‘Fixie’ bike subculture gains traction in Singapore
Fixed-gear bicycle (or ‘fixie') racing in Singapore stepped out of its underground habitat and into the public spotlight this month, with the first official indoor race taking place at Velocity mall in Novena over two successive weekends.
Organised by local events firm EDGE Werkz and Velocity@Novena Square, the race - dubbed “King of Velocity” -- saw over 50 fixie enthusiasts duke it out for a spot in the finals on 24th March. Riders had to sprint down a swift but challenging 200-metre track that wound through the mall and was littered with obstacles such as ramps and sidewalls.
In the end, it was 18-year-old Putra Shafiq who trumped a field including professional riders from South Korea and Malaysia, emerging champion on the final day in front of an estimated 300-strong crowd that mostly stopped to watch out of curiosity.
Despite being one of the oldest forms of cycling, fixed-gear bikes remain relatively removed from mainstream consciousness. But last year’s Hollywood vehicle ‘Premium Rush’, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, signaled the modern re-emergence and increasing popularity of this exceedingly simple mode of transport.
Fixed-gear bikes provide an exercise in true minimalism. Single-speed and typically brakeless, they strip things down to the bare requirements of pedaling and steering – add to that their lightness of frame, and you have the ingredients for high-octane track racing.
Then there is also the other face of fixed-gear riding: a thriving global subculture that views the two-wheelers as art and the activity as symbolic of urban rebellion and liberation.
It is a phenomenon custom-made for the YouTube age – and that was exactly how ‘King of Velocity’ winner Shafiq latched on to fixie riding three years ago, after watching online videos by local collective CrankArmSteady. The ITE student bagged over S$1,000 in cash and vouchers for his efforts, and plans to spend it “on bike parts and most importantly, family and friends.”
Sponsorship of the event, which cost between $45,000 and $60,000 to organise, was largely taken care of by Velocity@Novena Square. Numerous local fixie-affiliated shops such as Airwalk, T-Level and Fixed Up Your Gear were also “very generous” and provided “strong support” to make ‘King of Velocity’ “more than just a race competition”, according to EDGE Werkz CEO Cavin Wong.
The event was only confirmed in January this year, leaving the organisers with just two months to carry out something that had never been done before in Singapore. Intensive research, active engagement with local cycling experts and the flexibility to incorporate participant feedback during practice rounds eventually helped them come through.
“I see ‘King of Velocity’ 2013 as a great success,” said Alvin Tan, co-founder of EDGE Werkz. “Not just because it is the first in-mall urban fixie race in Singapore, but because a small bang has been made in the fixie community.”
“I hope to see larger-scale events in Singapore that will help grow fixie culture here.”
Special thanks to Shonn Tan and Ahmad Danial Irfan for related media. View more pictures here.