Hipster scene

[Eric8-A]

Has it already reached your neck of the woods? If so, what do you think of it.

 

[Parrulo]

hipsters are funny

its so easy to make fun of them.

 

[ericfalcon]

we did a sizable hire at my work 3 years ago and hired a bunch of these clowns right out of college. i was coming back from lunch the other day and they were sitting on barstools at their cars in the parking lot playing guitars. they get on my nerves.

 

[forty four]

Has it already reached your neck of the woods? If so, what do you think of it.

besides the females(sometimes hot and on a bike so no complaints) they all need to die like justin bieber or any other horrific cancer of lameness which our ***** as society seems to promote.... sad and sad well at least when people follow ***** *** trends there on a bike these days so not all bad.
idk i have a sense of sell always have so trend followers i find weak and stupid which they are.

 

[orbis_25]

It always amazes me the amount of hatred which is directed towards hipsters on cycling websites. I assume we're talking about the "cool kids" who ride brakeless track bikes on the mean streets of [insert hip, happening place here]. People, they ride bikes. You ride bikes. I rides bikes (including a track bike that I use as a commuter, albeit with a front brake. I'm not that cool). We all ride bikes. Surely that's a good thing? Can't we all just get along? Or at least reach a point where we're not actively calling for practitioners of other cycling styles to die? Hipsters can be annoying, but so too can road cyclists, commuters, mountain bikers, track riders... Why so much hatred for hipsters? The more people ride bikes, the better (and safer) it is for all of us.

 

[online-rider]

It always amazes me the amount of hatred which is directed towards hipsters on cycling websites. I assume we're talking about the "cool kids" who ride brakeless track bikes on the mean streets of [insert hip, happening place here]. People, they ride bikes. You ride bikes. I rides bikes (including a track bike that I use as a commuter, albeit with a front brake. I'm not that cool). We all ride bikes. Surely that's a good thing? Can't we all just get along? Or at least reach a point where we're not actively calling for practitioners of other cycling styles to die? Hipsters can be annoying, but so too can road cyclists, commuters, mountain bikers, track riders... Why so much hatred for hipsters? The more people ride bikes, the better (and safer) it is for all of us.

The thing is they don't ride bikes they just walk them down the footpath and pose them against things. If I saw a hipster riding hard into a head wind and sweating then I would definately respect him/her. But hipsters are not active cyclists they just freewheel at best.

 

[Eric8-A]

Yeah, and they don't ride bikes because they like it, they ride because it's the "in thing" right now. If they really rode to ride, I doubt they'll decorate their bikes to look like a freaking rainbow when they ride in their little groups. It's also somewhat of a fashion trend.

 

[Oldman]

It just a phase the kids are going through. They sell patchouli at Nordstrom's now, don't they?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are we talking about on bikes or just in society in general? Because there have always been hipsters around in one form or another, just maybe not looking like they do right now.

 

[simo1733]

Are we talking about on bikes or just in society in general? Because there have always been hipsters around in one form or another, just maybe not looking like they do right now.

It used to be hardcore winter training to ride fixed.I don't suppose hipsters use full length mudgards with a mudflap made from an old coke bottle.

 

[ergmonkey]

I think the trend is peaking out in Boston. I'm seeing more and more of the silly bikes adorned with at least one brake, and I see that as a good thing.

The "counter-culture" element of the hipster urban riding scene has been seriously eroded by the success of commuter bike sales and bike lanes on major streets here.

So, slowly but surely, we sort of all are becoming the same on bikes, as one poster optimistically suggested. Can't quite say the same thing about beards and tattoos yet, though...

 

[leftover pie]

hipsters in my neck of the woods are fast swapping their bikes for skateboards, and they're absolutely hopeless at skateboarding and it shows.

resulting in lots of laughs.

win-win

 

[Eric8-A]

I actually used to skateboard back in middle school. Not until high school did riding fixies begin to be the cool thing. I have never been one to follow trends and didn't bother following this one. And I've seen this as well. I remember I used to skate with a large number of people. We would meet up at the Staples Center here in LA and then go through Downtown. Now, the majority of thos people are now on fixes. Just goes to show how fake people are.

 

[biokemguy]

If the "in thing" is to ride bikes, I'm all for it. More cyclists of all kinds is better IMO.

Where this breaks down is when it's also the "in thing" to ignore traffic laws and common courtesy. That's the part about the hipsters/fixie riders I don't like. Make me wanna jam a frame pump in their spokes.

Of course there's plenty "serious" cyclist who ride the same way...

 

[fatandfast]

If the "in thing" is to ride bikes, I'm all for it. More cyclists of all kinds is better IMO.

Where this breaks down is when it's also the "in thing" to ignore traffic laws and common courtesy. That's the part about the hipsters/fixie riders I don't like. Make me wanna jam a frame pump in their spokes.

Of course there's plenty "serious" cyclist who ride the same way...

I have a little different view about hipsters and "non serious" cyclists after having my a$$ handed to me at the Red Hook crit. The race started at 1115 at night w 25 degree temps. Some punk bike messenger attack and dropped me like a hot bag of dog discharge. I am still not over it.

 

[nvpacchi]

Yeah, and they don't ride bikes because they like it, they ride because it's the "in thing" right now. If they really rode to ride, I doubt they'll decorate their bikes to look like a freaking rainbow when they ride in their little groups. It's also somewhat of a fashion trend.

Actually I think hipsters choose bikes because it is "not in." Hipsters would never sell out and do things that "normal people" do.

And sadly now that winter is over here in CNY, all the hipsters are starting to come out of hibernation

 

[ergmonkey]

Actually I think hipsters choose bikes because it is "not in." Hipsters would never sell out and do things that "normal people" do.

They might go out of their way to not seem "normal," but the great irony of the hipster movement is that it's become a major consumer event. Hipsters "sell out" all the time by buying bikes, accessories, and clothing that have become emblematic of a certain sub-culture. This behavior is very "normal" and very commercial--only it's normal within a fairly specific demographic. Still, hipsters are great consumers and great fodder for advertisers.

Not that the above is inherently a reason to judge hipsters. I'm a roadie. I buy all sorts of road cycling products. I try to be discerning and critical, but I'm still definitely a target for certain bits of cycling equipment and cycling clothing, too. The only real difference is that my cult is performance rather than a counter-culture notion of cool.

 

[Trevor FCR]

The more people riding bicycles, definitely is for the better. I don't necessarily get bothered that Hipsters (Culture Vultures) incorporated cycling into their steez, as long as they don't try to act like they are representing Cycling culture, or Cyclists in general.
I don't have a car, and I have 4 bikes, 2 road and 2 track/fixed bikes which I use for commuting, and I can appreciate the track/fixed bikes as far as commuting and everyday transportation, but what NEEDS to be addressed here is the absence of the front brake for the sake of "coolness." I did ride a brakeless fixed geared bike for a substantial amount of time, and I can tell you that it is not only dangerous, but not enjoyable as well. It's not enjoyable because you cannot ride to full potential because you always have to be prepared to stop with enough time so that you don't smash into anything, and this makes the tension of being alert even higher. Just stressful, as if there were a stop and go light at every street that you had to anticipate. And that skidding **** is just stupid, as well as any hippie reason why one would ride in a high traffic urban area without a brake.
We also have the phenomenon of Bike Polo kids here in Milwaukee. Not sure what to make of this yet, but they definitely are similar to hipsters.

 

[nvpacchi]

They might go out of their way to not seem "normal," but the great irony of the hipster movement is that it's become a major consumer event. Hipsters "sell out" all the time by buying bikes, accessories, and clothing that have become emblematic of a certain sub-culture. This behavior is very "normal" and very commercial--only it's normal within a fairly specific demographic. Still, hipsters are great consumers and great fodder for advertisers.

Not that the above is inherently a reason to judge hipsters. I'm a roadie. I buy all sorts of road cycling products. I try to be discerning and critical, but I'm still definitely a target for certain bits of cycling equipment and cycling clothing, too. The only real difference is that my cult is performance rather than a counter-culture notion of cool.

perhaps I should have added a sarcastic smilie, b/c I agree with what you say. True hipsters are great consumers: PBR would be out of business without them

<snip>

We also have the phenomenon of Bike Polo kids here in Milwaukee. Not sure what to make of this yet, but they definitely are similar to hipsters.

Yep Syracuse has its own bike polo crew now. I've never seen it go down, but I am certain it is all the usual suspects.

 

[nvpacchi]

There's some gold in this thread:

including this LATFH:

 

[fatsprintking]

Cycling always has been and always will be a sub-culture about pecking orders. Back in the day, this was about paying your dues before you could expect to go out and ride with the big boys. You got the p___ taken out of you if you didn’t know how to hold a wheel or ride in an echelon.

As more sub sub-cultures have joined our little group, we like to create a clear hierarchy, and currently hipsters fall at the very bottom of the ladder, although in my book single speed mountain bikers give them a run for their money.

Hipsters particularly draw the wrath of old school roadies because they are inherently soft when cyclists pride themselves on being hard. Old school cyclist in the States, Australia and Pommy Land pursued their interest when cycling was definitely not trendy and you got sledged by all and sundry for riding with your goofy shorts and shoes on. Suddenly hipsters try and make cycling – well – hip. These clowns have not paid any “dues” but think they can talk guff about the “purity” of cycling while they sip on their chi latte’s (the fact that I am not sure that this is how to spell chi is a point of pride I might add)

Anyway that’s why I hate em. That and the fact that the old winter training bikes I used to buy for 50 bucks at garage sales have all been powder coated in some stupid color and given a set of velocity deep V’s and a stupid little handlebar.

If they want to be a part of my gang, then they better be prepared to be my whipping boy for a while longer.

 

[Boeing]

Cycling always has been and always will be a sub-culture about pecking orders. Back in the day, this was about paying your dues before you could expect to go out and ride with the big boys. You got the p___ taken out of you if you didn’t know how to hold a wheel or ride in an echelon.

As more sub sub-cultures have joined our little group, we like to create a clear hierarchy, and currently hipsters fall at the very bottom of the ladder, although in my book single speed mountain bikers give them a run for their money.

Hipsters particularly draw the wrath of old school roadies because they are inherently soft when cyclists pride themselves on being hard. Old school cyclist in the States, Australia and Pommy Land pursued their interest when cycling was definitely not trendy and you got sledged by all and sundry for riding with your goofy shorts and shoes on. Suddenly hipsters try and make cycling – well – hip. These clowns have not paid any “dues” but think they can talk guff about the “purity” of cycling while they sip on their chi latte’s (the fact that I am not sure that this is how to spell chi is a point of pride I might add)

Anyway that’s why I hate em. That and the fact that the old winter training bikes I used to buy for 50 bucks at garage sales have all been powder coated in some stupid color and given a set of velocity deep V’s and a stupid little handlebar.

If they want to be a part of my gang, then they better be prepared to be my whipping boy for a while longer.

"my gang" "my whipping boy"??? blah

"they" have disturbed your social identity.

So this is about you and your group more than the alleged group mentioned?

there are names for people like you and yours. Punters, Tossers and Freds

 

[fatsprintking]

"my gang" "my whipping boy"??? blah

"they" have disturbed your social identity.

So this is about you and your group more than the alleged group mentioned?

there are names for people like you and yours. Punters, Tossers and Freds

Geez champ - Like a bit of a laugh do you?

What offended you the most - are you a hipster, single speed mountain biker or just a chi latte drinker?

 

[Boeing]

in short. someone beneath you right? someone of lesser being. subhuman. because you are the example,

wonder if you wear a white sheet in the woods one night a month with your superior friends

 

[beer_thirty]

True hipsters are great consumers: PBR would be out of business without them .

that's the big laugh I get; I will never have a strongly enough developed sense of irony to swill down PBR as some sort of proletariat pose, when there are so many awesome micro-brews out there to be had! Although, it DOES leave more good beer for me, I suppose..