The Bike Rack w/ Damien V.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo recently reaffirmed her desire to see less cars in Paris, hoping Parisians will instead opt for metros, trams, buses and of course, Velibs. But at 23 kilograms, the Parisian public bike isn’t necessarily always what you’re looking for when cruising around the city of lights.
We’ve caught up with bike mechanic Damien V. in his home-made basement workshop at his house in southern Paris. The 28-year old local has been working in a cycle store around the Republique area for almost two years now and was kind enough to answer our questions.
Damien, where did you get your love of bikes?
My dad is a huge fan. When I was a kid we would watch the tour de France together and he’s never gone a week without doing at least 100km. I only recently got serious about it. My last job working in TV production brought me very little in terms of personal development so I decided to follow a training course over a number of months in order to gain a diploma as a bike mechanic. I was already putting bikes together in my basement before considering it as a professional possibility, but I’m now fully qualified. I love what I do. Some of the bikes that come through the workshop are worth more than brand new cars.
How far has your passion taken you?
I’ve cycled to London (http://vimeo.com/51443882) , southern France, Italy. Recently I went to the mecca of all cyclists: l’Aple du Huez. It was gruesome, but I recommend it to any cyclist that wants to test himself. It also gets your unlimited bragging rights.
How many bikes have you personally made so far?
At work my job is mainly fixing all types of bikes and advising clients on what to get depending on their budgets, needs and habits. At home, I make bikes from scratch for my friends, as well repair their bikes when needed. So far I’ve made close to a dozen bikes from scratch.
What is it about fixies that you love so much?
There is a reason why fixies are extremely popular right now. The fixed-gear offers total control in terms of speed and is a great fit to an urban environment. It brings us back to the old track-racing days, and there is that vintage aspect to it.
Most importantly, the fixie’s simplicity is what people seem to enjoy the most. It easy to take apart and put back together, along with great options in terms of personal customization
Should any of our readers want to invest in their own fixie, what kind of budget should they be looking at?
That’s depends. I use to dig around scrapyards and find old frames. I would take me a couple weeks to sand it down, paint it, find the missing parts and put it all back together. For a total of 50 euros I would be able to make pretty sweet rides. That’s obviously not counting the cost of the tools you may need.
In a store, you’re looking at 300 euros to start. Count minimum 400 euros if you’re serious about your bike. Otherwise you’re gonna be riding around on a teenager’s bike.
What do you mean by “a teenager’s fixie”?
You can always tell if a guy is a newbie on a bike by his stance, his attire and of course, his bike. With the growing popularity of the fixie/race bike in Paris, Ive seen almost everything and I can start calling people out on their biking habits and what they’re sitting on.
What spots do you recommend for those who want to ride in Paris?
I actually avoid most bike lanes (!) as the city cleaning vehicles often sweep all the dirt and broken glass in there. Also some streets in Paris are still made of old pavement. So unless you enjoy changing tires, stick to the main avenues. If you really want to push yourself, there are two spots: The Bois de Vincennes in the southeast, and around the Hippodrome de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne western Paris. On weekends you’ll see some groups riding circles at pretty nice speeds.
Check back here every month for Damien’s tips on how to take care of your own fixie. If you have any questions for him, feel free to send them in and he’ll be happy to answer them in his our next Bike Rack entry, along with youtube tutorials.
Meanwhile, follow Damien’s facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/fatmcyclingteam