Should I ride my first fixie back from the shop (in London)?

It my sound stupid, but it will help. Go for a cycle on your mtb but never stop pedaling, you'll soon get used to not applying pressure when braking, and your first fixed ride will be a lot easier. It's all to do with muscle memory.

Just remember when you get to the sticky bits like approaching slow moving cars or filtering you would naturally coast - you can't now do that and it catches you out. It's like tapping your head and rubbing your belly at the same time....

If you don't think you'll be confident in traffic you could try crossing the river over London Bridge (walking to there if you want) and ride (or walk) along the South Bank to Waterloo (past Tate Modern and the Festival Hall etc - wide pedestrian walkways all along there, can avoid all traffic right the way to Waterloo...
whatever you do, don't listen to him! he's trying to lure you into a trap!!! southbank is the zombies favorite place to jump cyclists!

(seriously though, that sounds like good advice.)

i hope you have a brake. then just try it, if you don't feel comfortable just walk it.... it's totally walkable so just leave yourself the time.

Fuck off with your logic and common sense. ;-)

When I got my first fixed (just after the repeal of the Corn Laws it was) I rode home from the bike shop; that was on familiar roads and I remember it was still a bit hairy. So if you are really under-confident about cycling in London then I'd say walk it and learn on quieter roads that you know well.
Unless, that is, you see Pistanator ahead of you in which case you should rip off your brake, mount the bike, close your eyes and ride like fury.

When I got my first fixed (just after the repeal of the Corn Laws it was) I rode home from the bike shop; that was on familiar roads and I remember it was still a bit hairy. So if you are really under-confident about cycling in London then I'd say walk it and learn on quieter roads that you know well.
Unless, that is, you see Pistanator ahead of you in which case you should rip off your brake, mount the bike, close your eyes and ride like fury.

Yeah I heard he likes to be "rear ended" at high speed ;)

P.S. Check out shop 14 as well, 14bikeco.wordpress.com, they've got some nice fixies too :)

Crazy "Shop 14" James there. I heard you've got 1 and 4 tattooed on your eyelids James. Seriously though PHer, the sketchiness of your first ride fixed is proportional to the amount of time you spend coasting on your mtb. Just keep pedalling is good advice, you might get bumped out of the saddle a couple times trying to coast but you'll (have to) get used to it quick.

^ true but is that something you want to learn in busy London traffic?

don't buy a fixie

I learned in traffic, but I was born pedalling...

its just like riding a bike...

Okay thanks guys, I'll give it a shot but if you see a six foot black man with bright blue SIDI shoes wobbling all over London and generally causing havoc on Tuesday morning, it will be me. :)

I only see people, colour means nothing to me.

Racist.

don't buy a fixie

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If you need to ask ridiculous questions about a certain style of bike then it's not for you

Pistantor what is your problem? You've given your very poor input and I get the point. You think I'm an idiot and shouldn't buy a fixie. Okay. Now get over yourself.

Pistantor what is your problem? You've given your very poor input and I get the point. You think I'm an idiot and shouldn't buy a fixie. Okay.** Now get over yourself.**

you are in for a long wait I'm afraid. you could get a kidney on the NHS quicker.

You could probably build one out of Lego, glue and pig kidneys quicker.

If I was scared of mountains would I buy a MTB??

If I was scared of jumping over gravelly mounds would I buy a BMX?

Does PH stand for PistonHead?...

just read this.....!!!

WTF...!!

HTFU

You can pop at me all you like but why the fuck would anyone buy a bike if they didn't feel comfortable using it or know how to fuckin ride it properly?!

Unbelievable :-$

^+1

get a cab.

Taxxxxiiiiiiii....!!!!