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True:)

Yes, a lighter bike makes a difference but how much is the difference and is the difference worth the cost?

Indeed. But one thing I've wondered is whether it matters whether weight is lost on the combination of bike and rider or the bike itself. Putting aside matters such as that a person with a fair bit of fat of them will tend to have some corresponding extra muscle, is shaving a couple of pounds from a bike any better than just losing a bit of one's own weight?
I've always assumed that a pot-bellied cyclist who spends £80 on a titanium bottle cage versus a steel one or whatever would get the same benefit by shifting a teeny bit of his own weight. Is this principle correct, or is weight on the bicycle more of an issue than weight on the rider?

Track hubs generally come with solid axles and track nuts. This is because most velodromes have rules requiring this type of wheel attachment. As a result, it is widely believed that quick-release axles are not suitable for fixed-gear use. This is false!
It is my belief that the velodrome rule dates back to longbefore the invention of the quick-release, when the choices werestandard nuts or wing nuts. The protruding "wings" of wing nuts mightconstitute a hazard in a crash, and I believe that's why the rule wasinstituted. Since quick-release skewers don't have any sharpprojections, that becomes a non-issue in practice.
If you are going to use a quick release with a fixed gear, you should make sure to use a good quality enclosed-cam skewer.

**EDIT: What **eeehhhh said(ish).

So does this mean that, in the thread about pitlock skewers, remarks that you oughtn't to use such a skewer on your back wheel are wrong? I've been wanting to put pitlocks on my front wheel and seatpost and would ideally put one on the back wheel, too, not least because the triple set of pitlocks is about the same as getting a seat and front wheel one.

PS: Hippy, re the Superflash, again: they very handily come with two mounting brackets, one of which will fit nicely on rear forks etc, which is rather better than similar Cateye etc models...

Not certain that I want to apply for it [the pay's not great] but I haven't seen much of the mag so might be interested, depending what it's like.

Ah, wow! Might I be able to borrow them? Can come to wherever in London over next few days and offer beer by way of thanks.

they don't have it in .pdf then?

They've got an article or two from the past few issues available as pdf, but no. Unless I'm not looking properly, and I think I am.

Does anybody have back issues of the London Cyclist that I could borrow?
I'm trying to get hold of copies of about the past half dozen or dozen past issues. Or further back if possible.
I've phoned the LCC, which sells back issues, but they only have them going back the past three issues. [Plus a loan, rather than sale, of them would be cheaper of course...].
I would take great care of them and have them back with you within a week or two.
Thanks a lot for any help.

They are super bright but how long do the batts last compared to the normal Smart light (which I have).

Loads of peeps east could help with fitting cogs. Go to East drinks. Cogs can be found Tour de Ville, online, Condor, BLB, etc

Cheers. Battery life on the Superflash claims to be 190 hours on flash mode and 30 hours on constant. No idea how accurate that is, though.

Thanks for all the replies.
Yep, I ended up getting a front brake instead of rear.
I don't know what the current cog is but, yep, I think I'll go and get a 48x19 fitted on the other side. Where would be the cheapest place to buy and fit it in London (central or east-ish), I wonder?

Thanks again for all remarks. I do realise that there's no better solution than experience etc and that these things take time. I've been browsing past threads, too.

Rather than just be a parasite with questions, I might as well add on an unconnected note that the Smart Superflash is awesome. I've a Dinotte rear light [which is unbelievably bright] but the Superflash is very, very impressive and given that it's about a sixth of the price is in my limited experience well worth getting. I don't understand why some people eschew having lights, but however, that's something for another thread I guess....

Front brake and feet attached to pedals ffs.

Now use the search button up the top for fun words like "skid" "stopping" "skip" "brakes" and read the results.

Ok, I'll spend some more time browsing. But it appears that 95% of the threads are dominated by discussions of whether it's sensible to forgo a brake for aesthetics or which bit of a tyre gets worn down by stopping.
But, indeed, I should spend some more time looking around.

But is the suggestion that I get a back brake as well as front?

Nope, this isn't about my smack habit.
I got a Fuji Track [thanks for the advice and threads I searched about this before making my purchase -- a 58 and it seems to fit great.]
On the basis of other threads, I got a Shimano 105 on it. The guy at Evans was very pleasant and enthusiastic but reckoned that if I was going to get one brake I should put it on the back, but I sort of thought that was wrong.
I cycled it from Spitalfields home and it was an interesting first experience riding fixed. No zen thing going on, of course, but however.
But... um, how was I supposed to stop?
A daft question, perhaps, but searching the forum I didn't find any information for an absolute newbie like myself. Yes, I could ride for three days in the Cotswolds and find out how to stop, but I'm looking for some tips that'll let me survive the first 20-odd hours of riding my new bike.
I rode about ten miles an hour on my short trip and tried to use a combination of braking and sort of pushing back on the pedals to stop. I wasn't properly secured by the straps since I thought that might spell disaster. But maybe I should have, and rely more on pulling up on the pedals than I was?
I think the Fuji Track has quite a high gearing. Would I find brakeless stopping much easier if I got the gearing changed to something lower? Is it just that it takes a little while to get the right muscles up to scratch?
I'm a little confused by the fact that if I'm using the front brake I should shift my weight back with the whole thing about somehow shifting my weight forward if I want to use the pedals to brake.
Do I have to pretty much decide between a) a brake stop or b) leaning forward and locking the back wheel.
And the whole thing of locking the back wheel is unclear. Does one lock one's legs? I understand from other threads [and, yes, I really, I have done a search] that I want my legs at 3 o'clock/9 o'clock, but how do I lock my legs like that!?
If it's a toss-up between braking and pedal-stopping [sic?], what's the maximum speed I can do the former at?
I know that all this will come with time, but I'm hoping to get some information about it all before going under a bus. Maybe it's the case that you can't stop within 20 metres before riding for a certain length of time, but if there are any tips or links that'd be great.
Sorry for such a possibly ridiculous-sounding query, but in my little journey the other day I just found it impossible to stop in a shortish stretch despite going slowly.
What, also, out of interest, will be the best I can hope for after time? Say you're going along at 18mph or so, is it simply the case that you can't stop within a given distance?
Looking forward to the sarcastic remarks as well as, hopefully, some helpful pointers,
Ben

It won't be less costly.. since they continue to sell it at the current prices to people such as yourself who justify the expense.

But people like myself used to have a decent income but now don't.
So if they track my income, Rapha will have an ongoing 50% sale. Perhaps, but hopefully not, indefinitely...
Not that I was ever one of the rich lard-arses in Condor that I hear of who put on two pounds over a business lunch and then go into the shop to pay silly money for a bottle cage that shaves 25g off their overall cycling weight.
[I was just one of the lard-arses]
Actually, though, could cycling goods prices be an area that's hurt, rather than helped, but the credit crunch, I wonder. Just that if everybody's looking to economise by selling their SUVs etc, I wonder whether in good old Keynsian fashion the price of bicycles etc might rise.
But I agree that I should make a dirty protest at Rapha to push things lower.
On which note, I'm taken by their winter cap but remember that somebody on this forum a while ago was making cycling caps. They looked great, but I can't remember the name. Who should I be looking for?

I hear that Father Christmas is seeing a psychotherapist at the moment.

... He just doesn't believe in himself anymore....

Um, cycling gifts-wise, I got a pair of lobster mittens/gloves, whereby your first & second and third & fourth fingers are cosied together. I think I like them.
[Also got a green cashmere jumper [Tesco do them for about £20 now, I believe], a picture by my 4-year-old niece, which I love, an Andy Warhol Rosenthal mug and some
shaving foam. My biggest thrill this Christmas, though, was the excitement from my niece on getting a make-your-own-nail-polish set I gave her. She got some rather more expensive presents (from me and others) but she's so pleased with that that it's the best fiver I've spent this year.]
[edit]:
Jeez, I forgot to mention the best present I was given this year, because I was given it a few days ago. My girlfriend got me a Brooks cycling top. I utterly love it. http://www.extrauk.co.uk/product/detail/Brooks/Tops/5381/

I like the look of some of the Rapha stuff. But it's pretty pricey, I think.

Actually, I got the winter jersey [about a year ago and before the crunch].
For me, it's been worth it. Firstly, I love the aesthetics. And secondly, although I suppose I'd happily toddle around around in something that "does the job" [some army surplus mac or whatever], I freelance at various places where I'd be loathe to turn up to work looking really shabby and my Rapha top over shirt and tie kind of works. I know, I know, I should ideally ditch any workplace that has an issue with such facile, superficial things. And I could wear a better-priced top that I dump in a bag before entering the office. But that way I just look weird for being cumpled/having road detritus spattered on me etc. Rapha makes me look like I'm professional [stroke: rich-ish] while at the same time explaining why I'm a tad red-faced and sweaty.
It's all very well saying that image counts for nothing, but if wearing something with a nice pink trim etc rather than looking like I'm a tramp who's been shoplifting in Millet's mean that my employers give me more credibility, it may be a worthwhile investment.
Sure, it's expensive, but if shelling out on, say, the softshell jacket means that you can cycle to some place looking really good rather than instead deciding to bus it so that you can wear a nice overcoat or some such, you're kind of saving money [and time] that way. To reiterate, though, I'm coming from the angle that looks are important to others rather than me [although, yes, I acknowledge that by reacting to that means that looks do count in my priorities]. A slightly sad fact about life. [Although, f**k it, I do straightforwardly like the asymmetrical cut of the softshell jacket and would pay a premium for it -- it's just unfortunate that Primark et al haven't ripped the design off].

Am I out of the nursery yet?

But back to Rapha. I'd like it more if it was less costly...

Very sad. London Lite suggests he collapsed, too.

Plea to identify dead park cyclist; In brief
70 words
18 December 2008

 POLICE have appealed for help tracing the identity of a cyclist who collapsed in Richmond Park and later died. The man, described as white, thin, possibly in his thirties and around 6ft tall with short fair hair, was wearing black and grey cycling gear and was between Richmond Gate and Pembroke Lodge at 5pm yesterday.

Call police on 020 7161 9630.

Was the portacabin attached to the barn?

The barn was out in Surrey. Deliberate, with few friends, but it seemed unused/abandoned. It was quite a buzz cycling off as we heard fire engines approaching. I'm not proud of it, though.
The other incident involved turning heaters on when there were plastic bags near them, not realising that a fire was starting but just thinking the cigarette smoke was getting a bit heavy. Left and then later realised that a fire had started -- it was all gutted in the end. Not proud, but at least hadn't done it on purpose.
Jeez, this thread is cathartic...

I confess:

1. I've never ridden fixed
   
2. I'm still in the forum's "nursery"
   
3. I burnt down a barn when I was 15
   
4. I'm considering asking a question about sizing a fuji track for a six-foot tall person
   
5. I burnt down a PortaKabin when I was 15 (but by accident).
   
6. I spent a night in the cells for riding a bicycle drunk
   
7. I'm not certain whether my forthcoming fuji track purchase is based on fashion (the whole fakenger/fixie image thing) or practicality (being awful at mechanics and hoping that without gears I might more or less be able to service my bike eventually), a perverse bloodymindedness (the idea that it would be fun to do things with more difficulty for the sake of mastering it) or some silly chase for zen one-ness with a bike (which sounds just plain daft).
   
8. I was arrested for being "drunk and incapable" aged 13 or 14.
   
9. I owned a Specialized SS until a few months ago when it was stolen.
   
10. I'm riding a Ridgeback commuter with a rear rack at the moment.
    
11. I really like doing number ten.
    
12. I deserve contempt for stating 11 while also going for 7.
    

... and since one can't edit posts [or I can't see how, anyhow] I'll use my second of five nursery posts to correct:

"First post, and forgive me for its possible stupidity --"

[Still in nursery. First post, and forgive me for it's possible stupidity -- haven't ridden fixed before, and awaiting getting a Fuji Track near the end of the year.]

What with only having a front brake on a fixed bike, isn't there a fairly high chance of being thrown over the handlebars? At least if your legs aren't pushing back hard enough on the pedals when trying to stop?
A couple of years ago, cycling on a geared bike one-handed because of carrying a shopping bag, I managed to pull the front brake and fling myself over, thus breaking my arm. I'd rather not repeat that. (Although this time it'd be in the UK, where the hospitals are marginally more pleasant than in Serbia.)

Is there anything about the 2009 Fuji Track

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/track-2009-single-speed-road-bike-ec016010

that makes it worth paying £50 or so more than the 2008 model?

http://biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162{6}120{8}275{7}256

Thanks for any thoughts

YE OLDE LONDON RIDE

1.Heather
2.Ma3k
3.Alex
4.Hael

1. Benjamin1750
   

That was fun. Nice to meet such a good bunch of people.
I baled at Tower Bridge, because my legs were feeling it somewhat.
As well as being a really enjoyable ride, it was a bit of a nudge to start riding more [my daily commute is only about 2.5 miles each way] and getting fit.
Looking forward to the next one...

Samsonite and Turd (et al):
I'll be there at the beigel shop at 10, regardless of weather.
After about 8 pints today, I wouldn't say no to a few more, whatever happens.

Does anybody fancy doing a feeder from Cambridge? I'll be setting off from there about 7pm.
Bishops Stortford about 8.15pm for those who want to pick up from there.
Will be whizzing through Harlow at about 8.45pm.
Then I'll be at Stratford at about 9.15pm, where I'll pick up a kebab.
Then ... OK, I've done my Big Fib for the day.
With a little trepidation, I'm going to try to hook up with the Brick Lane people at 9.30pm if that's the time folk will be meeting there.
I shall be wearing a red carnation and carrying a copy of Which? magazine.
I shan't bale on account of rain, but I hope I won't be considered too much of a party pooper if I don't manage the whole ride on account of being the All-England Slow Cycling champion (over 2mph category). [Of course, if I start chatting about Bernanke's decision to cut the discount rate or the problem of playing suited connectors in late position in a short-handed sit and go, you might be quite pleased if I do wimp out after a few miles...]

... sorry, i think i left a scarf ...