'Fixie' - new or old name?

[simonhill]

Sorry, a bit of a puerile one this, but…

When I used the term fixie the other day an old cycling mate reacted badly. In his opinion, the term fixie was a modern one akin to the Australian’s inability to say any word more than 2 syllables (brekky for breakfast, sunnies for sunglasses, etc).

So, is the term fixie modern slang or one that the old timers would recognise?

[glueman]

Probably 'fixed wheel'. My pet hates are 'entry level' for anything lower than Dura Ace and 'cockpit' for handlebars. Blame mountainbike journalists.

[thirdcrank]

It's up there with 'Campy' as a word I can do without. (Never realised it might be 'strine'. )

[random37]

It's strange that there seem to be a lot of "retro" items that are actually modern.
Brooks handlebar tape, and a whole vocabulary. "Flip flop" is another new word. Look at Pashley's deluxe Guv'nor. 2 speed hub with a speed drive, and kevlar beaded all white tyres. It's thoroughly modern, but trying desperately to suggest it isn't.
I'm not throwing stones at any of these machines; I really like the looks of the Guv'nor. Just an observation.

[pq]

It's a new word, but I'm happy to use it.

Americanisms like Campy wind me up though. OK for them but it's annoying when Brits who spend too much time on American web sites start using it.

[random37]

Forgive my ignorance, but what about "Campag"? That's English, right?

[rogerzilla]

I think it's Italian

[glueman]

Can't say I've ever heard a bike shop geezer pronounce Campanyolo or Chinelli correctly and they tend to look gone out when I do. OTOH I used to share a house with someone who always used correct French pronunciation and it wound me up, Michelin was Meeshlan even when it was a pair of Selects from Fred's bike emporium.

[rogerzilla]

Try going into a pub and asking for a pint of Lurvenbroy.

[Si]

Since being told that saying "fixie" showed that you weren't a real fixed wheel rider I can't help my self. Who cares what you call it as long as (1) people know what you are talking about and (2) you get out and ride it? It's like all this guff about fakengers and fraudaxes - the fact that someone has gone to the trouble to be snobby about it is probably leading to more people adopting the traits that suggest fakenger and fraudax just to wind the bike-snobs up further

I've no trouble with someone wanting to have a nice bike, or being proud of their bike. But when people start having a go at others just because they have a bike that is ever so slightly different or ride in a style that doesn't tick all the correct boxes then one has to wonder what the real motive behind their angst is?

[Mick F]

Can't say I've ever heard a bike shop geezer pronounce Campanyolo or Chinelli correctly and they tend to look gone out when I do. OTOH I used to share a house with someone who always used correct French pronunciation and it wound me up, Michelin was Meeshlan even when it was a pair of Selects from Fred's bike emporium.

Miche?
I believe it's pronounced MISH-AY.

Another one that winds me up is "paninis" No such word! You even see it on advertising hoardings for KFC for goodness sake!

One panino, two panini

NEVER paninis!!!

[random37]

Since being told that saying "fixie" showed that you weren't a real fixed wheel rider I can't help my self. Who cares what you call it as long as (1) people know what you are talking about and (2) you get out and ride it? It's like all this guff about fakengers and fraudaxes - the fact that someone has gone to the trouble to be snobby about it is probably leading to more people adopting the traits that suggest fakenger and fraudax just to wind the bike-snobs up further

I've no trouble with someone wanting to have a nice bike, or being proud of their bike. But when people start having a go at others just because they have a bike that is ever so slightly different or ride in a style that doesn't tick all the correct boxes then one has to wonder what the real motive behind their angst is?

I couldn't agree with this more. As long as it's getting used, doesn't matter what you ride.

[belgiangoth]

"Bruschetta", especially that people keep pronouncing it "bew-schetta" with an Italian accent, when Italians pronounce it "Brew-sKetta".

[EdinburghFixed]

It's like all this guff about fakengers and fraudaxes - the fact that someone has gone to the trouble to be snobby about it is probably leading to more people adopting the traits that suggest fakenger and fraudax just to wind the bike-snobs up further

I sort of understand 'fakenger' from a messenger's point of view, because originally the only people who dressed like them were other messengers. Now there's a whole fashion of trying to look like you *are* a messenger, even if you're not (hence, fake)

But what the heck is a 'fraudax' rider? I assume someone who looks like they ride long distance, but doesn't. Yet other than the four panniers, rack bag and bar bag posse, I'd be hard pressed to identify a 'short' distance rider / commuter from the genuine article. Someone who is riding strictly between 15 and 30kph?

[rogerzilla]

Fraudax was a YACF in-joke (someone who looks as if they ride audax, but doesn't) which somehow escaped into "Cycle" magazine.