schwinn

i'm making the move from seattle to brooklyn this summer, and have a bit of a dilema, i have no idea what/which bike(s) to bring.

me:
i am planing ahaid for bike theft
i race at the velodrome in seattle, love it, and would really like to keep it up after the move(is there a velodrome?)

my bikes:
bareknuckle track bike. this is my BABY. the issue is its been powdercoated and is quite "flashy". i plan to bring a chain and my ulock, however, i'm pretty sure this would be a target. i do love this bike, and if it meant i would have to only use it on rides without locking up, i still might consider bringing it.(?) is it worth it to take up space?

fuji track. this is my single speed, i also painted this a solid blue, and its got stock components and risers/fenders. its my rain bike here in seattle, and i love the convienance of coasting, and not worrying about scratching it up, etc.

canondale road bike. its from the 90s, not worth a whole lot and not really that nice, but i paid nearly nothing for it.

and last is my newest, the felt tk2. i picked this up a few months ago for the velodrome, thinking i was going to be staying in seattle. its brand new, all the best parts, and a flat black color. obviousally i would only be riding this on the track as it has slicks, tight geometry, etc.

sell one? bring two? sell all and buy a beater?

im not a fixed gear snob, however love to ride them, and would definetly want at least one with me.


...i have way to much time on my hands

slvoid

I rode my langster comp track bike with track geometry around for a year, no problems yet. The Tk2 should be fine.

jeebusaurousrex

Not that I actually use it, nor am I anything remotely serious about racing, but the only velodrome I know within the 5 boroughs of NYC is in Kissena Park, Queens.

How do I know it's there? I grew up in that area in the 80s/90s and used to watch people race their R/C cars on the track during Sunday afternoons. Seriously. It has been renovated and is now a hot spot for clubs, but back then it was rundown and deserted in the middle of very tall weeds. To get there from the main section of the park you had to walk through a circuitous wood chip path, with horse manure strewn along the way...

Sorry, rambling.

Not much too add, but to suggest you don't leave your nice new bike out for the thieves for too long. A quick pop in for food should be okay. Even if the threat isn't a reality at least with a beater you won't be stressed as much.

Stacy

When I did the NYC Century we did a couple of laps around the velodrome. It was like a stone's throw from some street, maybe Booth Memorial, with a small parking lot for those who felt the need to drive. Maybe things have really changed since the 80s/90s?

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...&z=16&iwloc=AA

jyossarian

Bring 'em all and sell 'em to us. Or better yet, lock 'em up outside your apt. w/ some string and give us your address. Kissena's an outside velodrome. Trexler Town in PA is a 2.5 - 3 hr drive and I think it's an inside velodrome.

jeebusaurousrex

I'm such a maroon, how could I forget? My friends and I never came in from the street because we'd always visit the velodrome from the main lake area. Can't tell if those same paths are still there from google maps. They really seemed like a big maze back when we were younger. You'd feel lost and then all of a sudden, there was this big track ahead of you, like stumbling onto a big secret.

(btw sorry for thread hijacking)

40 Cent

Schwinn,

If you can only bring two, sounds to me like you want the bareknuckle -- because you can't leave your baby home -- and your fuji. You don't need a road bike. Brooklyn's flat. Queens is pretty flat. Manhattan has a couple hills. The Bronx quite a few more, and New Jersey, if you like road biking, has some big fun hills.

But you'll need to lock up any bike real tight, beater or beauty. But something you care less about is a good idea.

The track is in Queens. I don't race but I like to go watch 'em. Check out this map (https://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/bike/mapfront.pdf). Find Queens, zoom in, locate the green strip of parks running horizontally through the borough. Below the words "Kissena Park" you'll see the velodrome. It's a lot nicer and more popular these days than it used to be when weeds grew up through the concrete and stray dogs wandered through.

Welcome!

Maura

I just moved out of Brooklyn. Lived there for two years (coupled w/ some time in Manhattan) and the last year pretty much exclusively used my bike as transportation. I worked right over the bridge and so getting to work was faster on my bike than the train, plus it was a beautiful ride every morning, despite some of the clueless people you meet up w/ (managed only a couple little fender benders). Anyway- I would say your best bet for city riding is the fuji track- a LOT of people use single speeds and the city- the bridges are the worst inclines you'll meet (Williamsburg bridge being the winner). The parks (especially prospect) have some great loops, but it the scheme of things are relatively flat. All of the other bikes that you explained sounded like they would last for two seconds. I never had my bike stolen (always used a u-channel kryptonite lock). Did have seats stolen though! How annoying to come back out, hope on your bike and go to sit down only to realize your seat and post are gone. Would recommend either getting a lock for your seat- or if you go into a local bike shop they will actually put a chain (the same kind that is used on gears) between your seat and the bike so it cannot be removed.

There was a great little shop- I think on Vanderbilt- in Boerum Hill somewhere- Bicycle Station maybe? Anyway- went there when my brakes weren't working- they were actually out on the sidewalk helping people, their store is small and they fixed the problem free of charge and showed me how to prevent it (my brake cable had come unclipped up near the handlebars- apparently they see this a lot and people go around purposely undoing them). There is another shop in brooklyn on 5th ave that I have heard only bad things about- I went in there once just looking around- but my boyfriend went in actually looking to purchase a bike and they ignored him and were very rude- way to make a sale!
*My favorite bike shop though is near Canal St in Manhattan- it's on Varick St right north of Canal- they're great, have lots of equip, are cheap and nice.

I have never raced on a track so I cannot attest to the racing bike or need for one. But definitely don't put anything on the street that you're in love w/ b/c there is always a chance.

Sorry- long winded answer. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with the move!

geo8rge

Folding bikes work on public transportation. Buy one with an IG hub. You can buy an extra wheel with fixed fixed gear + single speed hub.

Bacciagalupe

H'm.... Tough call. This is what I'd do.

Bareknuckle, definitely. Felt, yes.

Cannondale and Fuji: sell them. You can get a beater bike pretty easily off of Craigslist. Recycle-a-Bicycle might also have something you like.

After you've been here for a bit, you'll know if you want a road bike. AFAIK the hills are in Jersey, so you can do lots of fairly flat long rides on Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan etc.

elfich

Before you decide how many bikes you are bringing, find out how much space you will have. Apartment space in NYC is at a premium. I don't know how it is in Seattle, but rent is expensive in NYC. Get a feel for that first (and how much you are going to get paid while working there).