i'm an attorney, so much of my day is spent at my desk, which sucks. there's a gym in my building, but i would rather go for a ride.
i posted about this a bit already - but i was looking to build a single speed to keep in my office.
two logistical issues:

first - on a track bike, does it matter if i want to use a quick-release on my front wheel as opposed to a regular track hub? it could make things easier for me.

second - i'd be doing the riding mostly in a suit, with dress shoes. i can deal with the pant leg, but for the shoes - are there any metal toe-clip pedals that wouldn't damage the shoes? i think i remember seeing a set somewhere that had leather around the metal parts of the cage.

i'm open to ideas, if anybody has one

There's no problem with using a QR on the front. And there are plastic toe clips, so you might want to do some searching for those.

a) riding in a suit looks awesome imo, so kudos to that.

no it doesn't matter if you use a quick release. you can have a track hub with a quick release. that piece is just a metal bar that goes through the hub with bolts on either side. the cages however i cannot help you on

i was under the impression that track hubs are solid axle. (obvs i havent taken one apart)...but okey dokes.

side note, i was just thinking that maybe a belt drive would be a good idea. cleaner, etc. then i saw that you apparently have to saw open the rear triangle to get it in there. so, there goes that.

I keep an errand bike at work, which hangs in my back office. It's an old Bianchi Pista, running 65 gear inches, upright moustache bars, a front brake, and plain platform pedals, no clips.
Yes, for an office/errand bike, you can run your FG with plain platform pedals without clips, no problem.

You can use any front wheel with a QR.

https://www.velo-orange.com/mksdeletoecl.html

them's the ones. thanks!

Those pedal are filling in a complete mental picture for me: I think a lawyer in a suit riding a classic British racing green or navy or maroon frame with a brown Brooks, brown leather tape, those sweet leather toe clips, and plenty of chrome components would be awesome. Oh, and with a polished silver wheelset of course.


I guess that goes under the "I'm open to ideas" part of the post. But really, what sort of bike are you planning on building?

You know what would be awesome?

If you modified a pair of dress shoes to take clipless cleats and just kept those shoes at work.

well whatever I build would have to just be dripping with class
here's my deal: I live in NYC. that's where my bikes are. bike commute isn't an option. my career is one of those that has no problem keeping you in the office in all but the darkest times of the day/night. most hours are at a desk. so I have a lunch hour. I was thinking of gettig a simple singlespeed to keep here (or in my trunk, maybe) that I can tool around on at lunch. I'd be the only one I know doing this. but, as I'm sure you can all relate, Id rather be biking most of the time.

Ideally I'd like a lugged steel SS. I have a lot of ideas for a simple look. I was thinking raw with Brooks. there are few lugged frames out there that fit the bill. kilo lugged isn't out till June. alien is out of stock. Viking can't mount brakes. etc.

If you're worried about grease, there are always chainguards.

So basically, you're looking for a poser bike. I have one, but not kept at work. My office/errand bike is basically a nice looking beater.

poser?

Hmm, the Soma Delancey comes to mind, now known as the Van Ness. Fairly good looking, rear brake stops, "relaxed" singlespeed (aka "road") geometry. There is also a Reynolds 725 lugged Wabi, which is gentler on decals. Champagne paint and brown leather could definitely fit the "dripping with class" bill, and at $600 for the frameset you could still be dripping with cash when you're done building it.

I saw the Wabi, actually, but I wasn't loving the colors. I like the Langster steel/kilo deluxe, but they're not lugged. I was kidding about the class thing; there are few things less classy than a sweaty lawyer on his lunch break, regardless of the vehicle under him

Yes, poser, but not quite poseur.

I'm also a lawyer in NYC but I spend most of my time in court and just leave all my suits and ties in my office. I ride to work in regular clothes and change when I get here. I can't imagine how quickly I would destroy a suit if I rode my bike in it and how smelly it would get if I carried my bag on my back while riding. I leave dress shoes at work too.

Seriously, I highly recommend changing to go for your bike ride. If you work at a big firm, either as an associate or doing contract work, they probably don't want you sitting in a sweaty dress shirt at your desk.

As for shoes, if you don't want to change your shoes, you might also consider a pair of bmx pedals and something like the Holdfast straps. I considered getting a pair to wear with boots during the winter. I never did but a friend recently went that route and loves it.

If you have the money and really want an amazing looking steel lugged frame, go by Continuum Cyles on Ave B between 12 and 13th Street and look at their new custom steel frames. Newvex lugs from Richard Sachs, Colubmus Life tubing (or the step down), one inch steerer tube so it can be either threaded or threadless, built in Italy. Since they are essentially custom frames, only the owners frame is in the shop. I just ordered one but it is going to be my Sunday rider.

i'm reverse commuting to LI, so the bike commute is, unfortunately, not an option (even if i could bring myself to ride through queens, i need a car on LI) i was thinking of just tooling around the area for lunch, hopefully avoiding getting too sweaty. i used to be an ADA, and recently changed to civil law. the sudden loss of excitement during the day is getting to me.

Or vittoria 1976s:


or dromartis


pricey tho..

Another fixed lawyer. I usually ride in the full roadie kit and change at work (we're lucky to have a shower and locker room). I bring in clean shirts, ties, underwear, and socks over the weekend. My dress shoes, dress pants, and a blazer stay at the office.

It's just not worth the wear on a nice pair of wool dress pants. Believe me, I've worn through a favorite pair of slacks and there's no tailor in the world that can repair that.

That said, if someone comes up with a spd-compatible wingtip, put me down for a pair.

Are you serious?

Wait, so people who make bikes look as much like race bikes as possible with track racing equipment and all but have never actually been on a track calling other people posers?

That's just freaking lame, man.

I would venture to guess that there are more educated, professionals that are into cycling than you think.

Take that name calling BS somewhere else. You should welcome new riders.

Are you serious?

Wait, so people who make bikes look as much like race bikes as possible with track racing equipment and all but have never actually been on a track calling other people posers?

That's just freaking lame, man.

I would venture to guess that there are more educated, professionals that are into cycling than you think.

Take that name calling BS somewhere else. You should welcome new riders.

I wish to withdraw the poser comment I made to the OP. As a poser myself, I made bad judgment of assuming the same of another.

There's always the "delete" button.

motion to withdraw has been filed.