The significance of the rolled up pant leg

If you've been outside at all in the past year, you may have witnessed a disturbing trend growing fast among young baristas, bicycle messengers, and people who wish they were.  I think the NY Times did a good job summarizing the trend, but I think that they might have missed the tipping point for this particular fad.

Bike Messengers

One blog provides us with a very detailed dissection of how to spot a bike messenger.  Frequently spotted flying around neighborhoods on their fixed gear bikes, and polluting businesses with their stench are the urban bicycle messenger. 

Here is my hypothesis:  Bicycle messengers roll up their pant leg to prevent the pant from getting caught in the gear of the bike.  The non-bike messenger crowd saw that as a fashion statement, as all tattooed, gauged-ears kids with v-necks had their pant leg rolled up, so that must be the next thing!  They thought, hey it's a hip fashion statement that doesn't involve permanent scarring or piercing skin!

I don't condone rolled up pant legs unless it's sweltering hot, or you risk getting them caught in a bicycle gear.