T-shirt commemorates fixed-gear ruling

Last week—in the middle of the fixed-gear fiasco—I got an email from an employee of The Bicycle Business, a bike shop in Sacramento, California.

They had stumbled across the story and thought the judge and the police were being, “completely ridiculous” so they decided to flex their capitalist muscles and do something about it:


They are selling this T-shirt in their online store and they will give $5.00 from each one to Ayla’s legal defense fund (if she needs it). They’ve only printed up 50 of them, so I’d head over and buy one if you’re interested.

The shop’s home page currently reads, “It’s not as cool as braking with a stick, but it might help Ayla out.”

I have a hunch that Ayla will appeal and will need the money, but even if she and her lawyer decide not to, I think any cash raised from these shirts should go to the Portland United Messenger Association.

And just a quick update on how that story has spread around the web. So far, at least 79 blogs have linked to the post, and according to my traffic stats it has been viewed nearly 23,000 times (twice the amount of the first Jammin 95.5 post).

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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L
L
18 years ago

That must be a prototype shirt. They forgot the “without a brake” line between the first and second lines. Oh wait, they admit as much in their product description…

Dabby
Dabby
18 years ago

Clue, a Fixed gear has no caliper brake.
A conversion has a caliper brake.

gabrielamadeus
gabrielamadeus
18 years ago

woop, yer up to 80 links now. That’s wild!

Ronald
Ronald
18 years ago

Dabby, the term “fixed gear” refers only to the drivetrain and can be used regardless of the existance of brakes or frame geometry. The term “track bike” is a fixed gear with a specific frame geometry. Most track bikes do not have brakes, but you could install brakes and still correctly refer to it as a track bike.

philvarner
philvarner
18 years ago

And, a civil fine isn’t the same as going to jail.

gabrielamadeus
gabrielamadeus
18 years ago

Okay guys I may agree with you but the legal post was a couple days ago.
It’s a t-shirt.
It’s funny.

joe
joe
18 years ago

and i want one

Dabby
Dabby
18 years ago

Ronald,
I beleive I know exactly what I am talking about.
A fixed gear does refer to the drivetrain, but, a fixed gear with a caliper brake attached is technically very much a CONVERSION, meaning it has been converted for another use.
Brakes are not allowed on the track, so, really a track bike, no matter what geometry, with a caliper brake it becomes a Conversion….

Tim
Tim
18 years ago

What disadvantage would there be to the installation of a front brake on a fixed gear bike for use on city streets?

How does one stop a fixed gear bike with a derailled or broken chain?

I do believe if you remove the brakes from a non-fixed gear bike and ride it on city streets you would fall under the same law, as would the BMX riders who ride brakeless.

This is not a law to discriminate against fixed gear riders. If you rode a fixed gear at night without lights and got a ticket, would this also be a discrimination against fixed gear bikes? I don’t think so.

magnum
magnum
18 years ago

in response to post #9

There would be little disadvantage to installing a brake but that is not the issue. The problem is that brakeless bikes were not a major problem to begin with.

The police dept claims every year the dept does not have enough money, resourses and manpower but the deparment’s actions tell a different story. The police dept wants more of our tax dollars but if they have enough officers to spare no less than 3 cops to detain a cyclist for an hour and a half for not having a brake the department has too much of our tax dollars. If the dept feels like it is a good idea to use its resources to set up bike stings then the dept has too much of our tax dollars. If even one jaywalking ticket is given out a year then the dept has too much of our tax dollars.

Yes, people both in cars and on bikes do stupid things but no amount of enforcement will eliminate stupidity. Too much of of the dept is focused on the traffic division. If this is how the dept is going to use our tax dollars I will fight for not a one cent increase to the police budget until the traffic division is only those officers necessary to investigate accidents.

SKIDmark
SKIDmark
18 years ago

That question has already been answered multiple times.

1.High quality and vintage track frames and forks do not have brakes holes.

2. A brake is not necessary if you know how to ride fixed gear and are willing to slow down a little and pay a little more attention to the world around you.

3. You stop a fixed that derails its chain the same way you would stop a bike with a coaster brake that has derailed its chain. Put your feet down , or rub your foot against the rear tire.

4. You can skid a fixed gear bike that does not have additional brakes. You cannot skid a BMX bike with a freewheel by stopping your pedaling like on a fixed gear. And because you can skid a fixed gear you satisfy the stopping requirement of the law.

joe
joe
18 years ago

OH MY GOD, ALL OF YOU CHILL FOR 2 SECONDS! IT’S A STINKIN SHIRT! now, it’s kind of a funny shirt and they are giving procedes to Ayla. jesus, take heads out of ass for 2 seconds and say “gee that’s a nice shirt and it’s going to a good cause and I have some extra money, maybe I should buy one.” this is not a hand brakes vs. no hand brakes so quit making it one. the people that want people to have a hand brake and the people that don’t want one are not going to change eachothers minds. PERIOD! it is just not going to happen. comment on the fucking t-shirt. if you feel you have to have your comments on the legal side, do it in another post.

now, i want that t-shirt….can i borrow some money from somebody

JLu
JLu
18 years ago

I think all money should always go to the Portland United Messenger Association & The Axles of Evil.

Andrew
Andrew
18 years ago

‘Dabby
August 9th, 2006 11:41
2

Clue, a Fixed gear has no caliper brake.
A conversion has a caliper brake. ‘

‘Dabby
August 10th, 2006 01:03
8

Ronald,
I beleive I know exactly what I am talking about.
A fixed gear does refer to the drivetrain, but, a fixed gear with a caliper brake attached is technically very much a CONVERSION, meaning it has been converted for another use.
Brakes are not allowed on the track, so, really a track bike, no matter what geometry, with a caliper brake it becomes a Conversion…. ‘

Actually, Dabby, you don’t know what you’re talking about. A fixed-gear and a track bike are not interchangeable terms, though you treat them as such.

A fixed-gear is a bicycle that doesn’t coast. Period. It may or may not have brakes. It may or may not be a track bike.

You can call a fixed-gear with brakes a conversion, but guess what? It’s still a fixed-gear. You still can’t coast. Got it? Good.

Oh, and how do you know it was converted for another purpose? If you take a frame that you can put brakes on, and put a fixed-gear hub on it, did you ‘convert’ that frame from another purpose? Is a frame with brake eyelets designed for freewheel use only? Just because a bike is fixed-gear doesn’t mean it’s a track bike, and vice versa.

Big D.
Big D.
17 years ago

you\’re all

46-36-24
11-32
thats how i roll
on an American frame
from S.F.
warmest regards wearing my helmet & avoiding any interaction with you

the Drifter