I was stoked when I saw this thread, until I saw the dates. Two years too late. I ride, fixed, in the park 4-5 nights a week, usually 10-midnight, but have rarely seen anyone else out there. There occasional roadie and rarely a fixed rider. The idea of informal racing


Those are stout times indeed. I rode a bit last summer with a guy and we managed to push each other into the 16m30s-17m flat range for 4 laps, but we were both toast afterwards. 15m laps for a roadie is nothing special, given then have three hills to pick up alot of time in a huge gear. But fixed is another story.

I ride 46x16, and had my frame builder build me a bike specifically for the park and that gearing, which I have found works really well for my legs and riding style. 46x14 is ideal for me for 3/4 of the lap, but a bear for the hills on Harlem, so the 16 cog was my compromise. I'm generally running 18-20m laps solo, sub 18m if I find a roadie to chase.

48x17, depending on your strength and fitness should be fine, a touch on the large size. It's close to my gear inch but the bigger ring up front probably takes a bit more to spin up.

If you want someone to do some laps with drop me a PM. I'm out there most nights.