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@JWB
Hi, I'm new here & new to cycling (cycled as a kid, and for a couple of years when I was in Oxford in my 30s). I just bought a bike on gumtree, under £100, flip flop single speed, looks like it is built out of a box of old bits with so-so 70s frame, frame feels a bit too short with straight bars, & twitchy feel to the steering. I went single speed cos I got impatient of trying to make derailleurs work on cheap bikes. I am so happy with discovering single speed, the bike, though a bit grungy, goes really well, even compared with some £500-£1000 geared bikes I have borrowed. It seems like you're better off without gears in town.
I can't really get my feet into the toe clips yet but I am beginning to get the hang of it, haven't a clue about what lights are ok (bought LED lights in Argos), no idea how to ride fixed etc. Even with freewheel doing Marylebone-Berkely Sq-Hyde Park Corner-Buck. Palace-Parliament sq.-Westminster Bridge was pretty intense, on a dull rainy day (last Tuesday) with strong-willed taxis etc. I have some traffic sense, used to motorcycle in London years ago (staying safe on a pedal bike seems even harder).
I heard fixed is better for about town, I have to try soon, but maybe practice somewhere quiet first.
Any adivce welcome, there is not so much clear, easy-to-find guidance for a beginner here. Whether it's best to change to drop bars? What kind of lighter frame to look out for without spending too much (is aluminium a good idea?). Anything else.
I am aware my post may seem strange to the committed enthusiasts who mainly post here, & find my issues ridiculously basic, but I am not a troll, though at the age of 51 maybe I am having a mid-life crisis....