Eurobike trends: Fixed for the foreseeable

From Eurobike 2009, I can safely say that fixed gear bikes are no longer a trend. That doesn't mean that you won't find fashionable hipsters swanning about town on them, but what it looks like, at least from Eurobike 2009, is that they are here to stay in their newly established strains. Yes, fixed and singlespeed has gone mainstream, but so varied are the new strains of fixed gear and singlespeed riding that are emerging that there is no one type of fixer here… there's loads.

We see BMX companies like Volume fabricating toughened-up bikes capable of taking the punishment of the emerging freestyle scene. Kona producing steel bikes with intricate lug work (Grand Wagon) that any Italian manufacturer would be proud of. Giant manufacturing a track bike reminiscent of its 1984 machine, but built for the road.

Then you have straightforward, no-fuss town bikes either dressed in vintage leather accessories or sharpened up with brightly coloured modern fabrics. The point is, you aren't going to look like a courier any more. Colour looks like it has made a comeback. Minimal graphics and a non-offensive, subtle palette are a welcome departure from black.

One note of warning from Eurobike old hands: three years ago, this place was rammed with cruisers and they were really big in Germany and in the States, all those BMX companies had one in their line, now there's none to be seen… the Hawk Classics are an echo - watered-down cruiser style as a single speed/fixed. Fair does, nearly all those cruisers were singlespeeds, too. The big difference is that unlike the cruisers, fixers are for riding, which is why they are here to stay and why there's such a variety too. 

Oh, and we've got loads more fixed pics to upload too, so keep it locked to road.cc

For all your MTB Eurobike needs, check out the coverage from our good chums at Singletrack