For the second year, the infused fixed gear event Ride and Style, sponsored by Red Bull, displayed some of the world’s fastest and most artistic bike riders at the Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco on April 28.

More than 5,000 spectators flooded the greater part of the Embarcadero district to watch bikers compete in track and freestyle competitions, operating the fixed gear bicycles to their own creativity.

A fixed-gear bicycle has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast — the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving. This allows a cyclist to stop without using a brake and also to ride in reverse.

Riders from across the globe, including riders from California, Arizona, Florida, Washington, New York, France, England and Japan were on hand for the event.

Despite this, it was a Hayward native who brought home the first place award for the freestyle event.

Josh Boothby, 26, who finished in second place in last year’s Ride and Style — the first year it was introduced — was able to impress the judges more than any other rider to earn first place honors.

Boothby performed three different back-flips landing all three of them on the first try, quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

“I thought it was a really awesome event and I thought it was a really cool thing for Red Bull to invite the top riders around the world,” said Boothby. “From taking second place last year to winning this year was a huge improvement for me.”

Boothby has been riding fixed bikes for two and a half years and has been riding BMX bikes since the age of 11.

“Fixed gear bikes are so unique in that it’s all drive and determination within yourself to keep your body moving as fast as you can,” said Boothby.

For his showcase on his fixed gear bike, Boothby received a plaque and says he plans on participating in the event next year as well.

Boothby was followed by Tyler Johnson from, Seattle, Wash. finishing in second place and Joe McKeag from Long Beach finishing in third.

Ride and Style opened up with a track competition, before the freestyle event where two riders would face off, head-to-head with the rider with the best time advancing to the next round.
Riders raced around the “Red Bull Minidrome,” a shrunken version of a velodrome, a traditional arena for cycling.

The minidrome contained various ramps and courses designed and decorated by local San Francisco artist that adorned the ramps in graffiti art and mural backgrounds.

In this competition it was Jacksonville, Fla. native, Addison Zawada who took first place.

Red Bull, who teamed up with 2011 partners Oakley and SF Bike Coalition, plan on continuing the annual event which was first introduced last spring.

The event not only showcases the talents and creativity of fixed gear bike riders, but also takes the opportunity to feature artwork from the area’s top artist, contributing to a fast growing fixed gear, bike scene in the Bay Area.