I see niches, they are everywhere!

byAlexSol

13.3K followers

Updated 11 years ago

Hello, folks! It's been a while since I blogged here at WA, It is a lame excuse but - I've been too busy with many other things.

I have been riding bicycles all the time when I was a kid but I stopped when I turned 15-16. This autumn I decided to get a bike for myself. Since I attend some courses - I sit most of the time, working at home - I sit, driving to school or anywhere else - well I sit in the car. I thought a bike would be a great work out. Besides, I don't get stuck in traffic, I can "park" it virtually anywhere, I can legally use it even if I had a few drinks and It takes me 25 minutes to get to school by bike (about 45 min by car)!!! ... let's not forget the gas prices, making the planet greener and all of the blahblah ;)

As it happens to me in many aspects of life - I couldn't simply go out there and buy a bicycle like most people, I had to make something custom, something that I like.

A few years ago on a trip to Germany I met Bjorn who was riding a fixed gear bike, aka Fixie. A fixie has the rear gear fixed to the wheel in such was that it doesn't allow you to cost. As long as your rear wheel turning - so are your pedals. Turn your pedals forward and the bike moves forward, turn the pedals backwards and the bike rides backwards... much like those tricycles that 2 year old ride.

These bikes were made popular by New York bike couriers back in the 80s; they are a lot more efficient, faster and simple than normal bikes since you don't need to maintain the gears and gear selectors, in many cases people remove the brakes as well. Less parts, less problems.

Anyways, I started building a fixie. I got an old Norco frame from the late 80s (early 90s?), stripped most of the extra components, ordered new wheels, chain, seat... and while ordering all of that, I realized that I bought most parts off of eBay and Amazon, since I haven't found any better sites, dedicated to selling fixed gear items. A fairly untapped niche?

Fixed gear is a trend, however it is a growing trend. There is more and more demand for these bikes and parts. This year Hollywood came out with a new movie "Premium Rush" and that movie's about... yep, Fixed Gears! So I am expecting this trend to become ever more popular this spring when it gets warmer around the globe.

I've mentioned it time and time again; niches are everywhere - just open your eyes ;)

Here is my fixie: