appearance as well.

DNA x Fyxation x CLCTV Presents: Ride FTW from DNA IMAGERY on Vimeo.

More event info below:

Collective Efforts Events: http://www.collectiveeffortevents.com/upcoming-events/item/benny-benassi-santa-barbara?category_id=3

DNA Imagery Website: http://www.dnaimagery.com/

Chrome Storm Cobra

fyx8tion — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:13:15 +0000

We’re big fans of the guys over at Chrome so when we see some of their gear that’s Fyxation blogworthy we’ll let you know. Chrome has really expanded their offering the last few years and are no longer just a messenger bag company. In fact, as I write this I have a pair of their shoes on.

They just released their new Storm lineup of outerwear and according to Chrome “it provides bike-specific functionality with market-leading breathable weatherproof performance in jackets that work on the bike, in the office and at the bar.” This launch includes the Storm Cobra, Storm Pasha and Storm Field. I’m a big fan of the Cobra.

Head over to their site for more info: http://www.chromebagsstore.com/apparel/mens-apparel/storm-cobra.html

More about the Chrome Storm Cobra

The Storm Cobra features our fully-taped 100% waterproof breathable Chrome Storm™ technology. It has a bike-friendly fit for comfortable riding, pit zips and two way main zipper for active venting, a zippered back cargo pocket for cell phone and keys, and reflective details so you can be seen at night.

Features and Fit

Fully seam taped construction with waterproof Tactel nylon fabric
Zippered pit vents for on bike ventilation
High neck collar with 3 panel hood
Full width pass through back cargo pocket
Longer sleeves and torso for riding comfort
Waterproof two way main zipper for on bike ventilation

The $70,000 Fixie

fyx8tion — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:44:29 +0000

I’m a big fan of technology and the use of sustainable material in design; the idea of borrowing from classic design is inspiring as well. So when I caught Andy Martin’s bicycle concept on Fast Co. I just had to share.

via Fast Co.

Mr. Martin’s design leans on the steam bending technology used to make the famous Thonet No. 14 chair, but utilizes technology not available when the No. 14 was created. With a price tag of $70k I’m not expecting to see this in any local alley cats soon, but if it made a stop at our local museum I would definetly be there to check it out.

Trek District with Fyxation Mesa Pedals

fyx8tion — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:21:15 +0000

Dave Bowen from DBO Bike recently posted a review of our Mesa pedals up on his blog and we thought we’d share. Dave is riding the Trek District which is Trek’s all around urban commuter platform. The Trek District can be purchased a as a belt drive, 1×9 (Trek 9th District) or singlespeed (Trek District S) and even though the price points are kind of high, the Trek District is a clean and very versatile bike. Dave replaced the stock Welgo pedals that ship with the Trek District with our black Mesa thin platform pedals. Here’s what he had to say:

“My Trek District featured a pair of Welgos which were small and slippery by comparison. Swapping them out for the Mesas totally changed my riding experience. It almost felt like getting a new bike.”

Check out the full review at: http://dbobike.blogspot.com/2012/08/mesa-fyxation-pedal_4.html

New Era X Fyxation Fixed Gear Bike

fyx8tion — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:33:35 +0000

We were recently contacted by the guys over at Freqnt Flyr to help them out with a custom fixed gear bike they were building up for the grand opening of the New Era flagship store in New Orleans. There isn’t much info about Freqnt Flyr Bicycle Co out there yet but they make fixed gear bikes and accessories and they’ve teamed up with New Era to build up unique custom fixed gear builds for each New Era store opening. This specific build had some custom New Era graphics that wrapped the top and down tube, Velocity Rims and a slew of Fyxation parts. Pictures below. Enjoy!

Bicycle Belts: Re-purposed Bicycle Tires

fyx8tion — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:56:34 +0000

Feeling a little nostalgic for that old bicycle tire on your bike that you can’t quite get rid of? Can’t stop thinking of all the great rides you’ve been on and how well it’s treated you? Well, Bicycle Belts out of Tallahassee, FL has got you covered. Bicycle Belts is a small rider owned business that takes old bicycle tires and turns them into one of a kind belts. Below is a great belt made for the crew over at 904 Fixed using one of our Accela tires. Nice work guys!

Here’s more about Bicycle Belts from owner Tom Hellmann.

“Recently decided to use my creativity to design and produce these one-of-a-kind bicycle tire belts. Without reusing these tires, they would normally end up in a landfill, so make your statement and show your passion for cycling and the environment by wearing one. Handmade from used bicycle tires these unique belts add style to any outfit. These belts are waterproof which makes them far more durable than leather or cloth belts. With the strength of the threads, flat protection and rubber compounds found in a bicycle tire, these belts will last forever. These belts make wonderful conversation pieces as well. If you have your own tire that holds a special memory for you, maybe a race, century, tour, etc. contact me and I can make a custom belt for you.”

Head over to http://www.bicyclebelts.com/ for more info.

SPCARBON Aluminum Single Speed Build

fyx8tion — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:52:23 +0000

We recently started working with the guys over at SPCARBON Bicycles and they are now supplying Fyxation parts for some of their custom aluminum single speed builds. SPCARBON is an independent bike builder based in Brooklyn and is best known for their carbon fiber road bikes and custom single speed builds. Most of the guys out there making “custom” fixed gear/single speed builds use the cheapest parts they can find because they assume that anyone that rides “fixed” is cheap. That’s not the way that Shawn at SPCARBON looks at it. He works with each customer and uses the best parts to build up quality complete bikes that are head and shoulders above the competition.

The first Fyxation X SPCARBON single speed build was just released and we are super excited by how it turned out. The SPCARBON King Cobra aluminum single speed bike features the Fyxation Classic leather button saddle, Rodeo Pursuit bars and our Gates pedal straps. It also features SPCARBON 42mm deep dish sealed cartridge wheels, Tektro R710 racing brakes and SPCARBON luminescent blue brake lines which are reflective. If you currently ride one of the cheap hi-ten fixies getting cranked out by Retrospec Bicycles, Pure Fix, Sole Bicycles… you probably don’t want to know how light this build is. It may make you ill. Great job guys!

Head over to http://www.spcarbon.com for more info.

Fyxation 2013 Catalog

fyx8tion — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:33:56 +0000

To say we’ve been busy these last few months is an understatement. We just finished our 2013 catalog in time for Interbike next week and if all goes as planned, hard copies of these bad boys will be at our hotel in Vegas when we check in next week.

Fyxation 2013 Catalog - http://issuu.com/fyxation/docs/2013_catalog

For 2013 we changed up our gameplan just a bit. When we launched Fyxation in 2009 our goal was to focus on making parts and accessories for urban cyclists and to help people make their bikes look better. After years of doing just that we’ve decided that it’s finally time to make our own bikes look better. In 2013 we will be launching 3 new Fyxation framesets and later in the year our own complete bikes. These frames were designed by Fyxation to our spec and are not simply stock builds from some factory over seas.

The Quiver was designed to be the most versatile urban frameset on the market and each has the ability to be run as a single speed, internal hub or geared bike with the help of our proprietary derailleur hanger. These two framesets come stock with horizontal dropouts and our removable cable stops so they’ll maintain the clean look of a fixed gear/singlespeed bike but they can easily be built up as a geared bike. The Quiver name says it all. Instead of having to fork over tons of money to build up your own Quiver of bikes, this versatile frame can be built up the way you want it.

We hope you enjoy our catalog and we’ll keep you posted with updates as our new gear becomes available.

Thanks!
Fyxation Team

Fyxation Quiver Frameset

Fyxation Quiver 1×10

Third Ward Frameset

Fyxation Quiver Removable Cable Stops

Fyxation Quiver Horizontal Dropouts with Derailleur Hanger

Fyxation East Side Track Frameset

Kids Fixed Gear: Pure Fix Micro Series

fyx8tion — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:46:15 +0000

This morning a fixie bomb went off and I don’t think a lot of people heard it but they eventually will. The crafty kids over at Pure Fix Cyles just released their new Micro Series fixed gear bikes which as far as I can tell is the first fixie that’s being sold and marketed to kids. That’s right. Now kids can ride the bikes that there older siblings have been riding for a while but just couldn’t quite fit on. This is a big deal because fixed gear bikes have become a part of popular culture but due to the tire size that most track bikes/fixies use, they were limited to people that were over 5 feet tall. Not any more.

Instead of using 700c tires the Pure Fix Micro Series bikes use 650b wheels which are about a 27.5 inch diameter. 650b is popular in mountain biking because it is marketed as a good mix between the benefits of a 26″ wheel and 29ers. In the fixed gear world this is a good idea because the smaller tire size has enabled Pure Fix to shrink their frame size without sacrificing that classic track frame geometry and has enabled them to come out with a fixie targeted to riders that are 4’3″ on up. Very smart idea guys. It’s no doubt that if your competitors weren’t already working on their own fixie for kids, they will be now. Enjoy your head start!

The bikes they released as mini fixed gear bikes for kids are their Micro India, Micro Juliet, Micro Romeo and Micro Whiskey.

Fixed Gear Tricks. All City Championship.

fyx8tion — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:47:56 +0000

I was just on Youtube checking out some videos and I came across this old school video from Jeff Frane of Bike Jerks/All City/QBP. This video is from May 2008 and is a cool edit of Jeff and some of his buddies doing tricks in Minneapolis. It’s a little different than some of the trick videos that are getting posted these days. It’s pretty amazing to see how the concept of a fixed gear trick has changed a bit in the last few years. Enjoy! By the way, this thing almost has 1 million views. Nice work!

Specialized Globe Roll 1 Drop

fyx8tion — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:30:21 +0000

I just got forwarded a link to the new Specialized Globe Roll Drop 1. The Globe Roll is their version of a versatile urban bike that can be purchased as a single speed, 8 speed internal with belt drive, 8 speed geared with derailleur or as a step through bike. I like the idea of it and the Globe Roll Drop 1 is actually a pretty clean looking bike, but at $660 for their fixed gear build it’s a bit expensive.

More info below:

The Roll 1 Drop is the ultimate expression of simple speed. A single fixed or freewheel gear, classic drop bars and a stylin’ Cr-Mo/steel frame and fork gives you everything you need to motor around town as fast as you can, and nothing you don’t.

– Well-built, classic Cr-Mo singlespeed frame with horizontal dropouts is simple, smooth, and durable
– Extremely durable uni-crown Cr-Mo fork with straight blades and custom cast dropouts
– Strong, eye-catching deep V 700c rims and bolt-on, high-flange front and rear hubs complement the Roll’s durable urban design
– Fixed or freewheel? You decide with this flip-flop, high-flange 32-hole hub
– Forged alloy 42T track-style singlespeed crankset with alloy ring is tough and light
– Narrow alloy drop bars are comfortable to ride on top or in the drops, so you can cruise or mash
– Forged alloy 42T track-style singlespeed crankset with alloy ring is tough and light

2013 Leader Bikes Catalog Shoot

fyx8tion — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:26:10 +0000

I had to post this shot of Fyxation team rider Addison Zawada. Addison recently signed up as a team rider for Leader Bikes and they flew him out to So Cal to do a photo shoot with Matt Lingo. We saw these shots first on Pedal Consumption and then on Matt Lingo’s site Reciprocity Failure/Recfail.

In this picture Addison has built up his Leader 735 with Fyxation Comet drop bars, track grips and our Accela tires. Great shot!

Wyatt Bicycle Company 2013 Fixed Gear

fyx8tion — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:55:18 +0000

Earlier this year we were contact by a guy named Wyatt who was from our home state of Wisconsin. He told us that he owned his own bike company named Wyatt Bicycle Co. and that he specialized in affordable fixed gear bikes. Wyatt was planning for his 2013 collection of bikes and his goal was to use quality Fyxation parts as a way to help his bike stand out from all the other fixies that are currently flooding the market. Well here we are now in the end of August and Wyatt’s vision is about to become a reality.

As of August 30th the Wyatt Bicycle Company will begin shipping their 2013 model year fixed gear bikes. Wyatt Bikes feature a full 4130 chromoly frame and fork, built in chain tensioners, a flip flop hub, a lifetime warranty and Fyxation parts. For all the 2013 Wyatt Bicycle Company’s bikes feature the Fyxation Curve saddle, Gates pedals and our BMX grips. Wyatt has a range of models available including the Comet, Brewer, Orchid, Northbound, Sublime, Bitsy, Skyline and Blackout. Head on over to Wyatt Bikes website for more info https://wyattbikes.com/store/.

904 Fixed’s 2012 Cycling Kits

fyx8tion — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:16:17 +0000

The crew over at 904 Fixed just posted that their 2012 Cycling Kits are available for pre-order online. Head over to the 904 Fixed site to pick yours up – http://904fixed.com/904-fixed-cycling-kit-pre-orders/

“A big thanks to our sponsors Burro, Fyxation, Knog, Velocity, Hotlife, and Bicycle Belts.

The Jersey: The cycling jersey has great elasticity, great abrasion and impact resistance, very lightweight, and increases aerodynamics while riding. The interior of the jersey uses a special microfiber to provide superior moisture wicking. The jersey is equipped with a full zipper design and 3 rear pockets for storage while riding. 90% Polyester/10% Lycra

The Bib Shorts: The flexible Lycra fabric reduces the friction between the shorts and legs, making them very suitable for high speed riding. They are extremely breathable, quick-drying, anti-wear, fade resistant, and shrink-resistant. Equipped with CoolMax padding which inclue three different types of foam with varied densities along with a cooling silica gel insert which provide high levels of protection and comfort best suited for long rides while on the saddle. 80% Polyester/20% Lycra”

31.8mm Rodeo Pursuit Bars in Stock!

fyx8tion — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:54:52 +0000

Ever since we launched our Rodeo Pursuit bar earlier this year people have been asking us for a 31.8mm clamp version that would work with many of the newer over sized stems that are on the market. Well we’re pleased to announce that our 31.8mm Rodeo Pursuit bar is finally available. The 31.8mm Rodeo Pursuit bar retails for only $43.95 and is available in black only in both 40cm and 42cm widths.

Made out of double butted 6061 aluminum the 31.8 Rodeo Pursuit bar is strong, stiff and light. The Rodeo Pursuit Bullhorn bar with 31.8 clamp provides a wide range of hand positions and a subtle 40mm drop for a comfortable and quick forward position. Whether riding the center for relaxed spinning or forward for sprints, the Rodeo Bullhorn bar is the ideal pursuit bar.

The 31.8mm Rodeo Pursuit bar is in stock now in the Fyxation web-store and will be available through US distribution and your local bike shop early next week.

SPECS
Clamp Diameter: 31.8mm (25.4mm also available)
Grip Diameter: 24.0mm
Inside Diameter: 19.3mm (Compatible with bar-end brake levers)
Drop: 40mm
Reach: 160mm
Width 40, 42cm
Weight: 235g
Material: Double Butted 6061 T6 Aluminum
Color: Black

Tour of Utah Stage 5 Start

fyx8tion — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:04:14 +0000

I was lucky enough to be in Park City, UT for this year’s Tour of Utah and saw the start of the grueling stage 5 of this 6 stage race. The Tour of Utah winds it’s way all over northern Utah through some very scenic terrain and has stages that are as tough as any major race out there. Stage 5 of the Tour of Utah starts right in Park City and is over 100 miles long with the riders having to climb over 10,000 vertical feet in the 90+ degree heat. To finish this painful leg of the Tour riders must climb Little Cottonwood Canyon to finish at Snowbird Ski Resort. This last stretch is about 8 miles long but quickly gains over 4000 vertical feet as you head up this amazing rocky canyon that in the winter averages over 500″ of powder. Tough way to end the day!

Even though the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah isn’t as well known as the Tour of California, a lot of the big names in cycling are out here. When I has hanging around the start I saw Christian Vandevelde of team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda doing interviews and there were riders from Team Liquigas-Cannondale, Team Radioshack and the BMC Racing Team all getting ready for the race. I took a few very amateur photos of the start for your viewing pleasure. I love how they’re all smiling and chit chatting like they’re on a casual ride.

Fyxation 31.8 Pursuit Bar Photo Shoot

fyx8tion — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:23:02 +0000

We’re gearing up to officially launch our new 31.8mm Rodeo Pursuit bars next week and in preparation of the launch we’ve seeded a few of the bars out to some photographers we work with. The 31.8mm Pursuit bar is double butted and is light, strong and stiff and is designed to work with the larger stems that come on most new bikes. Honestly the existing market consists of bars like the Nitto RB-021 SSB handlebar that retails for a measly $105! At $43.95 the 31.8 Pursuit bar is a smoking deal and will be a great addition to any ride.

Anyway, we just got these shots from our buddy Cameron Nunez who works with the 904 Fixed crew in Jacksonville, FL and we’re pumped by the work he sent us. The man behind the knuckles is Fyxation sponsored rider Kyle Smith. Enjoy!

Hold Fast Tool Bag

fyx8tion — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:19:35 +0000

I just saw this over on Prolly Is Not Probably and thought I’d give it a plug. The guys over at Hold Fast continue to diversify their product offering with the release of their Tool Bag. Earlier this year they launched a complete line of fixed gear freestyle frames and forks. /tool-bag

More info from Holdfast:

This is our take on the classic canvas tool pouch. Made from a very heavy-duty 21oz durable cotton canvas and featuring a high-quality #8 brass YKK zipper, this pouch helps keep your bag organized and gear safe. With plenty of room for tools, tubes, or other supplies, this pouch will only get better with age and will last you a lifetime. Measures 6”W x 11”L. Made with pride in USA.

Head over to Hold Fast to pick one up: http://holdfastordie.com/store

Chrome Bags Summer Tees Now Available

fyx8tion — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:09:33 +0000

It seems like every 2 days I get a new email from Chrome Bags letting me know about some new stuff they’ve launched. The most recent update I got was regarding a bunch of new Chrome Bags t-shirts that they just released. I clicked on the link to get a closer look and was surprised to see how many shirts they now offer. I personally have one of their logo t-shirts and can attest to the quality. Head over to Chrome Bags site for more info .

Chrome Summer Tees – http://www.chromebagsstore.com/apparel/tees.html

514 Fixed Bikeapalooza

fyx8tion — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:02:30 +0000

The guys at 514 Fixed up in Canada are throwing their 2nd annual Bikeapalooza event on August 25th. Their will be 5 separate events with prizes given away from a number of companies including Skull Candy, Fyxation, Knog, Bicycle Belts and Burro Bags. If you can make it up to Montreal I’m sure it will be a great time.

State Bicycle Company 10% Off Sale

fyx8tion — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:56:58 +0000

The guys at State Bicycle Co are having a big back to school sale and are selling all of their gear including their fixed gear bikes for 10% off. The sale ends in 2 days so if you were looking at getting a State Bicycle Co fixie, now’s your chance.

Head over to the State Bike site for more info: http://www.statebicycle.com/

Pure Fix Cycles Framesets

fyx8tion — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:50:46 +0000

The race to the bottom just got a little more competitive. The guys over at Pure Fix Cycles are now offering their hi-ten framesets for only $99.00! Their fixed gear frames and fixed gear forks are available in most of the colors their fixies come in and for only $99 it’s definitely the most affordable fixed gear frameset on the market. Move over Pake. Sorry Leader Bike.

Mercier Kilo TT: Fyxation Photo Shoot

fyx8tion — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:42:43 +0000

Ryan Rivas is a photographer based in Chicago that was one of the finalists for our Sponsored Photographer Contest. Ryan is actually from our hometown Milwaukee and living in Chicago has a great backdrop for a bicycle photo shoot. For his shoot Ryan decided to use a 2008 Mercier Kilo TT in a raw metal colorway and finish it off with Orange Fyxation parts. I have to say this is the best Kilo TT I’ve seen but then again I’m a bit biased. The Mercier Kilo Singlespeed is sort of a mystery bike as I can’t really figure out who makes it. It’s sold by Bikesdirect.com here in the US but that’s about all I can other than posts from a bunch of fan boys on www.bikeforums.net. Enjoy the pictures!

Cannondale Hooligan X Fyxation

fyx8tion — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:34:06 +0000

Philippe Vence was one of the finalists for our Sponsored Photographer contest and when we asked him what bike he wanted to build up I was a bit surprised. I’d seen the Cannondale Hooligan before but never really envisioned it as looking great with our parts. Well I’m glad we listened to Anthony. Below area few of the great pictures that Philippe sent us for the contest. Great photos and great creativity!

About the Cannondale Hooligan

From serious Japanese commuters to blond haired Hollywood celebrities, the Hooligan’s balance of functional sensibility and frivolous fun seems to strikes a chord. With its compact 20” wheels, stout frame and low standover, the Hooligan is the perfect bike to meet the challenges of city apartment life. Who knew that practicality could look so good?

Cinelli Mash Bolt Frameset

fyx8tion — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:26:15 +0000

One of the most fun parts of our recent photo contest was seeing a lot of our favorite frames built up with Fyxation parts. Anthony Furlong was one of the finalists for our Sponsored Photographer contest and he shot this beautiful Cinelli Mash Bolt Frameset. We wanted to build this bike up with our Rodeo Pursuit bars and Accela tires because these parts are made for this sort of fast pursuit style bike.

Check out more of Anthony’s photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyfur/

Mash Cinelli Bolt Frame

Enclosed is our third color scheme for the Cinelli MASH Bolt series. This frameset marks the return of the original Bolt geometry— preferred by some of our long distance riders and racers for its more comfortable approach. Built with the same solid Columbus Airplane construction and finished with a tonal silver top coat. The graphic palette draws its inspiration from historical Cinelli colors brought forward onto a modern street racer.

- Columbus Airplane Supersection 7005-T6 aluminum frame construction, with steel inset horizontal track dropouts, and 120mm spacing.
- 1-1/8″ Columbus Straight Carbon color matched, carbon/aluminum (blades/steerer) fork with 35mm rake and an integrated headset. Our fork offers a unique punch through brake hole available.
- Color: light silver on dark silver.

Joseph Lobato Video Project

fyx8tion — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:24:46 +0000

Joseph Lobato is a San Francisco based cyclist, photographer and videographer that is active in the west coast cycling community and is well known for his work in an earlier video edit he released – Bridging the Gap. Joseph was recently selected as one of the finalists for our Sponsored Photographer contest. As a finalist we sent him a bunch of Fyxation parts for him to set up his own photo shoot that allowed him to put his own creative twist on things. Instead of shooting stills like the other contestants he hit the streets of San Francisco to film this short edit. We are stoked with how it turned out and are definitely looking forward to working with Joseph again. Enjoy!

The rest of the finalists images from our Sponsored Photographer contest can be seen on our Facebook Page.

fyxation contest submission from Joseph Lobato on Vimeo.

Pure Fix Kilo: Glow in The Dark Fixie

fyx8tion — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:11:43 +0000

The guys over at Pure Fix Cycles just stepped it up a notch with the release of their latest bike – The Pure Fix Kilo. This isn’t your average fixie. There’s a paint supplier over in Asia that we came across a while back that developed a glow in the dark paint. Well it looks like Pure Fix was first to market with this point and with the release of the Kilo, Pure Fix is selling the first glow in the dark fixie. They’re labeling this bike as part of their Glow Series so my guess is you’ll see a few more glow in the dark bikes from them in the near future. Definitely a good way to stay ahead of State Bicycle Co, Retrospec Bicycles, Sole Bicycles, Zycle Fix, Big Shot Bikes… (almost too many to name now).

Check out the Pure Fix Cycles website for more info.

Photo Contest Submission: Tour de France

fyx8tion — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:10:29 +0000

Photo Contest Finalist Kevin Dillard submitted another great tribute to the Tour de France. Great photos keep rolling in, so check out the latest submissions on facebook.

Faraday Porteur on Kickstarter

fyx8tion — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:17:07 +0000

Kickstarter is a great low risk way to launch a new product and the guys over at Faraday Bikes are trying to get in on the action. They just kicked off a Kickstarter campaign trying to raise the small sum of $100K to help them release their Faraday Porteur electric bike. Sounds like a lot of money but when the bikes themselves are selling for $3500 they only have to sell about 30 of them hit their goal. A bit of info about their Kickstarter campaign is below. Good luck!

Meet Faraday

The Faraday Porteur is the ultimate electric propelled utility bicycle – the first electric bicycle built by, and for, cyclists. Dubbed “the ultimate modern utility bicycle” by the Oregon Manifest bicycle design competition, the Faraday Porteur is an elegant, powerful electric bicycle – a high-quality city bike that is comfortable and effortless to ride – with or without the electric motor.

Public Bikes Public V7 Now $399

fyx8tion — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:10:42 +0000

We’re big fans of Public Bikes over here at Fyxation and we just saw that they’re Public V7 is now on sale for only $399.00. Public makes a classic European style/Dutch style bike and they offer a step through, Mixte and traditional builds. Head over to the Public Bikes website for more info – http://publicbikes.com/

Aurora Collective Olympic Edition Straps

fyx8tion — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:47:54 +0000

Aurora Collective is a small company based out of Germany that sells a mix of everything from T-shirts to messenger bags. They also have a line of pedal straps and just released the Aurora Collective V2 Pedal Strap – Olympic Edition that apparently the German track cyclists will be using during the Olympics. We don’t typically post about other people’s pedal straps but we couldn’t help but notice our Mesa pedals in their product shot. Great looking straps and PEDALS!

More info here: http://www.aurora-collective.com/aurora-velcro-straps-v2-olympic-edition/

904 Fixed – Hellcat Alleycat 2

fyx8tion — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:55:08 +0000

The guys over at 904 Fixed are throwing are hosting their second Hellcat Alleycat down in Jacksonville, FL. Event details and flyer are below.

WELCOME TO HELL… AGAIN!

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/180956222026345/?ref=ts

Online Registration: http://904fixed.com/event-registration

HELLCAT ALLEYCAT 2 is the second year of Northeast Florida’s infamous summer fixed gear alleycat race taking place in Jacksonville, FL. With the race set up in the unforgiving heat of summer, your demons are bound to catch up with you. You will cross bridges, you will drip sweat, and you will race until it burns.

This will be just like the first years race, a fixed only checkpoint-to-checkpoint style alleycat. No manifests, no signatures, no tasks…. just strictly racing to your next checkpoint.

Accompanying the race is the special screening of FIXATION, a fixed gear documentary. Watch the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/22814327

Also following the race are a few side events (track stand competition, skid contests, etc.).

This year we are doing it big, expect nothing less. Trust us, we sold our souls for this one.

A few details on the race:
+ Fixed gear-specific event
+ Unsanctioned checkpoint to checkpoint based race (roughly 15-25 miles)
+ Each checkpoint will be revealed at the arrival of the previous checkpoint (maps will be handed out @ each checkpoint)
+ There will be 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, 1st place womans, 1st place out of town, and DFL (Dead Fucking Last) prizes
+ Speed, endurance, and route planning/street smarts will all be needed to win this race
+ Race registration fee includes race entry, 1″ Hellcat button (while supplies last), Hellcat spokecard (online registration only), afterparty entry, and film entry

REQUIRED TO RACE:
1. A fixed gear bicycle
2. A helmet
3. A signed waiver form (day of race)

2PM – RACE REGISTRATION $10 (Includes Afterparty + Film)
620 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204

6PM – AFTERPARTY + FILM $5 (For anyone not racing)
100 East Adams St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

7/29 4PM – BIKE POLO (Free to watch & play)
325 W. Forsyth St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Pure Fix Cycles Lima Fixed Gear Bike

fyx8tion — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:47:49 +0000

A couple years ago we got a call from a college kid that was looking to get pricing for some Fyxation parts for a fixed gear bike he and a few of his friends were in the process of developing. Things didn’t work out with with getting our parts on that build but those kids from Madison went ahead with their project and ended up launching a company called Pure Fix Cycles. Fast forward to today and Pure Fix has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of affordable fixed gear bikes and they have over 14 complete fixed gear bikes available on their website.

We’ll we finally got some of our parts on one of their fixed gear bikes. They recently launched a limited edition fixie called The Lima that features a gloss black frame and a number of colored parts. They wanted this build to stand out from the rest of their bikes so they finished things off with our green Curve saddle adding a little style and quality to this build. This bike was recently featured in O Magazine. Nice work guys!

Pure Fix Lima Fixed Gear – http://purefixcycles.com/collections/pure-fix-cycles-fixies/products/colorful-fixie-lima

Pake Bikes – Fyxation Build

fyx8tion — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:27:47 +0000

Our buddies over at Ciel Bicycles in New York City just sent us this great photo of a customer build they just wrapped up. This Pake Bikes frame is finished off with our Session 700 DC tires, Classic saddle, Mesa pedals and Rodeo Pursuit bars. I’m not 100% sure but I think this is the Pake Rum Runner track frame. Great looking build guys!

2012 NAHBPC in Milwaukee

fyx8tion — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 22:02:32 +0000

The action was as hot as the weather at the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships (NAHBPC) in Milwaukee this past weekend . The three day tournament saw sunny skies and hi temps hitting 100 on Friday. Over 50 teams competed with Milwaukee’s own Beaver Boys taking home the championship. Complete results can be found at hardcourtpolo.org, and video coverage- including the championship- on bikepolo.tv.

via hardourtpodium.com

Bikepolo.tv Polo Championship Coverage

fyx8tion — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:27:50 +0000

This weekend, Milwaukee Bike Polo is hosting the North American Bike Polo Championships. The competition is going to be fierce and Bikepolo.tv will be streaming live coverage, complete with commentary, during the tournament. If you can’t be in Milwtown to see it live, be sure to tune in online.

Event Details:
Where: Washington Park, Milwaukee WI
When: Friday July 6 – Sunday July 8th
Sponsored by: MBC

EighthInch Butcher V2 in the House

fyx8tion — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:06:20 +0000

The guys at EighthInch just posted that they’re Butcher V2 fixed gear freestyle frame is finally in stock. They’ve been working on this for a while now and it looks like pre-orders are shipping out this week. We wish them the best of luck and we hope they sell a ton of them. More info below and at http://eighthinch.wordpress.com/.

– 50, 53, 56, or 59cm
– Raw or Root Beer Finish
– Straight guage 4130 Chromo Steel
– 45/45 Integrated Headset
– 14mm Dropouts (10mm adapters included)
– Mid Bottom Bracket
– Removable 990 Brake Mounts
– Removable Rear Cable Mount
– 700×50c Tire Clearance
– Bar Spin Clearance In All Sizes
– Includes Mid-BB, Seatpost, Seatclamp, and Headset

Cinelli Kink Pedal Straps

fyx8tion — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:58:25 +0000

Patrick over at Pedal Consumption just posted an image of the new Kink Pedal Straps from Cinelli. The Kink Straps look pretty nice and pretty well thought out and have a nice molded top strap that sports the Cinelli logo. I don’t know when the Cinelli Kink Straps will be available but keep an eye on http://www.pedalconsumption.com for more info.

Black Pake French 75

fyx8tion — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:34:19 +0000

Just saw a little update from the guys over at Pake. Their aluminum track frame, the Pake French 75, is now available in a matte black and they also have a clear coated straight blade carbon fork to go with it. Pake is best known for their Rum Runner steel track frame and colorful straight blade track fork but they also offer a complete line of parts and their C’Mute commuter frame and Urban Six Speed Bicycle.

Mat Barton Recovery Fund

fyx8tion — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:47:07 +0000

My good friend AC just looped me in on a recovery fund for his fellow Velotech crew member Mat Barton. Mat suffered an accident on June 11th during the Portland Short Track single-speed bicycle race that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. There has been a good deal of support flowing in, but Mat can use all of our assistance right now. A recovery fund has been set up for donations here, and you can follow his progress on Mat’s journal.

For any fellow industry folks, Velotech is holding a silent auction next week, so it’s not to late to float some gear there way. You can contact velotech directly or send us a message at info@fyxation.com

Bicicapace: Cargo Bikes With Style

fyx8tion — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:17:20 +0000

Italian based Bicicapace has taken a fresh look at carrying cargo for daily transport. As someone who rides daily, without a cargo bike, I’m always finding myself with the wrong bag, no bag or pulling a child carrier full of groceries. Bicicapace’s small front wheel and large cargo platform allow for a variety of modular storage options, perfect for trips to the market, or carrying heavier loads. Made in Italy, these bikes are not only functional, but offer a splash of style. Other brands, such as Civia Cycles Halstead, offer similar front rack cycle trucks in their neighborhood bicycle line up, but Bicicapace’s modular storage and colorful style put a fresh twist on cycle trucks.

Philippe Ramette is a Cool French Guy

fyx8tion — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:48:24 +0000

I just saw this on Huckberry.com and had to re-post. Huckberry is a daily deals site that right now is featuring some gear from Cadence, Cedar Cycling and Butler Maps.

Anyway, this video is in French but if you watch it you can see how this is done. Very cool!

Original post from Huckberry – http://huckberry.com/blog/posts/89-he-who-walks-on-water

Bicycle Messenger: Line of Sight Trailer

fyx8tion — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:25:06 +0000

I’ll let the Line of Sight official trailer do the talking here. This close up look at alleycat races looks action packed and I’m sure it will cause a bit of a stir. Looks awesome though!

About the Film

Line Of Sight is a rare view into underground bicycle messenger racing which has become a global phenomenon. For over a decade Lucas Brunelle has been riding with the fastest, most skilled urban cyclists around the world while capturing all the action with his customized helmet cameras to bring you along for the ride.

This is bike riding like you’ve never seen before, in gripping first-person perspective through the most hectic city streets, on expressways in Mexico City, over the frozen Charles River, under the Mediterranean Sea, across the Great Wall of China and deep into the jungles of Guatemala.

Directed and Edited by Benny Zenga, Line of Sight is 60 minutes of the best Lucas Brunelle footage, with titles by Futura 2000, plus extras, outtakes, and a 40 page art book featuring photography and spoke cards from a decade of Alleycat races around the world. Get the DVD at: lucasbrunelle.com

Chrome New Era Snap Back Hats

fyx8tion — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:36:54 +0000

The guys from Chrome sent us a message yesterday that they have new hats. I guess that’s news and blogworthy. The new Chrome x New Era 59Fifty Snapbacks are dropping today and they come in colors that match the local baseball teams of each of the Chrome Hub stores in New York, Chicago and SF. Looks like Portland got left off the list because they don’t have a pro team. Check out Chrome for more info on their new Snap Backs – http://www.chromebags.com

Create Bikes: London Fixed Gear

fyx8tion — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:50:33 +0000

I just came across this video from Create Bikes in London and thought I’d share. Create Bikes is based in the UK and they make colorful fixed gear bikes that retail for only 379 GBP. Their bikes are very similar to a lot of the affordable fixed gear bikes that are sold here in the US by the likes of Pure Fix, State Bicycle Co, Big Shot Bikes, Sole Bicycles, Retrospec Bicycles… The big difference is that they also sell a step through fixie for ladies and because they’re based in London their UK landed cost is very affordable.

For more info check out the Create Bikes website at http://www.createbikes.com/.

Vulture Space: Better by Bike

fyx8tion — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:44:15 +0000

Evan Pack’s mission is clear, get more people riding bikes by making it simple and affordable. With a crew of dedicated volunteers, Evan recently opened Vulture Space, a bicycle collective, shop and do it yourself bike work space in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. This very welcoming space has all the tools you need to repair your own bike, a group of knowledgeable volunteers to teach you how to repair your bike, and carries very affordable used bikes and parts.

There are many perceived barriers that keep people from riding as a means of daily transport, and Vulture works hard to break those down. Are you worried about leaving your bike outside when you get to work? No problem, Vulture offers free indoor bike parking. Don’t have enough money to buy a new bike? Covered, Vulture will tune up your old bike, or a bike you found at a garage sale, for free. Not only that, you’ll get a chance to get your hands dirty and learn along the way.

Like the name implies, at Vulture Space, everything is re-used. The crew will take bikes that were long forgotten in the back of a garage and completely overhaul them. Not only bringing them back to life, but giving someone a chance to pick up a bike as good as new for a great deal. They also keep all functional parts on hand for future repairs. If a part is really beyond it useful life, it is re-used for art projects in the shop or donated to local art institutes to be born again. Evan has even extended this philosophy to used inner tubes. At Vulture Space, tubes that can be patched are repaired, tested, and then repacked for sale. For just $2 you can pick up a perfectly functional tube that even comes with a guarantee.

I visited for the first time on a Monday afternoon, and the place was jumping. There were volunteers busy helping find parts and making repairs, and continuing work renovating the once dreary space. Vulture Space is a must stop next time you’re downtown. Whether you bring your bike in to do a little maintenance, or bring a bike or parts to donate, you’ll enjoy the experience. To visit Vulture, or to make a donation you can contact them here:

Vulture Space (at Grand Avenue Mall)
651 N. Plankington Ave.
414.301.1661
mcbp.inc@gmail.com

B-cycle Bike Sharing System

fyx8tion — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:49:46 +0000

B-cycle joined the small group of companies offering turnkey bike sharing systems for cities three years ago, and they have had a big impact on cities that have embraced bicycles as an alternate mode of transport. Denver’s successful B-cycle system is a good example. In three years, the city has built a ridership of 4500 annual members and over 30,000 single day users. Pretty impressive for a new system and considering their season is only 9-months long.

Today I had the oppurtunity to try the system first hand at a demo put on by B-cycle, The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and Midwest Bike Share. For people that aren’t familiar with bike sharing systems, let’s take a step back; the systems are designed as an alternate transportation option for short trips, not an all day bike rental. When you purchase a $5 day pass, you get unlimited trips that are less than 30 minutes. In the U.S., 40% of our daily trips are less than 2 miles, and 90% are taken by car. In a city, those 2 mile trips are often nearly as fast on a bike as a car, and definitely take less than 30 minutes. Considering a 2-mile ride takes 10 to 15 minutes, the question really is, why not ride a bike?

Milwaukee’s system is designed to start with 25 kiosks and 10 bikes per kiosk. The kiosks will be spaced close enough together, and in the higher traffic areas of the city, so a kiosk won’t be more than 4 or so blocks from your destination. Pick up a bike near the train station, you’re home or business, and cruise around town to another kiosk close to your destination. A lot of people ask, how will I know there is an open space at my destination, or is there a bike available when I need it. Fortunately, B-cycle has this covered. Just check out the easy on-line map with live data available for each B-cycle city.

PDW Dios Thronous Saddle

fyx8tion — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:28:42 +0000

It looks like Portland Design Works is expanding their offering and getting into the saddle business. I just saw a picture of the new PDW Dios Thronous saddle on Tumblr. The Portland Design Works Dios Thronos appears to be available in black, white and ride and looks like a pretty comfortable saddle. More to follow…

rideSFO is Cooler Than You

fyx8tion — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:48:38 +0000

I just came across this video online and had to post it. Looks like our favorite shop owner/event promoter/overall bad-ass, Phil from rideSFO, just put on a great bicycle related happy hour at Zynga in SF recently. Bicycle related happy hour with a box jump and BMX riders? What else would you do when you’re a Bay Area tech company that just went public with money to burn. Check out the video below to see all the action and if you’re in San Francisco head over to rideSFO at their new location at 132 Missouri Street in Potrero Hill. http://www.ridesfo.com/servlet/StoreFront

inCOG Bicycle Multi-Tool

fyx8tion — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:35:52 +0000

How many times have you stepped out for a ride without a multi-tool and needed one. I’m always, switching bags and bikes and am left without a tool when it seems like I need it most. That’s the clever part of Ideacious’ new inCOG multi-tool. This tool design slides inside your handlebar and houses the essential hex wrenches and tire tools to keep you rolling. This product is still in development, but you can secure a spot for one of the first tools at Ideacious’ website.

Soma Fabrications Handlebar Update

fyx8tion — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:42:58 +0000

The guys at Some Fabrications in San Francisco have just come out with some new handlebars and seeing as we’re in the handlebar game as well we figured we’d show some love. They just introduced a 31.8 version of the Clarence handlebar and Odin handlebar and came out with a black version of their popular Soma Oxford Bar. The Clarence and Odin bar are similar to our Alterra cafe bar in that they offer a great upright riding position and offer a nice sweep that gives you ergonomic hand positions that many styles of riders could appreciate. We have a number of people riding our Alterra bars on their mountain bikes so it makes sense that they would come out with a 31.8 clamp version of the Odin bar.

More info at http://www.somafab.com/

Black Soma Oxford Bar

31.8 Soma Clarence Bar

Affinity Metropolitan Track Frameset

fyx8tion — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:31:12 +0000

The guys at Affinity Cycles in Brooklyn just restocked their frame sets for the summer. The Affinity Lo Pro and the Affinity Metropolitan Track Frameset are both back in stock. Affinity Cycles is a shop in Brooklyn that sells our gear but also has their own line of frames and complete bikes. The Affinity Metropolitan uses 4130 Cromo tubing and Affinity comes with the lugged 1 inch straight blade fork Affinity fork. Retail value on the Metropolitan track frameset is $475.00.

More info here at Affinity’s website – http://affinitycycles.com/2012/05/2012-summer-lo-pro-and-metro-frame-restock/

State Bicycle Co. Vice Now Available

fyx8tion — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:22:35 +0000

The guys at State Bicycle Co just launched their latest fixed gear bike called “Vice”. State Bicycle Company is based in Tempe, AZ and they are best known for their affordable and clean fixed gear bikes. Their take on the fixie is a bit different than some of their competitors in that they place a production order for a bike, give it a unique paint job and some unique parts and when it sells out it’s gone. I’m sure they’ll re-order a successful build but rather than continually having to come out with new model year bikes they simply take the exact same frame with a new paint job and release new builds every few months.

Their latest build, the State Bicycle Vice, is a nice aqua blue with all white parts. It looks pretty on the website but will definitely get a little soiled once they hit the street. For more info, check out the State Bike Co website – http://www.statebicycle.com/category_s/3.htm

Bikeradar.com Adds Videos (..commercials)

fyx8tion — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:29:26 +0000

I was just killing some time on a rainy Memorial Day Sunday morning and went over to Bikeradar.com. We’ll today I went over there and found a bit of news that Bike Radar added a videos section to their website. It’s always cool to see creative cycling videos so I went and checked out their videos page. Well after clicking on a few of the videos I realized there was no way to watch any of them without sitting through a full 30 second commercial. Now I understand that they need to monetize a bike news/blog site but the idea of having to watch a full 30 second commercial every time you have a to watch a video is sort of nuts. One of the cool things about the Internet is that information, news, videos are right at your finger tips and the ability to instantly get that information makes it a much better way of consuming that information compared to print, TV, radio…

Imagine that every time you changed the channel on your TV you were forced to watch a new 30 second commercial. Would you watch TV? I bet if that was the case the obesity rates in America would go way down because nobody would sit on the couch and watch TV and they’d be forced to go out and do something else. Actually, now that I think about it about it, maybe it’s not such a bad idea.

Zen Grips Coming Soon

fyx8tion — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:55:07 +0000

We’ve seen a few posts about the new Zen Grips around so we thought we’d give them some love. There really isn’t much information about this company or product on their website but they’ve put together a stable of so-cal FGFS riders so my guess is they’re somehow involved in that scene. Apparently the grips are made by ODI here in the USA and feature a compound that is “special” to them and they have a unique tread pattern. Not too much else out there but I’m sure we’ll be able to post more later.

Now we sell our own BMX grips and Track grips and know what it costs to buy your own mold and launch a grip and it really isn’t that difficult to do. The tricky part is getting out there and convincing the everyday rider and more importantly, bike shops/distributors that your grips are that good and should justify the switch.

This is the only picture we could pull up on their own website showing off the new Zen Grip. More to follow…

Coven Magazine: A New Women’s Magazine

fyx8tion — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:21:36 +0000

Coven magazine recently launched and is breaking the mold for Women’s magazines. Their focus on adventure sports and lifestyle, travel and women’s specific products is centered on active modern lifestyles. Featuring BMX, FGFS, rock climbing and surfing Coven does a fantastic job of highlighting women in adventure sports. Best part is, it’s available free to download or view online, so be sure to check out Coven’s latest issue.

Chrome Bags: Salvage Bag Program

fyx8tion — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:44:03 +0000

When US Army Vehicle Commander Jared Morford of Watertown, South Dakota approached Chrome Bags about re-purposing his duffle used in Iraq into a messenger bag, Chrome wasted no time in crafting a one off bag for Commander Morford. This bag, now dubbed the Custom Salvage Citizen, features all of Chromes usual features found in their messenger bags and features the Commanders name tag proudly on the outer panel.

With the success of this build, Chrome has extended the program and starting this Memorial day thru June 30th US Military personnel and their families can bring their duffle bag or fatigues into one of Chrome’s four hubs to have them salvaged into a one off Citizen Messenger bag. See all the details at chromebags.com

Sole Bicycles – Fixie, Fixie, Fixie

fyx8tion — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:40:52 +0000

We got a call the other day from a new potential shop in Puerto Rico that was looking to stock our gear. Part of his pitch to us was that he was the only shop in Puerto Rico that was set up to sell Sole Bicycles. I had no idea who they were so I did a little Google search and came across their website.

After checking out their site I came to a frightening conclusion. I think there’s a huge “fixie” conspiracy going on right now and I’m the only one that knows about it. My theory is this: Somewhere out there is a savvy dude that is posing as 5 different small start up fixed gear bike companies selling fixed gear/single speed bikes for $400 or less. I can rattle off at least 5 companies that we’ve come across that were started in the last 2 years by college kids that saw fixed gear bikes on campus that thought they were too expensive and decided to make their own… The story is exactly the same and their bikes all look the same and even have similar names. I bet that dude is laughing all the way to the bank.

Anyway, if you’re in the market for an affordable “fixie” check out http://www.solebicycles.com/. Below is a picture and specs of one of their builds – The Micklish?

Frame: Hi Tensile Steel, Fully Tig Welded, Fork End Dropouts
Fork: Hi Tensile Steel, Lugged Crown Fork, Threadless
Handle Bars: BMX
Grips: Oury
Bottom Bracket: Sealed Cartridge
Crankset: Lasco 170 MM, Alloy 48T, with 5 Bolt chainring
Brake: Radius Dual Caliper
Hub: Flip Flop – Fixed/Single Speed 16T
Chain: KMC Z410 98 Links
Rim: Machine/Double Walled ‘Deep Dish’ 50MM
Tires: Innova 700 X 23C
Valve: Presta
Saddle: Black Vader soft top
Seatpost: 25.4 X 300MM
Total Weight: 26 Pounds
Toe Clips included with Bicycle

Inside the Brooks Saddle Factory

fyx8tion — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:28:18 +0000

The Brooks name is synonymous with quality bicycle saddles and their heritage spans back nearly 150 years. Over that time they have deviated only slightly from the products and methods that have made them so successful. As an engineer, I love to see the inner workings of factories and watch products meld from a pile of raw materials and take on a functional and stunning final form. Where style is concerned, Brooks leather saddles cap off any neighborhood bicycle or city bike perfectly and I have a couple myself atop vintage Schwinns. Brooks recently gave a small peek into the inner working of their factory during a tour for Eben Weiss (aka bikesnobnyc) during his European promotional book tour of “The Enlightened Cyclist“.

via Brooks

NACCC 2012

fyx8tion — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:01:44 +0000

The 2012 North American Cycle Courier Championships is upon us. This weekend in Richmond VA there will be a ton of events starting the 24th and wrapping up on the 28th. There’s a little bit for everyone with events ranging from the Red Bull Art Attack, alleycat race, gold sprints and even a bike polo tournament. Fyxation is one of the main sponsors of the event and we sent out a boatload of our grips for the riders. We’ll also be represented by the crew at 904 Fixed and a few other Fyxation team riders. More event info at – http://www.naccc2012.com/

If you’re in Richmond, check out NACCC 2012. If not, you can check out the 904fixed blog for updates – http://904fixed.com/