9
Nov
2011
Fixed Gear is popular in all corners of the world, and tomorrow our friends in LATVIA will be premiering To Live & Ride in L.A. in the capital of Riga. We had to Google map this one, located on the Baltic Sea between Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia is a former Soviet republic that re-gained its independence in 1991. Now they are the coolest Eastern Bloc country, evident in their choice of fixed gear movies! What goes on in Latvia??? – Read more after the jump…
We had a chance to talk to Andris from the fixed gear group MiiT. Here’s what he had to say about Latvian Fixed Gear…
What’s the fixed gear scene like in Latvia?
Miit: Fixed gear riders in Latvia especially in Riga significantly increased in the last two years. Before that there was a small group of less than 10 riders, today but it could be even 20 or 30 times more.
Of course most people ride in early spring and summer because of the warm days but there are a small groups of riders who ride even in winter when Riga is coated with a lot of snow – this is real fun to ride in winter.
Are there any popular Latvian Riders?
Now Latvian fixers can be proud of Toms Alsbergs who set a new world record and took a #1 place in RedBull minidrome in Glasgow. He also won in Manchester as well. Maybe you know Maris Strombergs – the first Olympic gold medalist in BMX, he comes form Latvia.
What is it like to ride in Riga?
Riga is flat and full of cars. Lots of car drivers usually ignore cyclists and you always have to watch out for them but every ride gives you some good dose of adrenaline.
If a rider from USA visited Riga, where would you take him?
The first Monday of each month there is group race called Sanitary Monday (Sanitārā pirmdiena – in Latvian). Roller Racing and Bike Polo are also popular in Riga. Of course every fixed gear rider likes parties and we have a few good places in Riga to go including our own MiiT.
Do you want to shout out any shops, groups or riding crews?
There was couple of riders who in end of 2009 created the first Latvian fixed gear web page called FGR – Fixed Gear Riga www.fgr.lv (in Latvian only) currently there are more than 700 users. This is the main site about events and to buy and sell parts.
MiiT www.miit.lv (in Latvian only) is first bike cafe, shop, workshop created in Riga in summer of 2010. We are 3 owners, me, my brother and cousin. Me and my brother have raced in bmx for more than 15 years. We mostly work with fixies and single speed bikes now.
Thanks TRAFIK, you should come visit us someday. To Live & Ride in Riga!!
