Nice, commuting on track bikes can be fun sometimes. Although I personally would never use normal SPDs fixed, after having a couple harrowing unintentional unclipping incidents with them when backpedaling, even with the pedal springs at the highest tension.

Curious, what would you use instead?

Really? I know lots of folks, myself included that run SPDs on their fixed gear. In fact, I think most people would recommend being clipped in even over normal toe clips.

What were your issues?

I had a few occasions when putting significant backpedaling pressure on them to slow down, my foot came unintentionally unclipped. I think it was actually on the upstroke when pulling more than pushing, actually, that they popped out. Same exact pedals as in the picture, I believe (m520's). First time I didn't have tension up all the way, so I ratcheted them up as tight as they'd go, but still had the issue again a couple weeks later. Switched to SPD-SL pedals and have never had issues with them at all. Even ignoring the unclipping issue, the SPD-SL pedals give a much more stable feeling when backpedaling or skidding than the regular SPDs did.

The only annoyance is that walking in SPD-SL cleats totally sucks. So if you don't have problems, no need to switch them out of course... but I don't think I'm the only one who's had this problem, either. Just putting it out there, because coming unclipped when not expecting it definitely sucks more than walking in road cleats does.

Probably better not to slow yourself with a lot of force using your legs. Better to use your brake mostly.

It's certainly not practical, but I really enjoy only using my legs. Not to say that I'd ever recommend running brakeless on public roads, I'm glad to have my front brake on my city fixed gear bike when I need it, but I use it very rarely.

I will have to agree with you here, SPD-SL is way better than SPD. I haven't had any issues unclipping with my SPD pedals when backpedaling yet, however, I'm not much of a skidder...my backpedaling is mostly just slowing down. I have forgotten I was on a fixed gear before while going down hill and was bucked by the bike, right foot unclipped, and the next thing you know I'm straddling the top tube, laying on the handlebars with one foot spinning and the other one trying to hit the ground before I biffed it.

Nope, Knightsport. ;)

Any chance you might have had the multi release cleats on there? Just a long shot here. I haven't had any unclipping issues and I run mine fairly loose as far as retention goes. Yep, good eye btw - they are M520's.

Updates to My Bike
 

Building My 2015 Giant escape 3 up to a commuter . i also ride it for recreation and general transportation around NYC and surrounding boroughs ..

So Far added Specialized Lock on comfort Grips, Smoke Gray platform pedals (forgot the brand) , Sunlite Rack (small and light for around town) and cargo net, and a Mirrycle Mirror (wont ride without one now!!!!!) Pictured is my Make Shift "Trunk Bag" . im having a Hard time deciding which trunk bag to get. Saw this little cooler bag In a discount store for $10, that also had large gatorades on sale .... needed something to transport a couple home so i strapped this to my rack with the cargo net ... i was also able to fit a strap bag filled with various stuff,3 32 oz gatorades and some take out food in the main compartment , and my U and cable lock in the side mesh pocket ... . it stayed on pretty well , but did try to fall off when i hit a big bump, but the cargo net held it hanging on the side like a pannier . not a permanent solution , but will work to take food and other items to work for the next week or 2 while i decide on and wait for a real trunk bag to be delivered ...

Bag By Itself
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8786/...6674bd27_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/sjqmqG]

Bag On Bike
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8802/...5d8ec880_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/smHESV]

Closeup Lock in Mesh pocket
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8772/...d3b1fcc2_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/s594ku]

Bike With Rack and cargo Net
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...bbbaf6aa_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/s58WXQ]

My Bootleg rear Light setup , Soon to be replaced by a Cygolight Hotshot
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...1b9c2080_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/s5g9UF]

That's a pretty nice bike, I think if I were you, I'd be putting the u-lock part around the bike rack and then securing your wheels with the cable, rather than just locking the cable around the rack. A pair of bolt cutters will go through that cable like butter, but would take a bit more time on the u-lock.

Yes, that flat top tube gives a very elegant profile from the side...

Thanks Man,

yeah i know, just locked it to run in a store real quick. i was in and out , i would have done it the way you suggested but the cable wasnt long enough. this was the only way i could get the both wheels locked. if i was gonna be gone for a longer time id take the front wheel off and lock the frame with the u lock and both wheels with the cable. but thats too much hassle just to run in a store. lol ...... funny thing is i used this same lock setup on my old beater bike (old giant boulder) and would leave it locked by the LIRR overnight on a friday every week and it never got stolen . lol ... the beater bike i wouldnt even lock running in and out a store.
im paranoid with this one. and will not be leaving it locked anywhere longer than a hour if that and will check on it every 20 mins if i can . lol i want to get a better lock but that will tempt me to lock it up for longer and come back to my bike gone eventually .. I even locked it like this with 2 cops stationed in front of a store .. cop told me "good Move buddy" in other words they aint thinking bout my bike or stopping/chasing someone stealing it ......

Thanks , thats one of the features that sold me on it. i plan on upgrading the components later.... but man i love that frame

I used to ride that way, challenging myself to use the brake only in emergencies. Then I went to a track racing clinic, and the instructor was a bike messenger in the city. He said he has to work harder to teach messengers to break their leg-braking habits than other riders. Someone asked him what he does on the street. He said he uses his brake. That changed things for me. From now on, I use my brake primarily and my legs secondarily.

[MENTION=404835]DjFantom[/MENTION], lock the frame with the U lock, every time. If you can lock one of the wheels at the same time, great. Thieves don't cut through a cable lock just to get a wheel, so it's fine to use the cable to lock one or both wheels to the frame. But definitely lock the frame to the rack with the U lock.

Good deal!

I see it far too much around Phoenix, people locking really nice bikes up with pinky thin cable locks. I'm so paranoid when it comes to leaving my bike where I can't see it. On the upside, my bike is sitting next to the nice bikes with thin cable locks, so hopefully if any are stolen, it's theirs and not mine.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...bbbaf6aa_c.jpg

Yeah - they cut the cable and walk away with your bike. You should have a separate lock for the cable so you have two completely independent locking systems.

This happened at my office - thieves stole TWO bikes from the same area where my (much nicer) bike was locked. Stolen bikes had cables, mine had two U-locks and a 5/8" cable locked with another mini U-lock. Bastards took my saddle bag though.

as i stated above this was a quick lock job to run in and out of a store . i do plan on getting a slightly bigger u lock as this one doesnt fit the tube and rear wheel together to lock to a rack or pole . and all that locking you did and you left your saddle bag on? was it velcro strap or quick release ? anything not bolted on or locked up a thief will take , most theft is crimes of opportunity, no tools or cutters needed for a saddle bag .... with a cable atleast they'd have to be carrying cable cutters, which most opportunists won't be .....

I like the Topeak rack and trunk bag system with the rails and quick release mechanism. That makes it really easy and quick to remove the whole bag when going in a store, and I can stash all my other stuff like lights etc. inside the bag while shopping.

You can put the U lock around the rear rim and NOT the frame (and then through the rack). They will have to cut either the wheel or the lock to get the frame.

Oh yeah, I most definitely don't leg brake when actually riding on the track. Learned just to float, or go up track to scrub speed, early on. But it doesn't stop me from still having fun doing it on my city fixed gear bike... I'm pretty good at keeping the two riding styles separate!

My "A" commuter with it's summer wheels and spring fenders:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=448161

My new commuter. Linus Roadster 8 with added chain guard and Wald 582 folding basket. :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/1...30222dbd6b.jpg

Very snazzy. My only criticism, is why bother with a front fender if it's going to end that high up? You'll still get spray all over your crankset/feet.

Also a question: what's that white thing on the top-tube -- u-lock mount or something?

I agree with the fenders. Both front and back are too high to be effective. I'll think of someway to fit mud flaps.

The white thingy is my phone holder. It's just a piece of silicon wrapped around the phone and tube. :-)

Thanks

[MENTION=301047]flake[/MENTION] great looking bike. i like the color

My commuter

This thread is more than 11 years old!

These are the two ive been using lately. One is a trek 330 i think 90-91ish i bought for $150 at a flee market about two years ago . I had the bb replaced and its getting the rear hub overhauled. Very good reliable bike. The other is a 78 kabuki hilltopper 12 speed 27" tyres. I bought it at a thrift store for $60 it needed new shifter cables and tyres. Now it rides smooth and shifts great. I used them both during this last winter here in Denver. I commute about 18miles round trip.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/..._142343972.jpg
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/..._163030798.jpg

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=448550Hi, I just joined and it took way to long for me to figure out how to post a picture! haha Anyway this is my purefix :)