fixed gear for nyc?
 

i live in new york city and frequently ride laps around the central park loop. it's 6 miles and is moderately hilly. i currently have a road bike, but i'm thinking of getting either a track bike or converting something to a fixed gear myself (for a fun project). my riding is mostly a blend between heavy traffic streets and the relatively open road of central park.

would a track bike\fixed be good for this? i'm leaning toward the fuji track pro if i decide to buy new, but i'm a little worried about not having a front brake, because i often have close encounters with cars and need to be able to stop quickly. anyone out there ride in a smiliar environment?

i commute in nyc traffic every day, on a 2003 bianchi pista, brakeless.

whether or not you use a brake is your personal preference, if you feel more comfortable in the streets with a brake, go for it.

the streets are dangerous regardless. just always be on the defensive. trust no one. any cab may turn into you at any second, any car door may open. your middle finger will get much exercise.

good luck.
mc

i'm in the exact same situation as you. i just began riding a fixed last month in nyc. i basically ride around the streets as transportation and ride in the park in the weekends. the best part of the fixed bike is that you're in control of the speed at all times. so, you'll never go faster than you intend cause you know you can't stop in time. by the way, i never installed a brake but i'm getting to a point where i can skid. the learning curve is pretty short but to master it, i have no idea how long...

i have to say though that riding a fixed has renewed my enthusiasm for bike riding since you pretty much feel like you're starting from scratch. i can't recommend it highly enough, from a novice that is.

Isn't there a fixed group that goes out of the boat house area all the time? Saturday? Sunday?

They might be a good group to query.

For a site managed by like-minded nyc fixie riders check out Old School Track. There's a nice faq, pics, links to all things fixed and a bunch of how to's tailored to riding in nyc.

I think Harris Cyclery has all the popular low-buck track bikes converted with brakes and what not... check em out..