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Also, to give a different perspective on the 'twitchy' fuji, I'm not particularly super fit or flexible, or even that good a rider. But after a short time on the fuji (and a switch to straight bars, front brake, and a charge seat) I haven't had any problems at all. After a year I still love it.

The 'twitchy' aspect seemed to vanish after adding the straight bar, but it still felt so much more direct and fun than the plug which I also tried (albeit in stock form).

This is not to take away from the plug which looks great and felt very safe and solid - a great all weather bike. But the fuji has a sort of explosiveness that is hugely addictive. It looks fast just sitting there leaning up against the wall - as if it is urging you to take it out and thrash it - even if all you needed to do was go out and buy a pint of milk.

+1

Straight bar, new seat and you have yourself an awesome bike. I love my fuji!

Oh did I mention he then turned left across me without indicating.

Don't know if it is the heat but I experienced some seriously agro drivers on the way home this afternoon.

Riding up Barnsbury Road N1 doing my usual of overtaking lines of traffic at the lights, using lots of free space not getting in anyones way (not even jumping the lights this time). Then a little further up at the end of barnard park a Merc speeds up right beside me and moves right over into the cycle lane to cut me up. As I'm negotiating the narrowing gap I shout through the window "WTF are you doing" and the fat, red faced man shouts back "THE SAME AS YOU, YOU PRICK!".

Yeah ok mate... when I overtook, you were stationary sitting in your leather seat. I would say carving me up into parked cars while I'm cycling along (in the cycle lane) is actually quite a bit different.

Take care out there people.. watch out for red faced drivers!

it's defintely a place that everuone should go, but what really freak me out, is seeing tourists standing behind the gate putting on their best smile for the photos album.

hardly a family fun moment methinks!

When I went to Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin some tourist 'lads' started playing football against the side of the remaining prisoner huts. I was livid and would have cracked some skulls but there were quite a few of them... "b..b..bigger boys came!"

I mean who the fuck takes a football to a concentration camp?!?

I've only got 2 :(

HandsomeDog Arrow
Fuji Track

I need to get myself on ebay!

I think I need to adjust my brakes if you can go over the front on a Fuji track, I've never even had the back wheel lift off on a road bike. I've ridden mountain bikes a lot, and from an hydraulic, 8 inch rotor disc brake, it's quite scary how little force a caliper actually gives you. With any brake you very quickly get used to modulating your braking so you don't go over the front, but slowing down when you see possible hazards is the most important thing.

Mountain Bikes have always been my bread and butter and I have always set up my cantilever brakes with as little travel as possible, without rubbing of course (It helps that I'm obsessive about maintaining the trueness of my wheels). As long as it's not too muddy I just don't see the point in lots of travel. I then adjust the throw of the brake lever to as little as possible (there is a wee bolt you screw in on the side). As long as you use good cantilever brake sets (LX or XT par example) the result are brakes that are *very *effective (although obviously not great in heavy mud or for down hill).
I have carried the same principles over to my fuji (with shimano 105 caliper) and I can very easily get the back wheel up under braking (it probably helps that I am very skinny at only 70kg). I am very confident emergency stopping my MTB, I built it myself and have ridden it for 1000's of miles. However, I have found the main difference with the fuji is the amount of rubber on the road, the weight of bike and the fact that there is no sus forks to soak up my momentum.

I move my weight to the back of the bike under heavy braking but make sure I keep enough weight on the front to prevent it going light and locking up. It's this feel for balance and the modulation of the brake that I am improving now.

Treadders, it's really a case of getting used to the feel of the brakes, the more you rie it, the more you can able to feel how much braking power going onto the rims.

once you get the feel of it, you should able to have a good idea on estimating your stopping distance base on what you learn.

Cheers. I think I can probably speak for most newbies when I say that these forums have been a gold mine of useful information for improving riding pleasure and (most importantly) safety.

No squeeze! Unless you run disc brakes it is very unlikely you will go over the bars. As soon as the rear wheel lifts then let go, then apply the brake again as needed. Approach as fast as you want, as long as you can slow down again!

Cheers for the advice, I was more worried about the front wheel locking up. I'm getting much more confident with emergency stopping now. Some lady walked out between two parked vans yesterday and I squeezed hard, back wheel lifted but (like you say) by releasing a little bit managed to keep nicely balanced. I'm also really getting the hand of stopping fast by locking up the back wheel.

I'm 5'9'' and went for the 56

However i don't know about other people but I really didn't like the saddle on my flatmates fuji, but then again the charge one is damn comfortable in comparison so...

Very first thing I did with my spare cash was replace the fuji saddle with a nice leather Charge one

The reason I think the Fuji is good (and therefore parted with my cash) was because the "cheap and nasty" elements are all going to be replaced through general use anyway. So it's the frame I worry about. There are few things more infuriating to a cyclist than getting a 'decent' frame with 'decent' components only to be left replacing the 'decent' components with better ones on an ultimately average bike based on the 'decent' frame. Go for a good frame, get on your bike and upgrade it as you need to... kinda like the old days before 'builds'. hahaha

My golden rule for buying any type of bike has always been: 1st Frame, 2nd Wheels, 3rd all other components.

I was buying my first fixed wheel a few months ago and went for the FUJI 08 over any of the Charge bikes. Why? The frame is strong and light and the money I saved goes towards upgrade wheels and components.

Have to say I love the handling of my fuji more everyday.

Treadders, do you mean Stoke Newington Church Street?

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but if you get some cycle training, one of the first things that's taught is the proper use of brakes--it sounds as if you were in a quandary because you were unsure as to how to come to a safe stop.

If you're in LB Hackney (as inferred from mention of 'Church Street', but of course there are about a dozen Church Streets in London and probably hundreds around the country), you can get free cycle training--phone up CTUK on 020-7231 6005 to book a session. You'll enjoy your riding so much more as a result.

Yeah Stoke Newington Church street.

No I don't mind you say that. Your quite right I didn't know how to stop safely. I was travelling along at quite a pace on my Fuji track and the second car made a go for it when I was about 10ft away!

This incident happened a couple of months ago when I was reasonably new to fixed wheel (although I'd been riding in London for years) and was still enjoying the extra pace from the bike (which is why I made the switch). I was also still tuning in to the different riding style, working on my skid stop and still getting a feel for how much traction my new skinny tires were giving me and therefore how much pressure I could exert on the front brake in different conditions.

What I learned from the whole incident was to always watch that second car, assume it will try and go as well, and to be much more aware of my pace in general. I know now I was going too fast and should have adjusted my speed far earlier. I guess I posted so that others may learn from my mistakes.

As for cycle training: thanks for the info, I'll definitely look into it.

"gesturing", "shouting" and "screaming"... did you not think about 'braking'?

Yeah I thought someone might bring that up... I did reach for the brake when the first car cut across but didn't squeeze because I knew I would miss the back of it and when the second car went as well it was too late. I think I would have flipped over the bars or lost the front wheel if I braked so I instinctively swerved instead. But as I said I should have adjusted my speed approaching the junction... I was going too fast...guilty!

Top end of Church Street putting the hammer down to get to work. Coming up to overtaking a female cyclist just as two cars coming the other way indicate to turn right across on coming traffic. Car one sees a gap between me and first bike and decides to gun it, oblivious to the fact I'm going twice as fast as the first bike. I'm just about to to start jesturing and shouting when car two follows without even looking my way... I was convinced I was going down but the driver must of had a sixth sense (or heard me screaming) because he stopped half way through the turn while I flew in towards the kerb passing the front of his car by about 3inches.

I was approaching the junction in the middle of the lane and made eye contact with the first driver and couldn't believe he went for the gap. But in restrospect maybe I should have anticipated the second driver might have done something stupid and slowed right down. Live and learn...

I always avoid this bridge on the way north... soutwark bridge is MUCH safer

I always take the long way round and go over Southwark bridge... Sooooo much safer!

This is such a sad thing to happen. I've lived in and around that area for years and years, the junction is a nightmare. RIP and heart felt condolences to everyone involved.

You can cut the left turn out quite easily there - plenty of back routes which will avoid that junction.

There are so many backstreets in that area to take instead. If you have a bad junction on your commute, take some time one night and ride around the area a bit I bet you'll find a better route.

how the hell you go around tight corners if you can't hold the inside pedal up!
...

I'm new to fixed wheel too, although I've been riding in London for years.

I've had a few problems with the pedal digging into the tarmac during cornering. The worst was catching the inside pedal on a sticking out curb bit when cornering (fast). I got thrown sideways into a bollard!

I'm in the process of making some component upgrades to a '08 Fuji track, any tips people?

That is a horrible junction. I go past it from Old Street roundabout to Commercial Street every morning.

As Mr Smith said, better to arrive late or leave early than risk life or limb there.

I'm still a bit of a green-horn when it comes to fixed wheel (6 months or so) but I've been riding free wheel in London for about 8 Years.

It sounds a bit simple but I believe in using the empty space when riding. Go where vehicles and pedestrians are not. On busy city streets I personally don't care if this means occassionally jumping lights, overtaking traffic, using pavements etc. As long as you are not putting anyone out. But the best way to achieve empty space is to know your short cuts and quiet back streets. Avoid the busy roads and juctions. I absolutely agree that junction at old street is horrible, there has got to be a way to avoid it. Take a detour, use the backstreets. The extra exercise will do you good.

The golden rule though is you've got to be hyper-aware ALWAYS. This is the only way to be safe, especially if you dabble in the illegal (jumping lights etc).

At the end of the day it is all about risk: riding in London is a risk, jumping lights is a risk, over taking bendy busses is a risk. But what I always keep in mind is that if I exit this world flying head first through a windscreen because of my own mistake a number of lives are going to be ruined. Sometimes it's not just your own risk you are taking (With the greatest respect to those cyclists who have been injured or killed).

Ps. By the way if any of you veterans think I've got it wrong please correct me, I'm riding home in a minute!