June 12th, 2010
A few months back, I traipsed around New York interviewing whomever I could about fixed gear bikes and the people riding them. I returned to Brisbane and got caught up in “le vie quotidiene” and let them collect the proverbial dust on my hard drive. Recently I’ve moved to the new studio and with it a renewal of inspiration, so I’ve decided to dust off the interviews and post them as I had intended.
After each dialogue, I got into the habit of asking the interviewee who they thought I should track down and feature on my blog. One name consistently came up always with the utmost respect but also tinge of caution a bit like how I imagine a voodoo witch doctors name to be uttered in Haiti; Dave Perry. I was told the author of Bike Cult: the ultimate guide on human powered vehicles, could be a bit particular and eccentric but all the same was the foremost authority on anything and everything cycling. I walked up to Bike Works on 106 Ridge Street, and it appeared like any regular neighborhood bike shop but upon entering you realize you’ve crossed the threshold to a bike sanctuary. It’s like a the laboratory of a mad scientist that deals with all things bicycle, there are bike, parts and cycling paraphernalia covering every square inch of the floor, walls, and ceiling. I found Dave behind the counter deeply absorbed in daily happenings of Bike Works. My first impression of him, wasn’t to dissimilar to what I imagine meeting Dr. Emmet “Doc” Brown for the first time would be like. He clearly worked to his own internal tempo and when it came to bikes that tempo was faster and sharper than anyone I’ve ever met. When asked whether I could interview him he agreed, and kept right on his manic pace.
What’s your name?
Dave Perry
Where are you from originally?
Born in California
How long have you been open?
……Sorry what?
How long have you been open?
Open?…uh…well we started in …uh…. technically in ’97
What do you think your biggest influence into making cycling your life was?
My biggest influence…uh… having always done it and um… and you know having a, kinda of a social conscience about um.. how its a good thing for people.. and um.. always being enthusiastic about it.
Why do you think the whole fixed/single speed craze has exploded so much recently?
Well..um… the fixed gear is a pure, its a really wonderful type of bicycle and I guess its just like …um…compared to maybe… what …um kids always had you know…, people first they had bmx bikes, they had mountain bikes before that they had either road bikes or cruiser bikes and uh…fixed gears are just another style and uh… maybe its a reaction to the other, the mountain bike or the bmx, cause its different, its almost the opposite. So yeah, I mean I don’t… I’m not sure why its so popular except that its like having a hot rod and its also a purist thing and its just thrilling its more thrilling theres more to it. And I guess yeah, its like being a part of a cult or culture.
Do think that there’s anyone person or crew that’s really influencing the whole scene/culture or is it more of a natural progression of everybody working together to creating what its becoming?
I don’t think um… I wouldn’t I wouldn’t… I think its splitting apart more than anything, its already different theres people that ride fixed gear traditionally with a road bike type of orientation and now you have straight bar, polo bike you have fixed gear for stunts they’re different they look different the guys you know…. theres fixed gear mountain bikes, some people hook up fixed gear on their folding bike. So I would say that theres… its a wide variety, and nobody is really working together it really they’re all different um….
What do you love about the fixed gear scene and its explosion lately?
Um…. I dunno… just um just seeing the like young, the real young…like 14 year olds learning about it and maybe they’ll have a different…it seems already that we’ve noticed that they have a different way of approaching it than lets the 18 -20 year old, but um… the 18-25 year old, you know. Like this guy is 23 right? and look at the bike he rides, he doesn’t have straight bars…i dunno why. He’s more into the track… like not the WHHHOOoooooaaaa
Like just straight riding rather than tricking and all that?
Yeah yeah, you know, cause there are people that hold informal races and stuff and as well as there are real races and um… you know a lot of people… not everybody s into that there are people who are doing it. Like the track here in Cassena, the one out in Queens, you know there are definitely more people coming out every year.. uh.. at the same time theres more.. you know polo grew like that, in a matter of 5 years polo was taken [up] in every city of the country.
Is there anything you hate about it and the direction its heading it?
Um…The consumption, the consumer aspect, theres going to be over production of this stuff and; just you know it sucks that everything needs to be shipped all over the world, although thats what we do here.
So the commercialization aspect?
Yeah, thers alot of the cheaper stuff, ow like you see $199 fixie bike, which you know its just its natural that people would, you know everybody wants the lowest price but um you need to think about quality too. Throw away stuff is never good, in our opinion, just the fact that we repair them its the ones that are cheap or cheaply built we need to repair them.
What do you think the future holds for fixed gear bikes?
The future?….
What is it going to hold and evolve into?
Genetically Engineering.
Half Man half Bike?
Yeah, I mean I don’t know.
Helmet or Helmetless: No Helmet, Helmet not necessary
Brake or Brakeless: As you like.
Fixed or Single Speed: Either or.
Thank you.
I’d like to thank Dave Perry for his time and sharing his views on a topic he’s clearly dedicated his life to, if you get a chance it would be well worth checking out the resources he’s made available about cycling whether through his
site,
book, or his
shop.
December 14th, 2009
So, my trip to New York came to an end and I’m not too proud to admit that I boarded the flight teary eyed and with a heavy heart. I had a wonderful time, I got to see a lot of people I hadn’t connected with in a long time and got to rediscover NYC. Although, I’m quite remorseful that I wasn’t able to spend time with certain people I hold very close to my heart. I hope they don’t take it as my not caring but rather poor prioritizing, and to those people, you know who you are, I’m sorry. Besides that, the trip went better than could be expected; I spent quality time with the family, built my bike, interviewed some of my favourite bike shops (coming soon!), made new friends and reignited my love affair with my city. I tried to fit in as much as I could and it wasn’t even close to as much as I wanted. I guess I wasn’t quick enough like a lazy pigeon crossing a New York Street. So as I sit here homesick, all I can say is I’ll be back and when I do it’ll be to settle in. Good bye New York.
November 26th, 2009
Three days ago, after 27 hours and 10 time zones, I landed at JFK with two goals for my stay. Firstly to reconnect with family and friends which has so far has fantastic and secondly to rediscover NYC. While pioneering through the city I’ve discovered all walks of life but one individual has stood out among the rest. As I strolled up Broadway just south of Union Square on a brisk Sunday evening I ran into a true New York Legend. This month marks the 50 anniversary for Mr. Luis Mendes and his Roloflex.
He started off photographing patrons in a nightclub with the camera and running into the makeshift dark room to quickly develop the photos for the price of 2 dollars a shot. On his first night he was able to earn back the cost of the camera $150 at the time 3 weeks wages. This day set forth a career in street photography here in New York but also through out the continental U.S.A. wherever Roloflex took him.
As I stood in the biting cold, warmed by Luis’ invigorating tales of photography through out the last 5 decades. I learned of his annual moves down to New Orleans for a particular college football game, and world renowned jazz festival and shooting every December night at Rockerfeller earning $1500 at $20 a shot. I couldn’t resist having Luis fix me in his Roloflex’s sites as a token of our encounter and in turn asked if I could reciprocate to which he happily agreed, even giving me a couple pointers along the way. My chance encounter was the perfect New York home coming.
