Beginners Guide to riding Fixed/Single Speed in London

***Guide to commuting in London for a beginner (who might like to ride a single speed bike)

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I pissed everyone off with my constant questioning and inability to use the search function when I first came here. I did not give a shit and neither should you. However, in the interests of finding the information more quickly, and as a gift back to the community, I've gathered up all the wisdom and put it in this thread.

It is told from the perspective of a clueless twat(me) so if anyone has any suggestions please add them. What follows is not necessarily the best kit (if 'best' even exists) but some sensible suggestions to half decent stuff to get you going quickly, without getting raped by salesmen in shops or ending up with rubbish.

***1. First, what do you actually need? ***

The following will help you to be safe and practical, and is geared toward winter:

• Lock
  
• Windproof/Waterproof Gloves
  
• Windproof/Waterproof Outers
  
• Tyre Levers
  
• Pump
  
• Inner Tubes (since repairing a puncture on the move is a stupid idea- and buses don't let bikes on)
  
• Lights
  
• Spare Batteries (and a recharger)
  
• Helmet
  
• Clips for Trouser cuffs
  
• Skull Cap (essential since everyday beanies, etc make helmets fail)
  
• Something to store your stuff in, either a pannier or a Rucksack
  
• Mudguards
  
  
  

2. Specific Recommendations

Bike:

You can convert your old MTB/anything else or buy a single speed. See this thread for Off the Peg Single Speeds.
If you are converting, this guide is the simplest online one I have found. Charlie gets excellent reviews as a merchant and he even sells a conversion kit too. You can find out what size frame is technically perfect for you by signing up free to Wrench Science, here.

Lock:

What you get depends on where you store it and what you do with the bike. However, an easy blanket suggestion that is cheap and highly effective, is the Kryptonite mini. Although less versatile than bigger locks, it is a better defence because you cannot insert a jack inside it and lever it apart as the video below shows.YouTube - how to break a kryptonite lock

It is also very affordable. Cables are a waste of time because simply blot cutters will screw them over, however some people combine with a D lock like the Kryptonite for a better overall defence. Kryptonites take something like 2 minutes of continual angle grinding, which is immensely loud, to cut through. So if you store it at your work or outside shops for a few minutes or even a pub, you are safe, or will at least be able to see or hear something when it is attempted. I cannot suggest action if you are going to leave it at Oxford Circus all day, other than probably not to do it. Lock Strategy is discussed by Sheldon Brown here, and the forum here too. Other specific recommendations for locks are discussed here and here.

Windproof Gloves:

I have nothing to say about these, as I've yet to find anything recommendable. However, there is a discussion here.

Windproofs/Waterproofs:

My advice here is to simply look for something reduced, like this. I have always found Montane to be of excellent quality. Endura, Dhb, Altura all get good reviews and are relatively cheap. The decision is principally over colour - some people claim motorists drive closer, etc, to those who look 'professional' in high vis. The other main consideration is what is going underneath it. Some people prefer less layers and a bigger jacket, others have several layers and just a thin windstopper. I have no experience to comment on either.
Discussion here and here.

Tyre Levers:

A little absurd recommending some, but anything by Pedros is good, it seems.

Pump:

Ideally, one would have a track pump at home and a mini one for the road. However, to keep costs down for a beginner, I have found the Topeak Morph, which is small but does have a foot rest, an ideal compromise. Recommended from the forum. Discussions here and here.

Inner Tubes:

I am not sure they really matter. But Bontragers I think are supposed to be decent and are on offer here. Postage is steep, but they work out at about £3 each which is reasonable.

Lights:

I can recommend the Cateye EL530 and LD1100 Set from Wiggle, it s a bargain (£46) and highly rated. However, they are still a budget light. You will have to pay upwards of £100 to get 'beams' shooting out from the front of your bike if that is what you want.
Further discussions on lights here.

Batteries/Rechargers:

The best kind of battery nowadays are called hybrids. Fuck knows what any of this means, but essentially unlike regular cheap rechargeable even when not used they do not lose their charge. This, coupled with their massive capacity, means you will have to recharge them less frequently. Ansmann Max E are one such brand. Shit chargers also fuck up your batteries. You need one that treats every battery individually and discharges each one specifically. The Maha Energy C401FS gets superb reviews universally and although it seems expensive it is so good it is worth it, especially as it does come with some batteries too, and can charge in one hour on its fast setting (not recommended for continual use however because of the eventual damaging effect on the batteries).

Helmets:

You cannot recommend specific helmets, you have to try them on. Each manufacturer has roughly a different shape generally and one manufacturerwill suit your head better. MET are very uncomfortable for me, for example. Whereas every Giros M are really nice and snug. Go and try some in shops and see for yourself.
Bit of a discussion here. Note, however, that any discussion on this forum quickly turns silly so I wouldn't bother to post about it! :)

Skull Caps:

Don't matter, but as with all things it seems, Dhb are a cheap reliable bet.

Bags:

See here for the obvious messenger type bags. However, I prefer the running bags, like Innov-8's, or Go Lites, which looks more like Camelbaks but are available without bladders, which I don't really use. The good thing about things kind of bags as opposed to messengers, is that they are better for doing speed on, I think, since they are designed not to move (as they're mostly designed for marathon runners), and they are fucking light. My Race Elite from Innov is something like 250g. I know fuck all about panniers, anyone care to contribute?

Mudguards

The only thing that should touch your bike are SKS Chromoplastics, or potentially something else from their range if you want to spend more or less.

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1. Other, non-essential considerations***
   
   

Layering/Base Layers/Bibs:

I know fuck all, anyone care to contribute?

Pollution Masks - Are they worth it? Read here.

I think I might add some useful review sites I found and anything else anyone can think of that might be useful.

4. Safety and route planning

I am a very comfortable rider but wanted some extra help to learn about how to handle myself in traffic, etc. Some free 2 hour lessons are available courtesy of the various London boroughs. Just look up your borough here and make contact to see if you can get a lesson (if you want one).

You can find suggested routes from other cyclists using the website Bikely.com, which is excellent. You simply put your destination and start place in and it will do a search. This way you can avoid busy roads, etc.

There is additional safety information and about your rights as a cyclist etc, on the TFL website here. This also includes a journey planner. There is also a thread I have started here for others to share their safety tips, you can view it here.

Finally, you might find it useful to sign up to LCC (London Cycling Campaign) who do excellent work for cyclists in London.

Good dissertation, but, erm ... why those bags are all 'gay'?

+1, i think you are gonna piss off a few more calling those bags gay

Beginners Guide to riding Fixed/Single Speed in London

these piss take threads are getting tedious

Homo

Pump:

Ideally, one would have a track pump at home and a mini one for the road. However, to keep costs down for a beginner, I have found the Topeak Morph, which is small but does have a foot rest, an ideal compromise. Recommended from the forum. Discussions here and here.

the issue with having a full-sized track pump is more having the pressure gauge on the pump, and the leverage that will let you get your tyres up to 120 psi. i don't think you can get anything like 120 psi on most portable pumps. but then there's usually a bikeshop local that can loan you a pump.

Not bad, but what is it with people using the word gay as a derogatory term for people/objects etc, I don't agree with it and i'm certain that gay people would find it pretty offensive also.

+1, i think you are gonna piss off a few more calling those bags gay

+1 Just ask OOL

Oh wait, you can't.

are you gay James?...

You're a surprisingly sensitive lot. :)

Probably the best argument against them anyway is that they are fucking expensive.

Probably the best argument against them anyway is that they are fucking expensive.

So maybe you should try to make your own, might be cheaper and quite rewarding ...

Sh*t, I am missing about half of those, that must mean I am not even a beginner yet?!?

I will have to stop riding in london immediately.

Revised list
Beginner guide to what you ACTUALLY need to ride fixed in london

1. A working fixed gear bike
   
2. A working body with the ability to ride a bike
   
3. Be in London
   

Sh*t, I am missing about half of those, that must mean I am not even a beginner yet?!?

I will have to stop riding in london immediately.

Revised list
Beginner guide to what you ACTUALLY need to ride fixed in london

1. A working fixed gear bike
   
2. A working body with the ability to ride a bike
   
3. Be in London
   
   

I don't see any need for being sarcastic. This is supposed to try and help the people who are new like me - and was done at the suggestion of more than one person in another thread.

If you don't find it useful who cares?

I don't see any need for being sarcastic. This is supposed to try and help the people who are new like me - and was done at the suggestion of more than one person in another thread.

If you don't find it useful who cares?

The following is a minimum to be safe and practical

Because that is simply not true and is therefore not helpfull to beginners.

I do not have a number of those things, yet ride safely and practically in london on a daily basis.

Anyone new, who feels they MUST go any buy such things as clips, spare batteries, a skull cap and the like before they can ride is simply being miss-informed by your personal opinion.

It is a nice thought Paul-Michel and not a bad little resource for peeps starting out, so cheers for putting the time and effort in

But as Gizmondo points out you can also just get on your bike and pedal :^]

Just get tyres with puncture protection. I haven't ridden with a puncture kit/pump since.

Because that is simply not true and is therefore not helpfull to beginners.

I do not have a number of those things, yet ride safely and practically in london on a daily basis.

Anyone new, who feels they MUST go any buy such things as clips, spare batteries, a skull cap and the like before they can ride is simply being miss-informed by your personal opinion.

I take your point. I should not have used the word minimum. As things like skull caps are certainly not a necessity.

Good work on the guide.

Neither are a lot of the other things, just HTFU.

I've changed it to 'help you to be safe and practical'.

Anyway, all this is dependant on where you live. If I lived in the East End and rode to work then you would barely need wheels - because its so flat - let alone any 'base layers'.

But some of us have to do proper riding or actively seek out hills for fitness. You can get fucking ill from sweat chills in winter months. This board, it seems to me, has people from both camps.

I've changed it to 'help you to be safe and practical'.

Anyway, all this is dependant on where you live. If I lived in the East End and rode to work then you would barely need wheels - because its so flat - let alone any 'base layers'.

But some of us have to do proper riding or actively seek out hills for fitness. You can get fucking ill from sweat chills in winter months. This board, it seems to me, has people from both camps.

Going to step out of London to get some big hills. Defeating the point of this thread.

...some of us have to do proper riding...

I must. Resist. The Urge. To take the piss.

maybe it's time to introduce the proper rider potty training ...

Anyway, all this is dependant on where you live. If I lived in the East End and rode to work then you would barely need wheels - because its so flat - let alone any 'base layers'.

Sometimes I have to venture out of East London, for example my brother lives in Islington. I keep a geared bike locked up on the Balls Pond Road, where E8 becomes N1. I also keep a Sainsbury's (not gay like Waitrose) carrier bag there with my base layers in it, ready for the famous "wall of cold". I use a lock to secure my bike (I'm making that clear just in case any of you are thieves).

Needless to say I make sure that geared bike has wheels on it. All in all I enjoy the geared bike, because it's nice to be able to do some proper riding, and also because I like the fact that it has wheels; I find walking the frame along in East London a delight on the flat and open road, but tedious in traffic, and as you are well aware with the coming of the Olympics the traffic is starting to get horrendous.

Still, at least it's not cold.