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Back in 2004, Recep Yesil and Holger Patzelt, two buddies working the Karlsruhe bike courier circuit, decided it was time to stop dreaming and start doing.
Knowing there were whole swathes of like-minded riders out there hungry for bikes and kit not offered by the mainstream, they bit the bullet and decided to set about building the bikes they wanted to ride; the kind of bikes suited to their lifestyle ... the kind of bikes that didn't fit in with what the big box companies had decided they should ride.
After a year of careful planning, inspired designing and painstaking testing, they had a range of practical products, an eye-catching style and a manifesto defining the direction their dream brand would take.
By 2005, when the time had come to reveal all, the route they chose to launch the brand was every bit as unconventional as their designs
Recep takes up the story...
“..we went into the show with two bikes, locked them together, threw cards on the ground and ran away. They (the organisers) threw us out, and we did it again the next day. That was how we got in contact with our first customers and dealers. It was big fun!”
And so, the Fixie Inc. line of decidedly different bikes finally became a reality. Not quite the usual approach to launching a new product, but one that nonetheless struck a chord with some of the more enlightened riders and dealers!
What followed is a truly heart-warming tale of triumph over adversity.
The guys would finish up their day on the messenger circuit and head straight to their small basement workshop, spending the evening building each bike from scratch, or in between bike builds, machining the prototypes of their component designs. As soon as the bikes were delivered, more orders followed and the part-time endeavour turned into a full-time pursuit.
 Demand was soon outstripping supply, but the guys resisted the temptation to lower standards and stuck to keeping quality a priority.
The following year (perhaps sensing they weren't going to keep them out), the Eurobike organisers somehow managed to find a spot within the limited floorspace, thus allowing Fixie to make their 'official' début at Eurobike
The 2006 bikes were well received by all, with some of more clued-up dealers recognising in the Fixie brand an independent, rebellious streak perfectly capturing the mood of the time.
Before long, they were signing up their first overseas dealers, developing more products and building a solid reputation as trend-setters.
Word of mouth among retailers led to more stockists and a greater freedom for the guys to develop their ideas from concepts into working examples.
By 2008, they were well and truly on a roll, with two Fixie Inc. models picking up awards from the Eurobike judges.
The Chip Race 953, a cutting-edge steel tubed race frame capable of rivalling anything out there, and the Five Star, a study in minimalist bike design featuring Gates-Drive transmission and fillet-brazed Columbus XCr frame, fully deserved the plaudits.
The Five Star, with an outstanding design concept mated to stunning looks, trumped the 'no-holds-barred, money-no-object' major-label designs presented to the Eurobike judges. Viewed at close-range, the decision to name the Five Star as Frameforum's 'Bike of the Year 2008' was an easy one to make – the bike was a hands-down winner.
For 2010, Fixie Inc. have taken the key concepts behind the original Five Star, refined them and incorporated them in an all-new Peacemaker.
Gone is the seatstay-mounted S&S coupling allowing access to the Gates belt. Replacing it is an even simpler - yet just as elegant - solution; Fixie's coupling is a model of simplicity; totally integrated with the seat stay and difficult to spot thanks to its ultra-clean lines. The frame loses its brushed stainless finish in favour of a snowy-white paint job, but retains all of the fine detailing and individuality of the Five Star. The build quality of the frame is superb; flawless TIG beads replacing the fillets found on its big brother. The dimensions point to a bike that will be at home on both track and pavement, while clearances suggest there's enough room to slide in a pair of clip-on wellies (fenders) when skies turn grey.
Its a bike bike for having fun on, a bike for going fast on, a bike stripped of clutter. It's a bike every bit as stunning as the model that inspired it, but in an easier-on-the-pocket format, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Make no mistake, the 2010 Peacemaker will be a sure-fire hit with show-goers and dealers alike.
It goes without saying that come the show, we'll be covering the rest of the Fixie range in greater detail, but for now, here's a few more shots for you to drool over!
WEBSITE : Cycles For Heroes
2010 Peacemaker :
Click Images for a larger view
 2010 Peacemaker Belt-Drive access point
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