SriBiker

I'm new on here and new on a fixed...I'm loving it but have only had it for 2 years. Anyone have any tips or tricks for getting lap times down in Central Park? I did a 3 lap ride in about 58 minutes with a 19 minute middle lap - I felt strong but I feel that I can go faster. Any advice? I'm on a 48x17...

Thanks!

Ceya

if you did 3 laps for 58 mins , it is 19 mins per lap. decent time.

try to find stronger riders in the park to ride with. it is hard with runners, dogs etc to get good lap times.

try riding at night it is better but watch out for the invisible leash ( retractable leash).

S/F,
CEYA!

SriBiker

Thanks for your advice...it will be well heeded. Any advice from other fixed riders out there? I'm sure that there must be guys who can spin 3 laps in 51 minutes...any advice?

macka_fat

drop down to 48 /16? even 15...

JamesGoodman

I bought a fixed/gear single speed two weeks ago in part because I was tired of spinning around Central Park on my Kona mountain bike (with fat but slick road tires). On that bike, the fastest three laps I ever did was 58 minutes. More often it took 60 or even 62. I have been away with my new bike (a Sputnik) since I bought it, so I haven't had a chance to run it in the park, but I am hoping to do it early tomorrow or Wednesday, and I'll report back then. I am running 48/16, which should be great in the park but is a little steep for the last few hills I have to climb to get back to my home in Washington Heights.

johnprolly

48:15 and run a brake. You won't be able to skip / skid in time. Oh and your knees will ache like hell the first day.

veganaise

How long is the loop? Visited not too long ago and was wishing the whole time that I brought my bike.

jyossarian

The big loop's 6 and change.

goldenskeletons

i did two laps on my lunch break today and clocked both at 37 minutes, so yeah, roughly the same times.

when the weather isn't so blazingly hot, there's a bunch of us that meet up at 60th 'n 5th around 1pm to do pace line laps and then get pizza before heading back to our respective dork jobs.

pacing with other people helps, riding a road bike helps *ducks*, but a lighter wheelset, higher gearing and full kit are all valuable tools for getting quicker times around the park.

if you're lookin' to use the park for serious training, its good to switch back 'n forth between going out on multiple lap rides to work on your endurance, and doing hill repeats on the great hill to work on your strength.

hope to see you out there!

obstacle

I ride the park nightly, often on my fixie (though lately more on my roadie). I'm always looking for someone to ride/pace with.

I ride weekenights 3-4 nights a week (longer rides on weekends), around 9 or 10pm for about 2 hours. Average around a 17m-19m pace solo, depending on what I'm up for that night.

Drop me a PM if you'd like to do some laps on weeknights ever (this goes for anyone, I'm always looking for people to pace with at night in the park...fixed or otherwise).

JamesGoodman

Okay. I rode down to the Park from Washington Heights this (beautiful) morning for the first time since I bought my Sputnik two weeks ago. My three laps took me 53 minutes, basically two 18s and a 17. I am running 48/16, and I was chasing some road bikers and breathing hard. I could conceivably have been running 48/15 (if there is such a thing, I am new at this) but then I never would have been able to ride the last few hills back up to the Heights.

AfterThisNap

Focus on the great hill, it's the biggest time killer. It's harder to notice a time improvement training for the flats.

SriBiker

Thanks for the advice...thinking about getting a heart rate monitor eventually but I'm sure that there are small things that I can do here and there to get faster. One suggestion that I've heard is to try to ride the entire lower loop (under 72nd street - yes, the dreaded tourist region) in over 19mph or 20mph, before Cat hill. Also, another suggestion I've head is to really try to blast the straightaway section near 86th and 5th on the East Side, taking into account that after Engineer's Gate at 90th and 5th that it's slightly downhill, before the large downhill near the ballfields...

Anyways...thanks again and I'll be sure to post back if I have any improvements!

JamesGoodman

That straightaway section just above the MMA is made for going all out. It is long, straight, relatively calm, and ends in a huge hill to recover. I start accelerating at the rise just behind the top of the museum and try not to let up until the beginning of the descent. Good look and I hope to see you riding around.

avisualperson

timed myself recently for the first time; fun! did an 18-minute lap starting near columbus circle around 1am on a weeknight which gave a nice empty road, perfect for the drops. passed a few people and found one road bike that I battled with, which was fun. running a 48/16 and i definitely worked hard but I beat that other bike so that was nice. it would be hell to ride hard during the day tho, especially now that the weather is nice; would be a shame to hit someone/something and get into an accident

Withoutfixie

GREAT TOPIC! I thought I was the only one here. I can do 1 lap around 20-30 minutes on my old heavy geared bike. Love the ride, hate the tourists, park trucks, etc. I live at the north end of the park right across the street so im there every day! The great hill in the North West corner is a beast!!! However the rest is very forgiving. Sometimes I cross over below the lake instead of doing a full lap to avoid the midtown cars, crowds, horse manure, etc. Quick question. Since the crosstown route right below the lake is closed to traffic and the brochure says there are different bike path routes, can I ride against the intended direction of the street markings? People always seem to get pissed off when I do, but I have never been told off by security or PD. Got caught in the rain riding, today, came home soaked like I just did some epic Cyclocross marathon.

Germanicus

Yeah, even with entire roadway to walk down (& sidewalk in places) It is maddening that sooo many people will stroll abreast down the bike lane with their backs to the flow of bike traffic. the road is like 30 feet wide and so many dumbasses use the 4 foot wide bike lane as their own personal promenade.

Moozh

Damn..this sounds hella fun! Alas for those of us that dont live in NYC.

supr3me

hey, i was thinking about doing some laps tomorrow, where do you think the best entrance is into the park if i am coming from downtown? i always tend to get lost.. and how do i ensure that i make a full lap? just follow traffic?

Withoutfixie

Hey downtown via columbus circle the path is right there once you enter that corner follow the direction of the bike lane (which is obvious counterclockwise , no cars from 10-3pm (except from east 59th to 72nd) and weekends its awesome. Just keep following the main road all around and don't make any turns...

I agree with you guys about the Guggenheim straight , feels like the finish of a marathon great to go full speed. However there is a crosswalk in the middle and suicidal old ladies seem to not care about danger there

Here, path is the red, there are a couple turnouts if you don't want to do a full lap, there not pictured though I think one is @100th street the other is @ 72nd?.

Moozh

lol..I just caught a vid on youtube of a ride around central park.."now those are bike lanes"... nice, wide full roadwidths, heck I just might drive there (with bike in tow) in the summer just to get a taste of that loop.

ahem...erm...assuming an out of towner on a day trip does such a thing are there "facilities" one can easily locate and use to drain the main vein and the like if one needs to? (practicality demands I ask).

Withoutfixie

Not sure if you are referring to restrooms or champagne room strip clubs but we have both here in manhattan. I will go with restrooms, the are located randomly throughout the park, with the bulk being int he south end or near popular sights in the park. Bring a lock for your bike while you use them though.

BRMC

the north woods is usually pretty deserted, so pissing on a tree is opportune.

lostarchitect 

Man, that big hill is an absolute killer with a single speed or FG. I did it once. I'm not gonna do it again unless I have to.

ichitz

For some reason, I always thought "oh i'll just do a casual half lap during lunch" and ride to central park, and i ALWAYS miss the half lap turnout. Really not sure where it is. And then I'll end up battling that giant hill again and go back to work tired. But it's fun. Night time is awesome too.