+fixie -hipster
August 18, 2009 12:10 PM Subscribe
Two girls, one bike. SLYT, SFW. One bike starts at 2'25".
Not to be a wet blanket, but I found the single-bike portion incredibly repetitive and uninteresting to watch, even though I can recognize that it may be harder.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:16 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:16 PM on August 18, 2009
I've said it before and I'll say it again: (kunst)Rad!
What's with the person changing the music in the middle? Let is play, yo! That Rod Stewart (or whatever) jam was perfect!
posted by nosila at 12:17 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
What's with the person changing the music in the middle? Let is play, yo! That Rod Stewart (or whatever) jam was perfect!
posted by nosila at 12:17 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Damned hipsters. Get some gears.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:18 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:18 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
Whoever taught those girls how to ride a bike had a very perverse sense of humor.
this is very awesome, thanks.
posted by Divine_Wino at 12:19 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
this is very awesome, thanks.
posted by Divine_Wino at 12:19 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Who knew that people even did this kind of thing? Astonishing.
posted by iivix at 12:20 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by iivix at 12:20 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
I wonder how many times you come close to death before being able to do that even halfway well.
posted by vbfg at 12:24 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by vbfg at 12:24 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
See? We warned you. But you didn't listen. Fixies are the bicycles of the devil.
posted by loquacious at 12:26 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by loquacious at 12:26 PM on August 18, 2009
But the real question is, could these tricks be done on a bike that was on a treadmill?
posted by explosion at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by explosion at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I wonder how many times you come close to death before being able to do that even halfway well.
I would imagine by the time you get to that point, you've don tons and tons of tricks and already have a ton of control.
posted by delmoi at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009
I would imagine by the time you get to that point, you've don tons and tons of tricks and already have a ton of control.
posted by delmoi at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009
I would have goggled at any one of these stunts. Seeing so many in a row leaves me just speechless.
Who knew that people even did this kind of thing? Astonishing.
It's strikingly similar to circus trick riding - a lot of the same sorts of balancing stunts. But this is somehow more impressive to watch. I have a hard time deciding which would be more challenging- working with a 3rd living being in the form of a horse, or working with a mechanical support that you have to propel and balance as well.
Doesn't matter. This was neat to see. What control - and you can tell how practised they are, so comfortable and unfussed.
posted by Miko at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009
Who knew that people even did this kind of thing? Astonishing.
It's strikingly similar to circus trick riding - a lot of the same sorts of balancing stunts. But this is somehow more impressive to watch. I have a hard time deciding which would be more challenging- working with a 3rd living being in the form of a horse, or working with a mechanical support that you have to propel and balance as well.
Doesn't matter. This was neat to see. What control - and you can tell how practised they are, so comfortable and unfussed.
posted by Miko at 12:31 PM on August 18, 2009
Impressive. I'm lucky to not fall down riding all normal and stuff.
posted by rokusan at 12:33 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by rokusan at 12:33 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
They should smile once in a while!
posted by DenOfSizer at 12:38 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by DenOfSizer at 12:38 PM on August 18, 2009
They are German!
posted by Mister_A at 12:39 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 12:39 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
So, with all due respect, Peking acrobats have been doing this exact thing for decades, except with ten girls instead of two.
posted by Keith Talent at 12:41 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by Keith Talent at 12:41 PM on August 18, 2009
Thanks, Metafilter! I just became a eurotrash lesbian hipster.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:42 PM on August 18, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:42 PM on August 18, 2009 [8 favorites]
As somebody who once rode a BMX bike hands-free into a parked car, I have to say that's impressive.
Mom thinks they should be wearing helmets.
posted by futureisunwritten at 12:42 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Mom thinks they should be wearing helmets.
posted by futureisunwritten at 12:42 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
That was the most amazingly weird, yet wonderful thing I've see in a while, thank you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009
And they were concentrating on trying to not fall and kill themselves!
That was amazing! Must've taken an unbelievable number of hours of practice to pull it off so perfectly. Do they have a "bike olympics" or something in Germany?
posted by garnetgirl at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009
That was amazing! Must've taken an unbelievable number of hours of practice to pull it off so perfectly. Do they have a "bike olympics" or something in Germany?
posted by garnetgirl at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009
I like how the trick evolves in awesomeness:
A woman is standing on my shoulders...
...as I ride a bike...
...and do a wheelie...
...while sitting on the handlebars....
...going backwards...
...spinning!
I have the first two words of that trick down pat, and the second two I can manage with effort. Everything else I'm saving for my next reincarnation. True.
posted by Sova at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
A woman is standing on my shoulders...
...as I ride a bike...
...and do a wheelie...
...while sitting on the handlebars....
...going backwards...
...spinning!
I have the first two words of that trick down pat, and the second two I can manage with effort. Everything else I'm saving for my next reincarnation. True.
posted by Sova at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
So, with all due respect, Peking acrobats have been doing this exact thing for decades, except with ten girls instead of two.
Clearly, I can no longer enjoy this video. I'm going to go throw away my youtubes and take up knitting instead.
posted by cortex at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
Clearly, I can no longer enjoy this video. I'm going to go throw away my youtubes and take up knitting instead.
posted by cortex at 12:44 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
Humans are weird.
posted by greta simone at 12:50 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by greta simone at 12:50 PM on August 18, 2009
Peking acrobats have been doing this exact thing for decades, except with ten girls instead of two.
And yet peculiarly, I'm finding it far less impressive to watch.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:50 PM on August 18, 2009
And yet peculiarly, I'm finding it far less impressive to watch.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:50 PM on August 18, 2009
I was really not going to watch this video because of the Two Girls One [insert random object here] mental images that title conjures. But thankfully, cortex posted it to twitter and I clicked the link before knowing what to expect.
Awesome!
Also, showing a coworker this, halfway through I shouted "HA! Two girls one bike!" (recalling the FPP and putting two and two together) and now he thinks I'm nasty.
posted by greekphilosophy at 12:51 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
Awesome!
Also, showing a coworker this, halfway through I shouted "HA! Two girls one bike!" (recalling the FPP and putting two and two together) and now he thinks I'm nasty.
posted by greekphilosophy at 12:51 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
I love how demurely the audience claps throughout the performance as though some kid were playing a competent rendition of Fur Elise on the xylophone.
posted by justkevin at 12:52 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by justkevin at 12:52 PM on August 18, 2009 [6 favorites]
I've had similar cycling experiences. Usually after a pedal snaps off and all the moves are done a lot quicker.
posted by srboisvert at 12:55 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 12:55 PM on August 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
Peking acrobats have been doing this exact thing for decades, except with ten girls instead of two.
And yet peculiarly, I'm finding it far less impressive to watch .
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:50 PM
Your Youtube video cuts out before they jump over the fountain out front of Caesars Palace.
posted by Keith Talent at 12:59 PM on August 18, 2009
Undeniably impressive, but somehow I found it to be a little bit....sterile.
This, on the other hand, still blows my mind...
posted by the painkiller at 1:09 PM on August 18, 2009
This, on the other hand, still blows my mind...
posted by the painkiller at 1:09 PM on August 18, 2009
Where do you get a bike like that? Portland?
posted by stargell at 1:10 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by stargell at 1:10 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
...as though some kid were playing a competent rendition of Fur Elise on the xylophone.
That'll be a YouTube followup shortly.
On a bike. Backwards.
posted by rokusan at 1:10 PM on August 18, 2009
That'll be a YouTube followup shortly.
On a bike. Backwards.
posted by rokusan at 1:10 PM on August 18, 2009
Impossible. Nobody can play Fur Elise backwards.
posted by cortex at 1:13 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex at 1:13 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Where do you get a bike like that? Portland?
Yes, you build it yourself up in the PDX there, from chewing gum wrappers and newspaper clippings about Brooklyn.
posted by Mister_A at 1:14 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
Yes, you build it yourself up in the PDX there, from chewing gum wrappers and newspaper clippings about Brooklyn.
posted by Mister_A at 1:14 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
The you-tube comments cut to the chase:
They can ride bikes good
posted by Killick at 1:15 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
They can ride bikes good
posted by Killick at 1:15 PM on August 18, 2009 [4 favorites]
Man, I have to concentrate just to bump up a kerb without faceplanting the pavement. That was astonishing.
posted by Dali Atomicus at 1:17 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by Dali Atomicus at 1:17 PM on August 18, 2009
Imagine what the offspring of Danny Macaskill and the chick on the bottom would be capable of.
posted by unSane at 1:17 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by unSane at 1:17 PM on August 18, 2009
... and what are the goals for at the end? Bike soccer?
posted by mrgrimm at 1:25 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by mrgrimm at 1:25 PM on August 18, 2009
At the end of the video, two men were setting up a goal. What was that for? Fixie soccer?
posted by boo_radley at 1:27 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by boo_radley at 1:27 PM on August 18, 2009
Being able to do this stuff should be a requirement for riding fixies.
posted by orville sash at 1:28 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by orville sash at 1:28 PM on August 18, 2009
... and what are the goals for at the end? Bike soccer?
Close enough.
posted by unSane at 1:29 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Close enough.
posted by unSane at 1:29 PM on August 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
The sense of their athletic friendship came through, which I liked. There was a sort of heavy concentration thing going on.
Okay, this is the amazing, light little ice skater style, fairy of bicycle artists. One girl, one wheel.
posted by nickyskye at 1:30 PM on August 18, 2009
Okay, this is the amazing, light little ice skater style, fairy of bicycle artists. One girl, one wheel.
posted by nickyskye at 1:30 PM on August 18, 2009
Amazing. How do you even practice something like this?
Also, they're sisters-- wonder if their parents went grey at an early age.
posted by Heretic at 1:41 PM on August 18, 2009
Also, they're sisters-- wonder if their parents went grey at an early age.
posted by Heretic at 1:41 PM on August 18, 2009
How do you even practice something like this?
It's not like you can practice on a gym-mat, and wearing a helmet would seem to make some of those shoulder standing moves harder.
It looks like even pairs of boys get in on the act =p
posted by nomisxid at 1:57 PM on August 18, 2009
It's not like you can practice on a gym-mat, and wearing a helmet would seem to make some of those shoulder standing moves harder.
It looks like even pairs of boys get in on the act =p
posted by nomisxid at 1:57 PM on August 18, 2009
I guess there aren't really that many tricks you can do on a bike.
posted by parmanparman at 2:06 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by parmanparman at 2:06 PM on August 18, 2009
This morning while strolling to our bus stop I was explaining the difference between my single-speed coaster brake bike and a fixed gear bike to my boyfriend. If you understand just as little about bike mechanics as we do, the difference boils down to fact that you can't coast on a fixie, but you can ride backwards.
We decided, despite our hatred for gears, we're not really all about fixies because "when are you going to ride backwards?"
Now these girls have ruined that argument.
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:08 PM on August 18, 2009
We decided, despite our hatred for gears, we're not really all about fixies because "when are you going to ride backwards?"
Now these girls have ruined that argument.
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:08 PM on August 18, 2009
despite our hatred for gears
Do you have no hills where you live?
posted by knapah at 2:16 PM on August 18, 2009
Do you have no hills where you live?
posted by knapah at 2:16 PM on August 18, 2009
Do you have no hills where you live?
Exactly. Columbus and Chicago. Midwest Plains 4 Lyfe, yo.
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:17 PM on August 18, 2009
Exactly. Columbus and Chicago. Midwest Plains 4 Lyfe, yo.
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:17 PM on August 18, 2009
I'm not a big fan of gears and there are plenty of hills where I live. Singlespeeders are generally faster up hills and slower down them. The ones that are steep enough to walk are generally ridden at walking pace on gears anyway. Talking MTB here.
posted by unSane at 2:34 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by unSane at 2:34 PM on August 18, 2009
Exactly. Columbus and Chicago. Midwest Plains 4 Lyfe, yo.
I'm currently pining for mountains and oceans as I'm about as far away from the sea as I can get in the UK... which isn't that far.
posted by knapah at 2:35 PM on August 18, 2009
I'm currently pining for mountains and oceans as I'm about as far away from the sea as I can get in the UK... which isn't that far.
posted by knapah at 2:35 PM on August 18, 2009
I am acquainted with people who, though they have geared bikes, may as well have single-speeds, because they find the whole "shifting" thing too much of a bother or too intimidating.
posted by everichon at 2:46 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by everichon at 2:46 PM on August 18, 2009
They did this for a few people in a high school gym.
posted by sagwalla at 2:48 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by sagwalla at 2:48 PM on August 18, 2009
So sad that the first thing *we all* thought was "damned hipsters."
posted by bpm140 at 3:35 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by bpm140 at 3:35 PM on August 18, 2009
They have inspired me: I'm getting a piece of gum and try walking without tripping.
posted by Mojojojo at 4:11 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by Mojojojo at 4:11 PM on August 18, 2009
So sad that the first thing *we all* thought was "damned hipsters."
I have no hipster-obsession... the first thing I thought was "awesome".
The second thing I thought was "god damn the twogirlsone meme".
posted by Pantengliopoli at 4:13 PM on August 18, 2009
I have no hipster-obsession... the first thing I thought was "awesome".
The second thing I thought was "god damn the twogirlsone meme".
posted by Pantengliopoli at 4:13 PM on August 18, 2009
I was really not going to watch this video because of the Two Girls One [insert random object here] mental images that title conjures. But thankfully, cortex posted it to twitter and I clicked the link before knowing what to expect.
Me too. Exactly.
Thanks Cortex.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:48 PM on August 18, 2009
Me too. Exactly.
Thanks Cortex.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:48 PM on August 18, 2009
I am developing a cable operated clutch for bikes, to turn your single speed into a fixie on the fly.
This will allow bikers everywhere to coast and parallel park the same bike.
posted by dirty lies at 5:45 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
This will allow bikers everywhere to coast and parallel park the same bike.
posted by dirty lies at 5:45 PM on August 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
TRIUMPHANT!
posted by From Bklyn at 7:15 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by From Bklyn at 7:15 PM on August 18, 2009
Is that Bryan Adams?!
Are you blind?
Bryan Adams is male.
Bryan Adams is old.
Bryan Adams is Canadian.
Neither of these riders looks male, old, or Canadian.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:23 PM on August 18, 2009
Are you blind?
Bryan Adams is male.
Bryan Adams is old.
Bryan Adams is Canadian.
Neither of these riders looks male, old, or Canadian.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:23 PM on August 18, 2009
In English, this activity is called "artistic cycling". It's been around in one form or another for a surprisingly long time; it looks as if people started doing tricks on bikes pretty much as soon as the modern "safety bicycle" was invented.
And yeah, the goals at the ends of the field are for "cycle ball". Which ain't no wheelchair rugby, but is still pretty neat.
posted by dansdata at 8:38 PM on August 18, 2009
And yeah, the goals at the ends of the field are for "cycle ball". Which ain't no wheelchair rugby, but is still pretty neat.
posted by dansdata at 8:38 PM on August 18, 2009
that was awesome. these girls should be more famous.
posted by milestogo at 10:05 PM on August 18, 2009
posted by milestogo at 10:05 PM on August 18, 2009
Für Elise Backwards
Touche. And based on my initial rebuttal-search instinct, this is a surprisingly rich vein of youtubery.
posted by cortex at 10:58 PM on August 18, 2009
Touche. And based on my initial rebuttal-search instinct, this is a surprisingly rich vein of youtubery.
posted by cortex at 10:58 PM on August 18, 2009
So, who exactly takes spectacularly crazy shit that i would never think of, never mind actually attempt, and thinks, "that's not good enough. Let's try synchronized spectacularly crazy shit that i would never think of, never mind actually attempt".
posted by jadayne at 5:25 AM on August 19, 2009
posted by jadayne at 5:25 AM on August 19, 2009
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