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    Vlog: Fixies, Dutch bikes, UK cycling culture



    When I first came to the UK as a fixed gear rider, I was surprised at how hostile and divisive the cycling community here is. You wouldn’t think that Sigrid and I would inspire hate and threats, but you’d be wrong…

    I looked at a bunch of studies to compare data and get a general consensus, but the main two studies I’m referencing are these:

    Famiglietti, N., Nguyen, B., Fatzinger, E., and Landerville, J., “Bicycle Braking Performance Testing and Analysis,” SAE Int. J. Advances & Curr. Prac. in Mobility 2(6):3384-3397, 2020, doi:10.4271/2020-01-0876.

    Huertas-Leyva, P., Dozza, M., & Baldanzini, N. (2018). Investigating cycling kinematics and braking maneuvers in the real world: ebikes make cyclists move faster, brake harder, and experience new conflicts. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 54, 211-222

    I used to work on self driving cars; the former study was sent to me by one of the authors who now works at Cruise with a bunch of my former colleagues.

    View 35 Comments

    35 Comments

    1. The Growl on

      Considering a significant proportion of cycling twitter regularly has conniptions over people wearing helmets and using road bikes, this isn’t a surprise to me.

    2. Hope Moskal on

      I never use the front brake. I used to until I hit it too hard and front flipped my bike. If I didn't have a helmet on, I could have been severely injured. As my old physics professor once said "It's safer to be pulled to a stop than to be pushed."

    3. Jonathan Vince on

      I own a fixed gear and a road bike (and a mtb. Yer it's got out of hand). The road bike has disc brakes. Imo the clip less pedals on the road bike make it lethal for town cycling. Emergency stopping and uncliping is basically luck. Give me my fixie in that situation any day.

    4. Tim Smith on

      Always amazes me the level of outrage certain people in this world get over the dumbest of things ..go about your business and leave others alone unless they are harming someone..you do you and let travis do whats right for him.

    7. rbash on

      Anybody who achieves any level of visibility on social media inevitably becomes a magnet for the crazies. Imagine being so obsessed about the physics of bicycle brakes that you can't enjoy Travis and Sigrid making their rounds? What a miserable way to live! Thanks to you both for everything you do; a new video from you is always a bright spot in my day.😸🚴👍

    8. The V Countdown on

      LMAO Imagine having these idiots as coworkers. Well actually I have a lot of experience with Karens like the ones who wrote hate comments to you. They have a very sad existence and nobody listens to them in real life, thats why they have to spread hate online

    9. JoAnna Polk on

      Travis I am horrified that people have the audacity to hate on you & Sigrid❣️😒🥺😳 Just keep on spreading the joy because the haters are and always will be a minority and their trying to be important and relevant…I once heard a saying and it said “in order for you to offend me I first have to value your opinion!” We love you and Sigrid❣️😍😻🥰💞

    11. Ankur Thakur on

      If you got haters, it means you are going great 😎
      I hope you also know the fact that every good world has space for bad people too. We just need to learn how to tackle them. Fuck them, they've no other business to do 😂

      Love to Sigrid and the bengal cat ❤️

    12. Cyn's Exotic Pet Care on

      I don't ride bikes or know anything about bikes but people can get crazy obsessive about anything and everything and can't let it go. Like geesh! How are they in their every day lives? I don't even want to know. I actually thought it was gonna be people hating on Sig for being on a bike when I saw the thumbnail. Lol

    13. Jessica Locke on

      I bet those haters never did the hills of SF (or Seattle)… you're such a gentleman Travis! High class dude with his lovely Kitty, Queen Sigrid!

    16. Gem F on

      wow I'm so sorry your experiencing this from UK people, makes me sad. please keep doing what you love and Sig !

    17. Angee Stitcht78 on

      When I read the title I really expected it to be a video of just dogs and squirrels! How utterly ridiculous that you're receiving hate and BULLYING because of the type of bike you ride?! What the actual f? Who cares what kind of bike anyone rides? We love you both, please don't let the haters get to you at all.

    20. Cycling Steve on

      I've had a bit of this after mentioning I was switching from V-brakes to mechanical disc brakes. A bunch of 'Bike Snob' followers telling me…
      I'm 'dangerous.
      I shouldn't be riding old tech.
      I'm a danger to pedestrians because I'm not doing all I can to have the best brakes.

      I blocked them and moved on, I learned that Twitter is not the place to discuss bikes as there is always someone who spent more money and now feels they spent too much, they can only justify it to themselves by telling others they must do the same.

      Some of the guys you mentioned have been good to me on Twitter, it's quite shocking to see people's nasty side and I'm sorry this happened to you. It has changed my opinion of some of them.

    24. yumi419 on

      Hi! New here from America. Thank you for your videos. I've been watching some to help ease my mind with the shooting news reports lately. I do enjoy watching your bike rides, thank you and stay safe always out there.

    28. Christy Birling on

      I envy those critics, they must have a wonderful life. I mean, if they had any real problems they wouldn't have the time or energy to get all bent out of shape over something as trivial as how someone cycles!

    33. Glen on

      Ignore the bashers……you and sigrid are amazing always watching your videos here in the philippines god bless stay safe always 🌹💖💝

    34. Pam Marshall on

      I love your videos, but average person is not so interested in the bike, but in Sigi and your interactions as you travel along. Keep riding!

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