New york fixed gear

Clive, PM'd... Get me some BMW gloves while you're there!!!!

Clive, look up gotham bikes (oddly, their webiste is www.togabikes.com ), they have three shops on Manhattan. I went into one this summer and hired a bike for the day. The guy was really nice. I seem to recall that they had road bikes for hire as well as fixed and hybrid. Give them a bell to check the deal.

Do they have pink bikes?

Baby blue only

Clive needs something else, then.

Do they have pink bikes?

+1 for Gotham Bikes, nice guys, and some cool branded clothes.

Bike Works for FGSS (but I've not been there)
http://www.bikecult.com/works/index.html (awesome site)

Bicycle Habitat are good too, just off Broadway near Spring St on the 6 line I think.
244 Lafayette Street Manhattan New York, NY 10012
Don't be fooled by their site, it's a down and dirty place.
http://bicyclehabitat.com/

This from the New York Times Best of (Bike stores)
Frank’s is known for fast, reliable repairs; Toga Bikes is praised for its sophisticated inventory and generous service policy; and Bike Works is regarded (especially by the single-gear crowd) as the place that can bring bikes back from the dead. But Bicycle Habitat is the best overall, for its price range, beloved repair crew, and its owner, Charlie McCorkell, who’s been a cornerstone of the city’s biking community for more than two decades.

I've been looking into rentals - found this:

http://www.bikenewyork.org/resources/shops_rentals.html

I'm staying lower east side so will start local and see what the deal is.

It's a shame Bikeworks say "[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif][SIZE=2]We don't do rentals, trade-ins, or sell used bikes" as they are just down the block from my hotel!

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Thanks everyone. Have spoken to Toga on the upper west side which is near my hotel at Columbus Circle. They have a bike in my size. And I am riding this weekend. $90 for two days which is not too bad.

You can claim it on expenses I assume Clive?

Sadly not even though I am riding with a client on Sunday.

That's a shame, what with them sending you away for so long. If you have time, nip across to RA Cycles in Brooklyn as it's a great shop and full of interesting bike stuff.

Result. Toga bikes Westside. Nice Ti bike. A little short but not too much. Nice three hour ride all over Manhattan. The bike path up the Hudson is awesome particularly when it is pissing down and no one else is around. My kit is sodden and filthy. Looks like I will have to buy some new stuff for my ride tomrrow. Pity that.

Thanks eveyone for you help and suggestions. Teenslain, what size gloves? Haven't seen any yet but will keep looking.

My wee sister lives in Brooklyn and when I went out to visit a few weeks ago she lent me a bike and we went all over - I thought that single-speed seemed to be much, much more popular... Unlike paying any attention to one-way streets, lights etc. King Cog's good.

http://www.franksbikes.com/

Used Frank last time I was in NYC, good range and friendly service.

Anyone recommend any good hostels to stay in. I'm off to New York in the Summer but planning it all out now.

Preferably looking around Soho/Chelsea/East Village area but willing to listen to any good recommendations!

Cheers

I'll +1 that request. NYC hotels kill me on the price but there's got to be somewhere that is affordable in a location that isn't too far out.

http://www.priceline.com/ click on the name your price link

find a hotel and stick in a price you are prepared to pay, hotel will come back to you and tell you if you are successful or you need to bid again.

V good if you've got time to research.

Priceline is good, the name your own price is a bit risky though. As there are some real shit holes offered on there. Once you placed your bid you pay and then they will confirm the hotel to you, no refunds are given if you don't like the hotel allocated to you either.

Renting a room via craig list is the cheapest solution.

NYC is fantastically hot and sweaty in summer.

chelsea hotel FTW - [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Chelsea[/ame]

Carlton Arms is the best place in the world! Cheap too. Lots of English people there as well....see some original banksy's.

Yep, the Carlton's great... "As long as the police or fire department aren't called you can do whatever the hell you like."

One of the times I was there Ron Jeremy was too...he'd booked a room for a couple of hours in the middle of the day for some...er...shooting?

but the rooms are nice

I just came back and stayed in the Ace hotel on W29th @ Broadway. It was brilliant, but not really cheap.

but the rooms are nice

Oh the Carlton Arms, remember going there in mid 90's with a couple of student friends for Xmas '96, the walls were painted fantastically and I always thought it real funny after coming back absolutely rendered about 5 am and staring up at the ceiling that had illuminous geckos and bullet holes painted on it! Beautiful memories and a fucking great way to spunk your student loan!