becausefixie is adapted from the internet meme ‘because racecar’. This statement is often used as an answer or justification for queries from others who don’t understand the motivations of the modified car enthusiast with their impractical beast. The ‘because racecar’ meme has become the basis for a Facebook group of over 15,000 members and the topic of countless ‘motivational images’. In the early days, when there was about 3 or 4 of us just getting into fixed gear bikes, we spent a while trying to think of a name for the group that would eventually turn into our riding crew. Nick, Brad and Matt all have a common interest in impractical cars and have all owned at least one car which doesn’t conform to the social norms of motoring. We eventually decided that the ‘because racecar’ meme worked perfectly as a reply to questions from puzzled onlookers, something that modified car culture shares with fixed gear culture. So now when someone asks you why you only have one gear, or no brakes, or a bright coloured frame, you can simply answer, “becausefixie”. We ride bikes, Sunday 19:15 meet, 19:30 depart, Cnr Hope st & Montague Road, West End. Legs, lights, love.