No gears, no brakes, Formula Fixed out to fast-forward U.S. cycling

Straits Times

12-05-2025

No gears, no brakes, Formula Fixed out to fast-forward U.S. cycling
In the fluorescent glow of a re-purposed indoor go-kart track, cyclists hurtle around hairpin corners, their fixed-gear bikes offering a stark binary choice: perfect execution or intimate acquaintance with the barriers.
Welcome to the world of Formula Fixed, a new adrenaline-fuelled cycling format organisers believe can finally give the two-wheeled sport the street-cred it lacks in the United States.
"There are no real professional leagues that have cohesive storytelling and that's a shame, it's frustrating. So we're setting out to fix that," James Grady, co-founder of the venture with wife Clare, told Reuters.
"94 percent of people in the States know how to ride a bike, but the sport's ability to convert that familiarity into fandom is fundamentally broken."
Formula Fixed, which launched its inaugural Pro Series later this year, is cycling stripped back to the raw.
No gears, no brakes, just leg-pumping action that fuses messenger culture, video game aesthetics and athletic prowess.
Unlike traditional formats, whether road racing or track, fans and TV audiences of Formula Fixed won't need to be cycling aficionados to follow what's going on.
"We're not here to tweak the old model," James says. "We're here to tear it down and rebuild it from scratch with culture, inclusivity, and energy at the core."
The Gradys have been putting on events for more than a decade, including the Mission Crit in San Francisco -- a popular Criterium race around the city streets.
Formula Fixed has evolved that format for retro-fitted arenas where fans can watch 100% of the action without having to move from their seat.
"Mission Crit was getting more and more riders and more and more spectators, but it was hard to monetise because there's no front door," Clare says. "Fans at city crit races see maybe 10% of the action. I wouldn't want to pay for that."
James says in the crowded sports landscape, spectators demand a more immersive experience, pointing to the popularity of golf's arena-based TGL and basketball's Unrivaled.
Attempts to revolutionise cycling have been made before. The National Cycling League (NCL) with city-based franchise teams and celebrity-investments was launched a few years ago but soon ran into trouble and collapsed.
The Gradys feel they have found the perfect recipe though and judging by a sold-out showcase event last year in California that was backed by brands such as Red Bull and Rapha and generated 5.6 million digital impressions, they may be right.
"Whether you're in-venue, watching on-screen, or on your phone, you're going to feel the speed, the energy, and the emotion of every corner and crash," Clare says.
The series will predominantly attract those from America's fixed-gear bike messenger scene rather than WorldTour pros, but the door is wide open for international competitors.
"The key is it will really resonate with American audiences," James says.
Formula Fixed will launch with two two-day qualifying events in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and San Francisco in September with the best male and female riders competing in a 2026 Pro Series. REUTERS
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