i really want to go fixed on my SS converted Cannondale, and my main concerns are, the pedals hitting the ground when turning, and around campus, i have to go up and down curbs, how easy is it to go off and up curbs without hitting your pedal on it? right now its fun since i can bunny hop the road bike up curbs

you might need shorter cranks. 165mm are common for fixed.

I have no problem hopping down curbs. climbing them takes a little more skill, but pedal strike has never been the problem. the coordination is just different than hopping a curb with a freewheel.

yeah, if you have a low bottom bracket, 165mm cranks are your friend.
as far as going off curbs, i usually just time when i drop to coincide with my rotation... if i'm going off a curb on my left i make sure i do it when my right pedal is on the upswing.

assuming you're not running clipless, track pedals (which lack the extended body of many road pedals) also help.

i think mine are 172.5, they are Truvativ Stylo MTB cranks, and i have platform pedals, maybe i should invest in shorter cranks?

sounds like a good plan.

I started a bunny hop thread a few months ago. Search for it - there are lots of tip about how to do it without killing yourself. I'm still not very good at it, but I can get out over the trolley tracks.

Those MKS GR-9s are cool too-- square, small pedal body, not terribly wide. More narrow that most rattraps / track pedals.

I just hop up very carefully one wheel at a time.

If you want, you can get 165mm Sora cranks for cheap, and I think they're pretty good for the money.

In a race yesterday the dude I was following took a tight turn and almost launched himself into traffic. He was on a conversion.

sayin

is that because his pedal hit the ground?

yeah. It's mentioned in one of the threads about yesterday's race.

Yes. When you're on a fix and your pedal does more than scrape the ground you can get into some big trouble. The momemtum of the cranks will push your back wheel off the ground. I imagine if you're going fast enough you could get launched right over your handlebars.

The dude I was following fishtailed a couple of times before narrowly dodging a head on collision with an SUV. Lucky.

That's why there's a thing called being careful.

The above story was from an alleycat race, probably won't be an issue when commuting, but 172.5 with platform pedals is a bit sketch..

again. depends on your frame. I run 172.5s and havnt ever struck.

you can also practice leaning your body into the turn and trying to hold the bike more perpendicular to the ground. it doesn't have to be that extreme, but it helps just enough when you've got a bit of speed and don't want to risk pedal strike.

Riding the conversion with 170's, this technique is bomber. Instead of leaning the whole bike, you just put your body where it would be if you leaned, and leave the bike standing up.

What I would do, to see if you need new (shorter) cranks, is ride around on them and see how easily you can hit the pedals to the ground. If it's super easy, pony up. If it's nigh impossible, you'll probably be fine with the existing cranks.

Amen ... I it is like turning with a motorcycle, but you have to pedal.

…or you can lower your center of gravity by sitting on the top tube.

thanks for the ideas guys! ill try the different lean technique!