Bike Messenger Riding Fast and Fluid Through NYC Traffic

Meet Cooper Ray the cyclist in this video and Terry Barentsen the camera man riding behind him.
Now you might think this was filmed as a once off, for some kind of stunt, movie or commercial, but in actual fact Terry is a freelance cinematographer based in New York, and often films Cooper, himself or various other people, riding around new York City for his KZbin channel.
What makes Cooper’s riding style even more amazing, is he does not have any gears or brakes on his bike.
When it comes to braking, I’ve seen Cooper jump off the bike and slow down on foot, also I have seen him use his foot on the back wheel like a brake, but otherwise he just keeps riding.
Also the bike Cooper is riding is a track bike made for racing at a velodrome, it is a fixed gear bike with no brakes and no freewheel. Which means the rear wheel drives the pedals, so as long as the bike is moving the pedals are turning.
To all those who think this form of riding is reckless and dangerous, I agree, but that does not change the fact people all over the world ride like this every day, Terry just wanted to say “everyone crashes from time to time, even with brakes, we believe staying focused and aware of your surroundings is the best way to stay safe and having no brakes forces you to be in the present. These videos aren't made to encourage bad cycling, so please ride at your own risk and skill level.
Thanks for watching.
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CREDIT LINKS - Footage Permission granted by
► Terry Barentsen KZbin Channel - / @terryb
► Cooper Ray Original Riding Video - • FIXED GEAR NYC 🇺🇸 aka:...
► Terry Barentsen Instagram - / terrybarentsen
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[@TerryB]

Thanks for making intro’n me to you viewers. I’d also like to point out that we love and ride all bikes over on my channel 💕

[@LawrenceRoss1906]

As a rider, this guy makes my world more dangerous. The one thing we as bike riders need to be is predictable and safe.

[@bradymorris9074]

Is this guy super skilled? Hell yes. Is this guy also the reason many drivers hate bike riders? Also hell yes.

[@Debbie338]

His skills are amazing. His respect for other people? Non-existent.

[@schroedingershat7912]

This type of riding fuels anti-cyclist hate which sets back efforts by decades to build cycling infrastructure which will allow all cyclists to move faster whilst being safer and reduce car congestion. It's also directly dangerous to pedestrians, other cyclists and car drivers.

[@Rohit-te8dq]

everyone's a gangsta until someone opens the door while in traffic

[@rafihasan7787]

Would love to see these highly skilled people in Indian traffic

[@anderlabaka3287]

I've been riding in London for a couple of years, and it's a cool feeling to go fluid, jump some traffic lights, anticipate cars' movements, and blablabla, but there are limits and this is well beyond them. It's just stupid and selfish to ride like this...

[@NigelDraycott]

Seriously this type of aggressive bike riding drives me nuts. Very little regard for anyone else around.

[@RootinrPootine]

“Riding around cars like they’re not even there…”

[@hollokutya1315]

i love the part starting from

[@jasonarthurs3885]

Amazed at his skill and cameraman's skill; can't excuse the patent disregard for other road users. Road safety hierarchy starts with predictability.

[@zWjwR8biM_st]

I’m also a bike rider, but that's... crossing the line. I don't care if you get yourself in danger, but please don't let others be.

[@thebluethunderbunny2324]

0:31

[@--NOT-OKAY]

I tried this once in LA and almost turned into fast flowing fluid on the pavement

[@godblessyou7616]

But you know what, this type of riding style was at least safer than riding on the bike lane😂

[@jepanlife5627]

as a foreigner in Japan, when i get my driving license, the Instructor said "We dont test your skill, we check if you can follow our rules".....

[@WillOneZeroZeroTwoFour]

Back in 97' until 2001, I was doing the same with roller blades on, amazing feeling!😎

[@tramlink8544]

as a Tram driver, these are the kind of cyclists that end up under my tram through their reckless riding