On Straw Hats and Wheel Slams

Wrestler Hilbilly Jim wears a straw hat.

I am a little bit late posting this, and meant to do it quite a while ago; with that being said here we go. I have noticed two very interesting emerging trends with the hipsters of North America and Victoria. First: STRAW HATS

What are these "straw hats" you may ask? Well, wikipedia defines it as:

“A straw hat can refer to any brimmed hat that is woven out of straw. This hat is designed to protect the head from the sun, as well as protect against heatstroke."

So it is worn on your head, as a hat; like this guy (notice his guitar/stache/general hipster traits). WELL, people of the internets, it seems that lately there have been people who feel that using this hat as a device to ward off the sun, instead have felt that their rear wheel is in dire need. I have witnessed multiple bicycle riders gallivanting around on there pre 80's era cruisers with a straw hat not on there head, but stuck in their rat traps, covering their rear wheels and tires. Maybe they are trying to save their expensive rear tires from the problem "plaguing" riders: rubber dry out or maybe they are using them as a fashionable fender Either way I don't understand. I did happen to catch this elusive "beast" one day and documented this event with my special Camera-Phone.

Here is the ensuing photograph (may be enhanced for dramatic effect).

As you can clearly see the straw hat on rear
Also note that this hipster is wearing a helmet from the 80's which Shayne may crush if he ever sees it (ask Shayne for why this would happen). He seems to be also stuck in 2004 "The Twee" stage of hipsterdom, he has yet to get into the Mountain Man stage where his straw hat could be of use. He may be behind the times. *sigh*



for a break down and larger pictures see here


Moving on, to better or bigger "slammage" as they might say.


I know of the epic-ness of slammage on cars, or the souped up wheel slams.


for example:


Normal



SLAMMED!!!!!



It changes the visual appearance quite a bit. Look how close that wheel is to the lip of the body, quite impressive I think. Now you might ask how this applies to the bicycle community, well, there is another new trend that is coming out and about among the fixed gear community and it is basically the same deal:
Get your wheels as close to the frame as possible without touching (and ruining your expensive colourway).
You might ask if this makes a difference to the handling of the bike. It doesn’t really - as you’re only making the wheelbase a few mm, maybe a centimeter, closer. Here’s a picture:



See how close the rear wheel is to the seat tube? Thats not even the slamingnest of them. Look at these Prime examples


To compliment this developing visual trend, bike manufacture Volume (makers of populer "cutter" frame) has come out with the "thrasher" fixed gear freestyle frame. What makes this frame ever so special are the geometries for "trick tracking" and riding. It also includes a cut out in the seat tube so you can get astronomical amounts of wheel slammage.

Maybe wheel slams will be the new mine is bigger than yours? I really hope that kids out there wanting slammage don't start filing out their drop outs or worse yet their seat tubes to feel bigger.


Actual filing of drop out for slammage, and then it rusted