Freestyle fixed gear

Last updated
Freestyle fixed gear
Michael Chacon Fixed Gear.jpg
NicknamesFGFS, Tarck, Trick Track
Characteristics
Type Cycling
Equipment fixed gear bicycle
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide

Freestyle fixed gear is stunt riding on a fixie. It is an extreme sport where the stunts share elements from BMX, artistic cycling, dirt jumping, and trials. The flat ground style of tricks, similar to artistic cycling, is called Trick-Track or Tarck. Street and park riding, that is more similar to BMX, is generally called FGFS (Fixed Gear Freestyle). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

History

Freestyle fixed gear riders style can be generally described as doing "BMX-style tricks on their fixed-gear bikes". [2] The sport was "born from the fusion of freestyle BMX and track cycling". [3] As early as 2007 people "started to see how rad they could get on a track bike, it started with skids and progressed from there." [6] Fixed gear tricks are very impressive because they require riders to always be pedaling. [7] A 2015 poll of international fixed gear riders found that 11.9% report the use of fixie for tricks. [8]

The earliest bicycle tricks were done on fixed-gear bicycles. [9] [10] However, most modern disciplines of freestyle cycling utilize a freewheel type mechanism; a notable exception is artistic cycling riders also still uses a fixed-gear bicycle. The fixed connection between rider and wheel enables stunts that are difficult or impossible with a freewheel. [11] The most basic trick called a trackstand is generally done only by riders on fixed-gear bikes. [12]

Bicycle messenger culture in the late 20th century and early 21st century is a major influence to freestyle on fixed-gear bikes. Fixed gears date to the mid-19th century, and bike messengers in New York have long found them to be dependable and practical machines for tough city streets. But it is only in the past few years that riders, inspired mostly by skateboarding and BMX, began to push the limits of doing tricks on a fixed-gear bike. [13] The sport has mostly stayed underground, however, the mainstream Hollywood movies Quicksilver (1986) and Premium Rush (2012) contain stunts done by bicycle messenger characters using a fixed-gear bicycle "showing off stunts and deviant riding". [14] [15]

Tricks done on a fixed-gear bicycle appear in the movies Rad and Pee-wee's Big Adventure . Red Bull held an annual fixed freestyle competition from 2011 to 2014. [16] [17] [18] [19] Specialized offered a fixed gear freestyle specific bike called the P.Fix. [20] [21] In the 2001 X Games Trevor Myer used a direct drive bmx to compete in flatland freestyle. [22]

Equipment

Bikes

Freestyle fixed gear bikes typically have 26" or 700c wheels and are strengthened and optimized for tricks. [20] [21] [23]

Typical example of a 700C fixed gear bike for Trick Track Deacon Wong MBC CourtTek.jpg
Typical example of a 700C fixed gear bike for Trick Track
Typical example of 26" FGFS bike MBC HiTek.jpg
Typical example of 26" FGFS bike
Visual differences between Freestyle Fixie and Normal Bike FixedGear INFO.jpg
Visual differences between Freestyle Fixie and Normal Bike

Tricks

Trick NameDescriptionExamples
Track Stand The act of balancing motionless on a bicycle is called a "track stand". [24] Johnathan Ball [4]
Wheelie Front wheel comes off the ground. Since the pedals are always moving on a fixie, the manual isn't possible in freestyle fixed gear like it is in BMX.Tyler Johnson death truck wheelie [4]
Fakieaka "Riding backwards". The rider uses fixed gear drive train to ride bike backwards.
  • Johnathan Ball. [4]
  • Niedert starts first bike trick movie with a fakie [9]
SkidThe rider locks the rear wheel by using pressure on the pedals or straps.
  • Johnathan Ball demonstrates various skids [4]
  • MASH SF. (2007)
  • MACAFRAMA (2009)
PogoHop up and down on the back wheel.Johnathan Ball [4]
Pole DanceDoing a wheelie, take a hand off to grab an obstacle to go in a circle around.Johnathan Ball [4]
Keo SpinFrom rolling backward, taking off one arm to get momentum into a back wheel spin. Named after Keo Curry.Johnathan Ball [4]
Fish and Chipsaka Fishy Whip. Fakie slider while holding the saddle. Invented by Dylan "Fish n' Chips" Hurst.Johnathan Ball [4]
Big Spinaka Prolly Spin, Blog Spin. Back wheel spin from rolling forward.
  • Johnathan Ball [4]
  • Keo Curry in MACAFRAMA (2009) no handed big spin called Keo Rock/Min Spin
Foot Plant Spinaka Toe Keo, Tokyo, Death Spin. From rolling forward wheelie, fast foot plant to get into a back wheel spin.Johnathan Ball [4]
SurfRiding forward with no hands while rider stands on various parts of the bike.Matt Spencer frame surf [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMX</span> Cycle sport

BMX, an abbreviation for bicycle motocross or bike motocross, is a cycle sport performed on BMX bikes, either in competitive BMX racing or freestyle BMX, or else in general street or off-road recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unicycle</span> One-wheeled mode of transportation

A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a frame with a saddle, and has a pedal-driven direct-drive. A two speed hub is commercially available for faster unicycling. Unicycling is practiced professionally in circuses, by street performers, in festivals, and as a hobby. Unicycles have also been used to create new sports such as unicycle hockey. In recent years, unicycles have also been used in mountain unicycling, an activity similar to mountain biking or trials.

Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling sports include artistic cycling, cycle polo, freestyle BMX, mountain bike trials, hardcourt bike polo and cycleball. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body for cycling and international competitive cycling events. The International Human Powered Vehicle Association is the governing body for human-powered vehicles that imposes far fewer restrictions on their design than does the UCI. The UltraMarathon Cycling Association is the governing body for many ultra-distance cycling races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-speed bicycle</span> Type of bicycle with a single gear ratio

A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. These bicycles are without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fixed-gear bicycle</span> Bicycle that has a drivetrain with no freewheel mechanism

A fixed-gear bicycle is a bicycle that has a drivetrain with no freewheel mechanism such that the pedals always will spin together with the rear wheel. The freewheel was developed early in the history of bicycle design but the fixed-gear bicycle remained the standard track racing design. More recently the "fixie" has become a popular alternative among mainly urban cyclists, offering the advantage of simplicity compared with the standard multi-geared bicycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Track stand</span> Technique used by bicycle riders

The track stand or standstill is a technique that bicycle riders can use to maintain balance while their bicycle remains stationary or moves only minimal distances. The technique originated in track cycling and is now used by other types of cyclists wishing to stop for a short time without putting a foot on the ground, such as bike commuters at stop signs. To perform a track stand, a cyclist holds the cranks in an approximately horizontal position with the front wheel steered to the left or right, and pedals forward, and back in the case of a fixed-gear bicycle, which the steered front wheel converts into a side-to-side motion.

Bob Haro is an American former professional freestyle BMX rider turned artist and business executive. He is the founder of Haro Bikes and was one of the most important early innovators of BMX freestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freestyle BMX</span> Cycle sport

Freestyle BMX is bicycle motocross stunt riding on BMX bikes. It is an extreme sport descended from BMX racing that consists of five disciplines: street, park, vert, trails, and flatland. In June 2017, the International Olympic Committee announced that freestyle park was to be added as an Olympic event to the 2020 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flatland BMX</span> Cycle Sport

Flatland is a freestyle BMX riding style performed on smooth flat surfaces that do not include any ramps, jumps, or grindrails. It is sometimes described as a form of artistic cycling with a blend of breakdancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeride (mountain biking)</span> Type of mountain biking

Freeride is a discipline of mountain biking closely related to downhill biking, dirt jumping, freestyle motocross, and freestyle BMX. When riding, a freerider one focuses on tricks, style, and technical trail features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirt jumping</span> Trick in dirt biking

Dirt jumping is the practice of riding bikes over jumps made of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. Dirt jumping evolved alongside BMX racing and is similar to BMX or mountain bike racing in that the rider jumps off of mounds of dirt, usually performing a midair trick in between. It differs in that the jumps are usually much larger and designed to lift the rider higher into the air. Additionally, the goal is not to complete the course with the fastest time, but rather to perform the tricks with the style. Dirt jumping can be performed on BMX bikes or specialized mountain bikes known simply as "dirt jumpers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flip-flop hub</span>

Flip-flop hubs, also called double-sided hubs, are rear bicycle hubs that are threaded to accept fixed cogs and/or freewheels on both sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMX bike</span> Off-road sport bicycle

A BMX bike is a bicycle used for cycle sport, specifically racing or stunt riding. BMX stands for bicycle motocross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Fiola</span>

Edward Lynn "Eddie" Fiola is an American former professional freestyle BMX rider, and a film stuntman.

Craig Campbell is a retired British freestyle BMX rider and disc jockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Chacon</span> American racing cyclist (born 1992)

Michael Chacon is a professional fixed-gear bicycle rider. He is ranked among the top fixed freestyle riders in the world. Chacon started riding fixed gear bikes in his hometown of Culver City, CA in 2009. Before turning professional, Chacon gained a local following performing freestyle tricks along the boardwalk of Venice Beach, CA. Since his pro debut in February 2010 he has won and placed in fixed gear competitions internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain bike trials</span> Sport of cycling over an obstacle course

Mountain bike trials, also known as observed trials, is a discipline of mountain biking in which the rider attempts to pass through an obstacle course without setting foot to ground. Derived from motorcycle trials, it originated in Catalonia, Spain as trialsín and is said to have been invented by Pere Pi, the father of Ot Pi, a world champion motorcycle trials rider. Pi's father had wanted his son to learn motorcycle trials by practicing on an ordinary bicycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. L. Osborn</span> American bicycle racer (born 1963)

Robert Lewis Osborn is a BMX rider. His father Bob Osborn started BMX Action magazine. He, along with Mike Buff and Bob Haro are considered the forefathers of BMX freestyle, a style of BMX bike riding that involves flatland and ramp tricks.

References

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