Severing Attachments: Easy Come, Easy Go

(Nonplussed investors react to the plummeting value of their PistaDex futures.)

In today's fast-paced world of flying cars, lunar colonies, and entire meals in pill form, things have a much shorter shelf life than they used to "back in the day." (Actually, we don't even have shelves anymore thanks to that new "hovercabinet" technology.) Consequently, while it used to take at least decades to grow nostalgic about something, the entire emergence/disappearance/nostalgia cycle now only takes a few years. Consider the Bianchi Pista, which until recently was a byword for fashionable urban cycling but is now merely a reminder of days gone by. A reader has forwarded me this Craigslist posting, which neatly sums it all up:

Bianchi Pista Track Bike Fixed Gear - $400 (Chapel Hill)
Date: 2010-03-21, 10:31PM EDT
Reply to: [deleted]

This is the best bike that I have ever owned. I love this bike. We've had some great times together. When we (the bike and I) ran over that cute roller blader on the west side highway near battery park and had to tow her to her apartment because her leg wouldn't work. How about the many scotch inflicted drunken bike rides back to brooklyn after playing hoops and going out uptown with my bros. Pulling a Fred Flintstone when our chain would come off on the backside of the manhattan bridge. From all the scratches from the kryptonite chains to all the near fatal encounters when running the red lights this bike is a part of me. If I had the cash I would bury it next to me when I die. But, I don't and that's why it has to go. It's a circa 2000 model. All Black. Chrome Moly Forks. No brakes. There are holes for brakes if you want to add them but DON'T YOU DARE. I Guess it's got a flip flop hub. I've never flipped it. Or flopped it for that matter. Ohhh somebody shoot me now. Lots of battle scars on the frame. Thanks for looking.

Note that the seller's tales take place in New York but he is located in Chapel Hill, NC. Clearly what's happening now is that the "fixters" of yesteryear (or at least yestermonth) are retiring down south, where they reminisce fondly about their fixed-gear exploits over early bird specials. These early retirements will be even easier going forward, thanks to the "hipster" component of the new health care bill. Not only can Americans remain on their parents' health insurance plans until they're 26 now, but they're also eligible for Medicaid at 30, which leaves only four years without a safety net. So, assuming you manage to survive your brakeless and chainless Manhattan Bridge descents for a few years, then you, Nobr Akes, and the rest of your crew can while away your remaining years playing ironic shuffleboard--provided of course you can sell your "whip" to fund your lifestyle change.

Of course, early "hipster" retirement isn't the only reason to sell your Pista; sometimes your wife puts her "foot down:"

bianchi pista - $650 (soundview)
Date: 2010-03-20, 10:36AM EDT
Reply to: [deleted]

2006 pista chromo lite - mint all new components (sram crank, sugino chainring 48t, velocity celeste wheelset, ultegra front brake, origin8 stashbar, profile design stem, 16t cog and 16t freewheel gear, specialized bg jett 130 seat, mks chrome chain). wife put her foot down, trimming the herd. 917 439 [deleted].

I'm guessing what probably happened is that this couple were discussing their finances. Like many people, they had invested heavily in Pistas during the mid-Aughts bubble. However, as we all know, the fixed-gear freestyle sport fad coupled with the flooding of the entry-level fixie market caused the Pista to decrease in value. Consequently, when the couple went to check their on their portfolio, they were rather nonplussed:

"I'm very concerned about this."

"We're so fucked."

Clearly it was time to "thin the herd," but how to decide which bicycle to sell? Well, why not a game of "footdown?" So, they started trackstanding right there in the living room, and after three days the wife finally put her foot down first, meaning he got to keep the one with the Aerospokes but he'd sell the one with the "celeste" rims.

But even if you're glad to see that the Pista's heyday is finally over, who among us does not have at least a few fond feelings for his humble bicycle? In a sense, this was the bike that brought urban cycling into the Internet age--the first bike to be discovered (Youtube, Fixedgeargallery), bought, sold, and traded (Craigslist) by aspiring cyclists entirely online. Speaking of the Internet, another reader sent me an article from the New York Times. Basically, it's a roundup of books about how digital media is harming our intellectual culture (which is kind of like saying the advent of derailleur gears harmed cycling or the invention of the refrigerator harmed our ability to store food), but the astute reader who forwarded it to me noticed an interesting phrase:

Digital insiders like Mr. Lanier and Paulina Borsook, the author of the book “Cyberselfish,” have noted the easily distracted, adolescent quality of much of cyberculture. Ms. Borsook describes tech-heads as having “an angry adolescent view of all authority as the Pig Parent,” writing that even older digerati want to think of themselves as “having an Inner Bike Messenger.”

First of all, I disagree that people are "easily distracted" now. Rather, I maintain that thanks to the Internet we no longer have to waste time on stuff that sucks. If you were, say, into "underground" music in the pre-Internet 1980s, you might sit through an entire episode of "Headbangers Ball" on MTV just to see this one video. That's like an hour of the most inane music imaginable interspersed with the yammering of some vacuous host wearing a motorcycle jacket and a thick layer of flammable lacquer on his hair. The reason people don't do that anymore is not because they're less patient; it's because you'd be an idiot to do that when you don't have to. You find the video immediately, watch it, and then get on with your day.

More important, though, is the phrase "Inner Bike Messenger." With this, the author is actually on to something. However, you don't have to be a member of the "digerati" to have an Inner Bike Messenger (or IBS--which is not to be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Rather, I believe we all have one. I know I do, and I'm certainly not one of the "digerati" (though I am arguably a member of the "doucherati"). Your Inner Bike Messenger is sort of a spirit animal who shepherds you through your day, but it takes introspection and meditation to get in touch with this guide. It was only after a long period spent in seclusion that I was able to see my own, but now he is there for me whenever I call upon him:

Admittedly, I was rather taken aback at first, but now I can't imagine life without him.

I will concede, however, that digital media and the Internet has facilitated the craven act of ripping other people off. Consider this bicycle which was spotted by a reader at Taipei Cycle:

Clearly, this "epic" crabon fribé über-hybrid is a brazen--and failed--attempt to replicate the magnificence that is the World's Greatest Madone:

Speaking of Madones, Lance Armstrong and The Great Trek Bicycle Making Company recently bestowed a considerably lesser Madone upon French President Nicolas Sarkozy:

Trek clearly spared no expense on this lavish gift, for in addition to a custom Gallic "couleur manière," wheels of crabon fribé, and top-of-the-line SRAM Rouge group, it also features a main désincarnée:

We may never know for sure whose body is attached to that hand, but one thing's for certain: Sarkozy loves his new bike. Reportedly, it never leaves his side, and he even takes it en vacance:

(Open Marriage: Sarkozy, Bruni, and the bike enjoy a ménage à trois)

Meanwhile, in the Craigslist universe, yet another reader informs me that disembodied hands are now passé and that the "sellerati" have moved on to disembodied feet:

Here is the ad in which the disembodied feet were feetured:

Want to trade - front flat black aerospoke
Date: 2010-03-18, 10:13PM PDT
Reply to: [deleted]

i want to trade my front great condition front aerospoke painted flat black spins true as day no cracks 700c
for
-other carbon rims 700c clincher
-700c wheelset laced to phils
- aero seatpost 27.2 + 1inch wing carbon aero bars
- rear rim laced to a fixed chub hub
each of these offers are open to cash on top, depending on the item
as well as on my part if you got one of these things that you know if worth more then just an aerospoke
maybe we can work somthing out

i dont mean to sound like a jerk but
DO NOT TEXT ME IF YOU DONT HAVE SOMTHING LISTED ABOVE
IM SORRY IM JUST NOT INTERESTED

shoot me a text
let me know what you got
805 813 [delete]

IF I DON'T REPLY IM NOT INTERESTED
this post has been up for a while and im tired of hassling with with people who heckle me with stuff i dont want

His tone may seem a bit brusque, but when you've got a sweet flat back Aerospoke that spins "true as day" and you want to trade it for a newer, trendier wheel, then the "schmuckerati" tend to come out of the proverbial woodwork. As for the feet, there's no telling to whom they're attached. Some might think they're simply those of the seller, but I prefer to believe they're attached to a scantily-cad lady doing sit-ups and using a piece of wood freshly hewn by a "fakerjack" to secure her feet:

The truth is, disembodied hands and feet can teach us a valuable lesson about humanity, which is that our assumptions are often wrong and that snap judgements are dangerous. Consider this hand, which I photographed yesterday as it held an aerosol spraycan to a graffitied doorway:

One might assume that it is connected to a graffiti "artist" clad in the latest streetwear:

However, it was actually attached to this gentleman, clad in the latest schtetlwear:

Anyway, I came back a few hours later, and I'm pleased to report that his finished piece was stunning:

That's Yiddish for "All You Haters Suck My Balls."

Bicycle Market Outlook: Nerve-Racking, with Chance of Fenders

The fender debate is currently gaining momentum faster than a new brakeless Pista owner on a steep descent, and I fear that it is hurtling uncontrollably towards the four-way intersection that is all-out war. Even though I am a believer in fenders, I am more importantly a believer in peace. As such, I'd like to share with you something that the pro-fender cabal (of which I am admittedly a part) does not want you to know: fenders can be deadly.






This has been my greatest winter bike ever. I loved the setup with risers so much its sucks to see it go. I was riding to work in the morning with a strong spring wind at my back. The front fender was rubbing on the tire just enough to bother me, so I tapped it over a bit with my foot. This is something I have had to do before so I thought nothing of it, until I was in mid flight. So of coarse the fender had somehow caught the smooth tire and wrap up into my fork. Instantly locking up the wheel and well throwing my ass off into the air only to land some number of feet in front of the bike. The distance I flew is what save me from major injury. I flipped almost completely around with all that hang time and rolled down onto my heals. It's hard to explain, I was shooken up a lot but came out just fine a day or two later. After I walked it off a bit I had to flip the bars around to let the wheel clear the D-tube. I rode it like that with a flat a few more miles in a daze until help came for me. This sucked (Sorry Joe)

Yes, while fenders may go a long way towards keeping your posterior dry, they can also stop your front wheel and send you soaring though the air like your messenger bag suddenly became a jet pack--which can lead to pants-wetting of a different sort. Of course, there are fenders that are designed with breakaway clips to prevent this sort of thing from happening. And perhaps more importantly, not trying to adjust your fenders with your feet while you're riding can also go a long way towards preventing accidents. This holds true for any bicycle component or accessory. Things you should not do with your feet while riding include:

--Take a drink from your water bottle;
--Steer;
--Attempt to true your wheel;
--Administer a pedicure;
--Send a text message.

Certainly, if you have monkey-like prehensile toes and your pedial dexterity is greater than your manual dexterity, you should feel free to perform bike maintenance (or operate your mobile phone) with your feet, provided that you do so off the bike. However, upright bicycles are simply not designed with simian people in mind--despite what you might think from looking at freeriders--so while you're in motion you should either use your hands or, better yet, stop completely and make any necessary adjustments. Otherwise, you could always ride a recumbent, on which your laid-back position is much more conducive to doing things like adjusting your cleats or smoothing your callouses with a pumice stone.

That said, there's something that disturbed me about this particular case even more than the fate-tempting foot nudge, and that is the fact that this rider appears to have a brakeless bike with fenders. I've been seeing more and more of this sort of thing lately. Not only are people increasingly riding brakeless bikes with fenders, but they're also riding brakeless bikes with racks. This is because they're discovering the functionality and convenience of these accessories, yet they are still committed to their brakeless ways.

For the most part, I believe that people should do whatever they want, and they should demand that any naysayers perform testilingus on them. If you want to ride brakeless, ride brakeless. If you want to palp a TTMBL, palp a TTMBL. If you want to perform an unsafe-for-work breast exam on yourself while you slay some singletrack, perform an unsafe-for-work breast exam on yourself while you slay some singletrack. However, at the same time I believe you should at least be consistent in your palpage. Should a vegan who wears a sausage necklace be allowed to call himself a vegan? No he should not. Then why should a brakeless cyclist who espouses the "zen simplicity" of brakelessness be allowed to use fenders and racks? That's like some cave-dwelling ascetic having a plasma TV and a full satellite package.

Moreover, stopping a brakeless track bike that weighs 17 pounds is one thing. Stopping a brakeless bike with loaded racks is something else entirely. When I'm on my way home from the fruit stand on my Ironic Orange Julius Bike laden with 30 pounds of bananas for my helper monkey, Vito, there's no way I'm stopping that thing without brakes fast enough to stay out of trouble. I guess that's why I see so many brakeless bikes with CETMAracks, but I've almost never seen anything actually on them. And if nothing else, brakeless bikes with fenders and racks look silly--it's the bicycle equivalent of the suit-with-shorts look.

Still, could this indicate that urban cyclists are moving away from carrying all their knickknacks and tchotchkes in messenger bags and holsters and fanny packs and are instead carrying them on their bikes? At least one person thinks they are, and he's hoping to profit from it:




Vintage Cannondale All-Terrain ATB Cruising Bike Bicycle Turquoise - $250 (Upper East Side)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2009-04-28, 6:52PM EDT

Bike for sale is a Vintage Cannondale SM400 in beautiful Turquoise Color. It falls in the category of ATB (All-Terrain Bicycle) or Cruising Bike. The current owner (female) is about 5' 5" tall. I believe the bike is 18" based on information a reader furnished me with. He was basing it on the information the serial number indicates.

Serial Number: 18072187078. Serial number indicates information about the size as well as the fact that it was manufactured on July 21, 1987. Bike was purchased on March 30, 1988.

The information above came from the 1987 Cannondale Catalog. My understanding is that people collect this bike as a vintage item and we were advised not to sell it yet and that as time goes on it will hit a very high value. We are currently selling a lot of our possessions because we just do not have room in our apartment to keep it.

If you would like to see a few of our other items we are selling, you can go to: http://Poconos4Sale.com Some of the prices on the items we have on the site are a little negotiable.

Thank you for looking.

Please email if you have questions about this item or other items we have listed on our other website or on Craig's List.

All the best for a happy and healthy year.

Abe



I found the bit about how they were "advised not to sell it yet" particularly compelling. Has Charles Schwab moved into bike speculation? Has the word gone out that "hipsters" are moving away from brakeless track bikes to bikes with racks, and that people should prepare to get out of Pistas and expect their vintage mountain bikes to skyrocket in value? It's possible. But is this a smart economic move? Not necessarily. First of all, this bike appears to have a clip-on rack, which is the cargo equivalent of a "filth prophylactic." Secondly, the PistaDex in New York City is still quite high, and is currently at 600:



Bianchi Pista - Fixed Gear - $600 (Chelsea)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2009-04-23, 9:30AM EDT

Bianchi Pista in 'gang green' color, 57 cm frame (I'm 6 ft tall), very low milage. I got her about a year ago but she hasn't seen much action. I've done all kinds of things to this bike. Brand new Brooks 'Swift' leather seat (not yet broken in) and Brooks leather bar tape (about 200$ new) included. I also respoked the front wheel radially and put on new Maxxis Detonator tires. The fork is drilled for a brake but you gotta provide your own. This is a wonderful bike in both performance and aesthetics, it breaks my heart to let her go but I need the space. E-mail me and we can set up a time to come check it out.


Then again, there are discouraging signs. Firstly, it appears from the photos that Pista owners are now embarrassed of their bicycles. Secondly, while the PistaDex is high, this doesn't tell the whole story. When I introduced the PistaDex in 2007, the NYC PistaDex was at 475 relative to a Pista MSRP of $579.99 However, a 2009 Pista now retails for a whopping $819! So in 2007 the gap between PistaDex and MSRP was only $104.99. Now, it's $219, which is more than double what it was less than two years ago. In other words, your Hipster Bike Dollar (or HBD) is plummeting in value. It very well may be that Schwab is right and that the time to get out of Pistas is on the horizon.

But I'm not convinced that vintage mountain bikes are the answer. ITTET, it's probably a better idea to stick with more conservative investments, like Chris King headsets--though you should be sure to check the Chris King Headset Composite Index (CKHCI) first, because even this is not immune to market fluctuations nor to the variations in the PistaDex. (When large numbers of hipsters sell their Pistas the headset market can also become flooded with their 1-inch Chris King headset "upgrades.") And of course another possibility is to just put everything into Bridgestone XO-1s:



I was stunned to see the above XO-1 recently in an area where I had previously seen mostly fixed-gears, and the implications are profound--this relic from the past could very well portend a more self-consciously practical future. In any case, the XO-1 is a sound financial investment, principally because it is rare, and also because it allows the seller to invoke the name of Grant Petersen. And in the often unpredictable world of cycling economics, there are two certainties:

1) All cyclists age;
2) Aging cyclists love Grant Petersen.

Best of all, if you're a "hipster" and you ditch your Pista to get one, you get to keep your beard. Just don't try to comb it with your feet while you ride.

Hard Times: Valuating the Cultural Currency of Cycling

So the economy is apparently imploding, or exploding, or some other kind of ploding. (I don't know, I'm not an economist.) The used bicycle market is also in turmoil. There are no Bianchi Pistas currently on the market in NYC, and people are doubtless holding on to them to see where all this is going. So while it's impossible to say where the PistaDex stands at this moment, one trader is willing to pay $400. That's pretty low, but the bottom certainly hasn't fallen out yet, and I for one refuse to panic.

Indeed, it is extremely important to remain optimistic in these trying times. Sure, we may start to see Pista prices fall across the board. And yes, we may no longer be able to count on our track bikes actually increasing in value as we own them. But we can always hope that if things do get ugly the government will step in. Perhaps they can offer generous tax deductions to Pista owners for "improvements" such as Aerospokes, Phil Wood bottom brackets, and Chris King headsets. And perhaps they can also offer mileage disincentives, so that these riders are discouraged from riding their Pistas and as such keep them in the "like new, barely ridden" state so cherished by buyers.

Moreover, I maintain that while the PistaDex may dip in the coming weeks overall the cultural currency of cycling will remain strong. In fact, now is a better time than ever to diversify your cycling investments into other areas. Sure, you might want to avoid things like alleycat manifest holders right now, but there are extremely positive indicators in other sectors of the cyclonomy. For example, it hardly warrants mentioning that Lance Armstrong is coming back for another stab at the Dauphiné Libéré, and that's going to result in massive spikes in sales of Dura Ace-equipped Madones, black half-shorts, helmet mirrors, and threadless stem risers. Also, let's not forget that while cycling is expensive to regular people it's actually a bargain for wealthy people, so you can expect more and more of them to pick it up as their fortunes dip slightly and they put more expensive hobbies like dirigible racing on hold. And where you have wealthy people, you have triathlons:

Here we see the guy from "Boys on the Side" getting ready for some tri training in the tailgate of his SUV. Now I realize the caption says he's training for a decathlon, but I'm going to assume that's a mistake since I don't think decathlons have cycling in them. Also, while it may look like McConaughey is removing his mandal in order to put on a cycling shoe, it's actually the other way around, as everybody knows he loves training in thongs (he sports them both on his feet and under his cycling shorts) and only wears his cycling shoes while driving.

Sure, I know I've said some harsh things about triathletes in the past. (Like how they can't handle their bikes, or shift their bikes, or really do much of anything with their bikes except clumbsily nagivate them to the place where they have to go to change their shoes like a bunch of bikini-clad Mr. Rogerses.) But again, in times like these we have to stick together. I'm not going to look at triathlons as a few miles of spazztic cycling sandwiched between the twin evils of swimming and running. Instead, I'm going to look at them as a stealthy method of delivery by which cycling can sneak itself into the cultural bloodstream like a water-borne illness. And maybe if more celebrities get the bug it will also trickle down to the people who mindlessly emulate them.

Sure, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Who the hell is emulating Matthew McConaughey?" Well, if that's not enough celebrity for you, what about Jennifer Lopez?

That's right, Jennifer Lopez is putting the proverbial hammer down for charity. This makes me happy. It even looks like she was able to get her feet into the pedals quicker than her competitors. And perhaps most touching, she had the consideration to wear a loose-fitting garment so as not to drive any nearby Hasidim mad with animal lust.

But it's not all about triathlons, so don't go pitching your Pista quite yet. Fixed-gears still have enough cultural cachet to figure into a Japanese iPhone commercial, as forwarded by a reader:

Sure, I realize many of you live in the United States, but if you do this indicates that there is still an international market for your Pista, which coupled with the weak dollar may very well work to your advantage should you need to liquidate your supply.

And if nothing else, this also underscores the importance of staying up on the trends. It's absolutely crucial to know who wants what and where they are at any given moment if you want to sell your bike at top dollar. And staying up on bike trends is about more than just looking at cycling. It's also important to look at the trends that cross over into cycling. And one of those trends, as we saw recently, is knuckle tattoos.

Well, it would appear that knuckle tattoos are the fixed-gear bicycles of the body art world, in that they've been around a long time and they used to be pretty bold things to have, but suddenly everybody wants one, and when they finally get them they look pretty funny. The very same reader who alterted me to the "Nobr Akes" tattoo has also turned me on to knuckletattoos.com, which is sort of the fixedgeargallery of knuckle tattoos and is my new favorite website. Here are some highlights:

There is no way you'll ever regret having internet slang tattooed on your knuckles. Imagine these hands gently caressing the visage of a lover.



It took me a really long time to figure this one out. I thought it said "Slag Calm," which didn't make sense. Then I thought maybe it was a typo and should have said "Slag Clam," which could refer to the female reproductive organ of a promiscuous woman. Finally, though, I actually read the caption, and learned it said "Stay Calm," and that did indeed relax me.


Ah yes, the under-the-finger reverse knuckle tattoo. It's the left-hand drive crank setup of the knuckle tattoo world.

I thought these were the hands of a dieter and it said "Live Lite," but it actually says "Live Life."

So taken was I with all of these fine knuckle tattoos, and so much did I want to become part of this new fashion phenomenon, that I racked my brain in order to come up with my own eight-letter sentiment. I considered and dismissed such possibilities as "Trek Bike," "Pack Fill," and "Twob Rake." Finally, though, it hit me. The perfect eight-knuckle chuckle was hidden right under my nose:



Of course, I wanted to see how it would look first, so I tested it out on a sepia-toned model. Notice the "NY" and the "C" on the thumbs. Not only is it a sin to waste digits, but it's also important to differentiate myself from all the other Bike Snobs out there. I'm thinking I may go for it. Those hands would look badass wrapped around a pair of Ourys.

Making Ends Meet: Packages and the PistaDex

It's the Friday before a holiday weekend. As such, I feel like I can be somewhat informal with you today, and I hope you don't mind if I let my hair down. (I usually keep it in a tight and sensible bun.) The fact is, times are hard. First of all, I got that ticket yesterday, and between hiring Daniella Levi (who has won millions of dollars for her clients over the years) and the scary mustachioed guy from 1-800-Lawyers (I'm taking the CSC approach by fielding a twin-pronged assault on this ticket) I'm feeling pretty strapped. Second of all, it also turns out my mortgage is one of those exponential ones where the interest rate is multiplied by itself every month. It hardly seems fair to make me pay it since I didn't even know what an exponent was (I just thought it was a marketing term for "excellent"), but Daniella Levi and the mustachioed guy from 1-800-Lawyers tell me I don't have much of a case. Also, I rent my apartment, which makes the whole enterprise seem doubly shady.

So it's a very good thing that Rapha, the J. Peterman of cycling clothing, is taking pity on me and sending me free stuff in the mail. My need for cash is so acute that I was actually down to my last bandana, with no immediate hope of procuring more. So you can imagine my relief when I opened the package and found this elegant schmata:

Elated, I tied that thing around my neck faster than a hiker ties a tourniquet around his buddy's hemorhhaging limb:

(Cravat by Rapha. Shirt by Stevil. Photo by Annie Leibovitz.)

I was so touched by this gift that I burst into tears and proceeded to fill my Rapha cravat with mucus. Thank you, Slate. I will treasure this.

So with times as hard as they are, it's no surprise I've been watching the PistaDex more closely than Cadel Evans watches the wheel in front of him. (There's always a wheel in front of him.) I do own some track stuff and it's crucial for me to know if I should sell and move my cycling-related investments into other areas. At the moment the NYC PistaDex is at 540, with these two offerings:

Bianchi Pista - 53cm (Track Bike) - $480 (brooklyn)

Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-08-27, 5:45PM EDT

2007 Bianchi Pista Track Bike, 53cm

Excellent condition fixed gear bike. Great for riding around the city, light weight, quick and fast. I've added bullhorn handlebars, and a front Shimano 105 break. It's been stored inside and never ridden in the rain. Perfect bike for someone looking to try out their first fixie.

Asking: $480/obo

BIKE SPECS

Frame: Double-butted chrome-moly frame
Crankset: Sugino RD, 48 teeth
Rear Cog: 1-speed, 16 teeth
Handlebar: Soma Bullhorns
Stem: Bianchi aluminum
Headset: 1" threadless VP
Hubs: Bianchi hi-flange
Rims: Alex AT-400, 32-hole
Tires: 700 x 23c
Stand Over: 30.5"


Here's a link to the Bianchi website:
http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_pista.html

I'm not sure why people are compelled to point out a bike hasn't been ridden in the rain. What do I care? People seem to be under the impression their bikes are made out of Now and Laters or something, and that if they ride them in the rain they'll slowly dissolve. I'm here to tell you that's not the case. Water will not hurt your bicycle. If it did, how would you wash it? The fact that your bicycle may have gotten wet at some point is not going to prevent me from buying it.

bianchi pista 2008 51 cm - $600 (Upper West Side)
Reply to: sale-813206271@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-26, 12:14AM EDT

brand new just a week old.



Well that was fast. But I'm confused. Is it brand new or a week old?!?

In any case, the PistaDex may still be fairly high, but when I see someone ditching a week-old ride I get nervous. This could presage a plummet in the PistaDex. More disturbing was this sign:




Campagnolo Record Pista Track 165 Cranks - $250 (Lower East Side)

Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-08-28, 3:01PM EDT

I'm selling a lot of my track stuff so that I can come up with the money for a motorcycle.

These Campy Record Pista Track Cranks are in really good shape. Normal wear. $250.00

DOES NOT COME WITH THE pedals. If you want the pedals, it's an extra $50.00 They are MKS NJS pedals with Black soma double cages & two sets of leather straps.



Here's somebody jumping off the fixed-gear bandwagon in order to jump on the motorcycle one. This would not be noteworthy in and of itself, but it so happens that the reader who forwarded me this ad says that the seller is none other than Kevin. This saddens me deeply, because I'm sure you'll agree that Kevin was a member of not only the cycling family but the family of this blog. It was only about six months ago that he was reluctantly selling his Mavic bars in order to fund a new build. Now he's leaving it all behind.

Frankly, I don't take anybody's leaving cycling lightly. We need all the riders we can get. Kevin, if you're reading this, I implore you to think twice about what you're doing. If you think motorcycling is a bold new world of renegade fashions and high-speed adventure, I'm here to tell you that it's not. Motorists will treat you just as poorly and with as little respect as they treat cyclists--except instead of going 20mph when they turn into your lane without looking you're going 70mph. Also, if you think track stuff is expensive in NYC, just wait until you start shopping for a motorcycle. The only thing more overpriced than NJS is UJM, because cafe racer conversions are the fixed-gear conversions of the motorcycle world. Moving from unwrapped bars to wrapped pipes will only cause you more angst. Yes, Kevin, your sleeves will look awesome on a motorcycle as you stretch to reach your clubman bars, but please, think twice before you leave us. We need you. The PistaDex hangs in the balance!

Fortunately, though, there are still those willing to make a lifetime commitment to the fixed-gear lifestyle, as you can see from this photo, forwarded by a reader:

As pleased as I am to see that there is at least one rider out there who will (ostensibly) never leave us, I will admit I was somewhat perplexed. My understanding of the knuckle tattoo was that the word break should be between the hands. This one, however, requires a Vulcan salute in order to read "No Brakes." Otherwise, it says, "Nobr Akes," who I'm pretty sure is a Greek bouzouki player who opened for Letle Viride a few times. Also, while this rider certainly intends to continue riding brakeless for the rest of his days, this tattoo will preclude him from occasionally riding a bicycle with brakes, because the sight of those paws squeezing a pair of brake levers (even useless ones) would be overwhelmingly ironic. And lastly, once upon a time at least, getting something tattooed on your knuckles was a bold statement. It said, "I'm an outcast and I don't care who knows it because I'll never be a part of polite society." It was a real commitment. Consequently, in the spirit of commitment, wearers of such tattoos would pick one phrase, like "Love/Hate" or something like that. Having two more or less unrelated phrases on the same pair of hands completely obviates that effect. It's like having two women's names on the same arm, each followed by the word forever.

In any case, who cares what I think, as long as he's happy. And he can certainly take solace in the fact that if he ever winds up on the inside he'll already have the Robert DeNiro "Cape Fear" remake look. Best of all, he might even get to fabricate LeMonds:

In an odd twist, an inmate at a federal prison in Williamsburg, South Carolina filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit in July, alleging that he and other inmates produce bikes for LeMond under the Federal Prison Industry Unicor Program for 12 cents an hour, a violation of minimum wage laws. The inmate also claimed LeMond bicycle are shipped to Iranian troops for training purposes, violating the “Training with Enemy” Act.

12 cents an hour?!? That sounds like pretty good money!

Worst of NYC Craigslist SPECIAL EDITION: Pista Price Is Right!

The PistaDex in New York City is currently at 650. I don't know if the market's going to crash tomorrow or sometime during the next decade, but for the moment there's no doubt we're living in the "go-go aughts" when it comes to fixed-gears. So with the weekend upon us, I figured I'd put together a little game show. Below are the four Pistas on the New York City Craigslist which yield the 650 PistaDex. I've blocked out the prices on each. Simply study the ad, try to guess what the seller is asking, and then choose a price. If you're right, you'll see the ad. If you're wrong, you'll see a roller catastrophe. As far as a prize, you'll have to contact the respective sellers--I'm sure they'd be willing to give you their bikes if they knew you guessed correctly.

(By the way, if you have some Rain Man-like ability to scan all four sets of choices, average them all in your head, and ace the game that way, my hat is off to you. I lack the basic math skills to come up with choices that will prevent you from doing that.)

Thanks, have fun, and have a good weekend.

--RTMS

2008 Bianchi Pista (Fixed Gear) with Major Upgrades 57 - $?
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-20, 2:03PM EDT

2008 Bianchi Pista with low miles and new Nitto chrome handlebars, Fi'zi:k tape, better chain, and new wheel set. The costume wheel set cost 500 and consists of: Mavic Open Sport rims with Grar Campe hubs. The bike is blue and in good condition.

Frame Size: 57

Yep, you read right: a costume wheelset with Grar Campe hubs. (That's an upgrade from the Gwar hubs.) That should help jack the price up. But by how much?

--$600

--$700

--$800

--$900

Black Bianchi Pista - Fixed Gear Track Bike - $? (Inwood / Wash Hts)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-23, 6:09PM EDT

Sick Bike. 57 cm. Pink Velocity Deep V Rim. Vittoria Pro Blue Rubino tires. Velo Plush Seat. Specialized toe clips.

Is available for pickup in NYC, Fairfield County, and New Haven.

This one's pretty funky. But is it funky enough to warrant an asking price below full MSRP?

--$450

--$550

--$600

--$650

Stripped chrome Bianchi Pista w/ Brooks saddle, nitto bars + more - $? (Wburg)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-26, 5:16PM EDT

2004 Chrome Bianchi Pista (first year Bianchi issued the chrome pista)

Gearing - 48/16 Fixed

Size - 51cm (small guys and girls)

This bike is in great condition, and hasn't been ridden in the last 2 years. The frame was stripped of all decals except for the Bianchi crest on the head tube. There are almost no logos on the bike, and even the brake cable was done in silver. Included are Specialized Silver wall all condition pro tires (brand new), so even the tires will match.

Upgrades include:
- Butchered Brooks B17 narrow leather saddle, cut down to look like a swallow saddle.
- MKS track peddles with cage and white leather straps
- Paul Components love lever (brake, can be removed)
- Nitto 36cm ridding bars chopped and flipped. The most narrow nitto bullhorns I could make (great for squeezing between cars)
- Specialized all condition pro tires in Grey to match bike. New, never installed.

All other items are stock

I'll be showing the bike this weekend in Williamsburg. $?

Some major work has gone into this baby, and the Brooks saddle has even been shaved down by hand! Plus, chrome Pistas with no decals are so hot right now. But how hot are they?

--$750

--$800

--$850

--$900

bianchi fixed/ track bike - $?
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-27, 1:13AM EDT

this is a bianchi pista track bike that i stripped of all the logos. personally, i dont like riding around looking like an advertisement and the all chrome and black looks cooler anyway. because it was a d.i.y. striping job though, the decals kind of smudged up the frame giving it a bit of a scuffy look in some places. (shown in picture.) it has a rpm crankset-jalco deep v wheels. it has a small front brake, easily removable if youre a bit more macho than me. the back wheel has a flip-flop hub,so you can turn it around and ride single speed on those days when you just gotta coast down the willy b bridge. the bars are covered with neoprene on the drops and cloth on the top. i have an extra pair of NJS stamped nitto track drop bars ill throw in. theyre about 80 bucks new alone. ? obo. unfortunately i have to let it go. times are hard! p.s. this was my everyday commuter, so there is small scratches from locking up and stuff, but it was well taken care of, lways inside, and will last you a long ass time if you take care of it too. i live in brooklyn but will meet in manhattan if you like.

Another de-decaled chrome Pista. He's including a bunch of extras, but he also seems to be under duress. How will that affect his asking price? He's already admitted he's not that macho.

--$450

--$500

--$575

--$600

Worst of NYC Craigslist Bike Ads: Spikes and Troughs

First of all, those 3TTT Pista bars I mentioned yesterday are still available according to the latest ad. I know it's human nature to hesitate when something seems too good to be true, but as the seller points out these things are going to be collector's items. And, once again, they're aluminum. I can't stress that enough. Do you think Ronco founder and inventor of the Chop-O-Matic Ron Popeil got rich by being slack-jawed and immobile in the face of opportunity? No, he got rich by inventing wacky household appliances nobody needs. So what does this have to do with buying these handlebars? Very little, but I felt it was worth mentioning.

Moving on, there are some noteworthy things happening in the world of used fixed-gears in New York City right now. Much like the larger economy, there's currently disparity in the fixedconomy. On one hand, the PistaDex is at 575. So if we were to imagine it as a fruit, it would be a big, juicy, overripe melon that's almost too soft to be appetizing. On the other hand, the IRODex, which I just made up this morning, is at a mere 325. Sticking with the fruit metaphor, we're essentially looking at a dried date or something, which, while not quite as mouth-watering as fresh fruit, does stay edible longer and is a better choice for the long term in adverse conditions, which is why bedouins eat them. Let's see what's going on out there:

Bianchi Pista – Chrome [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/708257123.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-05, 2:20AM EDT

Perfectly NEW Bianchi Pista purchased two days ago for $759.45! NICE Front break and Freewheel rear hub added; Owners Manual included! Unfortunetly size doesn't match my height. Must sell!!

Specifications Style Track Bike

Sizes 53cm

Color Chrome Plated

Frame Bianchi DB CrMo, rear entry track dropouts

Fork CrMo

Components Headset VP AheadSet, 1" threadless

Handlebar Bianchi/Deda steel track, 26.0mm

Stem Bianchi alloy

Crankset Sugino RD, 48T

Bottom Bracket Cartridge

Chain KMC

Sprocket 16T fixed cog

Pedals VP clipless, 2-sided

Wheels Bianchi hi-flange track hubs, Alex AT400 32h rims

Tires WTB Camino Alto, 700x23C

Saddle WTB Rocket V Comp

Seatpost Alloy, 27.2mm

Asking for $650, prefer to be picked up! Please contact 917-[deleted] or [deleted]@gmail.com

So you bought a bicycle in the wrong size and realized it two days later? I've really got to wonder what the circumstances were here. Certainly I could understand someone spending a few months with a bicycle and then, with time and experience, learning that another size might work better for them. But if the poor fit is already apparent two days later the bicycle must be really ill-fitting and must have been purchased under duress. This person had to have a Pista and had to have it right then. Perhaps a "bike culture" party was taking place to which it would have been bad form not to arrive on a track bike. Or perhaps it was merely a prop used to interest a potential mate. Or perhaps some unscrupulous shop is doing its best to cram Pistas into crotches in which they don't fit in anticipation of the Apocalype. Whatever the reason, it's troubling.

Bianchi Pista Fixed-Gear Bike: Like New! - $575 (West Village) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/700355327.html]
Reply to: [deleted]

Date: 2008-05-29, 8:38PM EDT

61-centimeter, track bike for riders on a budget, juniors, or as a fixed gear training bike; the geometry is correct for banked tracks with the tight 28mm fork offset, higher bb and short wheelbase. The bike that started it all, from the company that started it all. Gang Green paint with classic white panel decals.

Ridden less than 60 miles (persistent knee injury prevented use).

Call Joel, 917-[deleted], cell; 212-[deleted], daytime work.

Speaking of ill-fitting, this thing looks like a Bike Friday. I'm sorry to hear about Joel's knee problems, but is it possible they were caused by riding the wrong sized bike? Doubtless Lennard Zinn would have an opinion, and I'm sure he would love to take a tape measure to this guy's femur and fabricate him something better-suited to his freakish biomechanics. I wonder if this guy's also walking around in tiny shoes with his toes sticking out of the front and a sport jacket with sleeves that barely go past his elbow.

Bianchi Pista for Sale - $500 (Park Slope) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/699945922.html]
Reply to: [deleted]

Date: 2008-05-29, 3:21PM EDT

I have a 2007 Bianchi Pista in cool Racing Green for sale. The bike is 55cm and would fit someone 5'9" - 6'0" probably. It's in perfect condition and super fast. I've also upgraded the tires to resist the glass-strewn brooklyn streets.

I've ridden it as a fixed gear with a 48/17 gear ratio, however it has a flip-flop hub so you can put a freewheel on the other side.

I also put a Cane Creek hand break on it for safety mostly.

The asking price is $500.

Please send an email if you're interested along with a telephone number.

Thanks.

I hate the term "old school," but I have to say that this is a classic, "old school" Pista ad. It's got everything. Most importanly, it's got the kitchen shot. (Bonus points for the fact that there are not only dishes in the dish rack, but one of them actually matches the bike's frame.) Secondly, "brake" is spelled "break" in accordance with the official Craigslist style manual. Not only that, but there's also the requisite dismissal of the brake: it's there for "safety mostly," the implication being that he doesn't really need it since he's such a crack fixie rider. Also, there's some evocative prose in the phrase "glass-strewn brooklyn streets," as well as the patented Craigslist Ignuramus Fit Chart, in which the seller lists the height range for the bicycle despite the fact that he really has no idea what he's talking about. Lastly, he says it's fast. Bikes aren't fast--people are fast. Bikes are overpriced. It's an important distinction.

Now on to the IROs:

Black IRO Fixed Gear Bike (59cm) - $300 (Midtown West) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/708100520.html]
Reply to: [deleted]Date: 2008-06-04, 10:49PM EDT

I'm selling a black IRO fixed gear to anyone who's interested. The bike is 59cm from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. Should be sufficient for anyone around 6ft (). I bought it here on Craigslist about a year ago for $400 and a bottle of whiskey and didn't end up riding very much (about 40 miles...maybe less). It's had a spot in the bike room in my building ever since, so it's still in great condition.

Unfortunately, I don't have any goodies to throw in, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. Also - in case it's not clear in the pictures - it has a speedometer (can be easily removed if necessary). I also installed new pedals about two weeks ago.

Drop me a line if you have any questions.

What?!? $300 for a complete fixed-gear? He's supposed to be asking twice that! I never thought I'd see the day. Not only that, but he's even apologizing for not throwing in any goodies. And he's only selling it to "anyone who's interested." Doesn't he know how Craigslist works? You're supposed to cajole and say things like, "This bike is a rocketship!" and "Beat the high gas prices!" I don't know who this guy is, but he must be from Nebraska or some place like that where people are neighborly instead of predatory and provide goods and services for what they're worth while dispensing practical bits of homespun wisdom for free. Or he's drinking too much whiskey. Or both.

59cm IRO TRACK BIKE (Mark V) - $350 (east village) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/708110733.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-06-05, 12:07AM EDT

Moving to the Bay Area and need to sell soon. This is a beautiful IRO with a few scratches rides great.Its cheap and worth checking out. For questions refer to (shop.irocycle.com) click on build parts, and then MARK V it will answer all questions.

OK, what's with the non-stratospherically priced 59cm IROs? Something creepy's going on here. Have I woken up in 2002? (No, I just checked and fortunately I haven't. I don't think I could live through "Ally McBeal," Eminem and Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee all over again.) Or does this presage a wholesale exodus to the Bay Area? (All the more reason the world needs my "Take a Pista, Leave a Pista" bicycle lending library.) Whatever the reason, for the moment IROs appear to be the dried fruit of fixed-gear bicycles. Do with that what you will.