"If you're going to ride it on the road, you'd be crazy to not have at least a front brake. And what's this ""style points"" nonsense? Do you read Bicycling Magazine?

""Chainwheel"""

Geometry is not the same as a road bike. Track bike angles are steeper and agressive. My suggestion is one size smaller, no more, then your current road frame size. By all means put a front brake on. I would never ride through the streets of Manhattan without one. Be safe, not stupid.

As far as taking off the brake for velodrome racing, if you use a stem where the front opens, either a quill stem or an aheadset version, you can use two sets of bars - one with brake levers for training, one without for racing. It makes it easy to swap.

Clipless or toe straps is your personal preference. Use your current pedal setup. Makes it easier to get used to. Give yourself some time as well to get used to riding one.

I would also recommend a 42/17-18 gear ratio to start. Can always make it bigger. This gearing allows you get to climb most any hill around here - Walnut, State Line, Central Park, etc..

"Tim,

Kissena Cycling Club is having a meeting tonight, and they will be discussing this subject. From http://www.kissena.info/:
""Wed, Nov 12 7:30pm
Winter Training and Fixed Gears
These are two separate subjects but can work together. The Winter Training portion of the meeting will be essentially a Q & A session. You bring the questions,our coaches will supply answers.

The Fixed Gear portion will be on how to adapt or build a fix, what gears to ride, when and where to ride it, and how it can be incorporated into your training.

Place: Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn.
Methodist Church is on 6th avenue and 8th street in Park Slope. Enter through the garden gate on 6th Avenue, then down the stairs.""

As to your questions: A fixed-gear can be either 1) a true track bike, meant for racing in a velodrome, with no provision for brakes, 2) a road/track bike, a kind that was very common in England, where fixed-gears were often used for road time trials, or 3) a road bike, preferably one with horizontal dropouts, converted to fixed gear. The true track bike has steep angles and is built for speed and acceleration, not comfort. Nevertheless, some people do ride track bikes on the road (including me). See Sheldon Brown's article on fixed-gears and track bikes.

You really only need a front brake on a fixed-gear, because you can slow down with your legs. There are many messengers who ride without any brakes, but on the streets of Manhattan this is foolhardy and inefficient for the average person. Even if you have the skills to come to a sudden stop by skidding, this practice is said to be bad for the knees.

If you are using clipless pedals, ones with two-sided entry are a good idea to start with, because you can't coast while you are getting your second shoe clipped in, and you don't want to chase the pedal around and around.

Gearing is an individual choice. You don't want to be overgeared, but if you are undergeared you will find yourself flailing at the pedals on downhills. For me, a 72-inch gear (49x18) is the best for all kinds of terrain. That includes rolling hills and stiff (but not very long) climbs, as on River Road.

If you'd like to see pictures of many different fixed-gears, look at the Fixed-Gear Gallery.


"

"I used to believe that stuff about needing only one brake, that your legs would slow you down enough that having just a front brake was sufficient. Then I had a crash that might have been avoided if I had two brakes, and the truth of the matter is that unless you've mastered the skill of hopping the bike to lock up the rear wheel you simply can't stop as quickly with only one brake. Besides that, you become accustomed to relaxing your legs while they're spinning around in circles, ""coasting,"" as it were, which does you no good in a panic stop situation. That's reason #1.

Reason #2 - if you decide to use a flip-flop hub with a single-speed freewheel on one side you'll definitely need two brakes.

If you take a look at the fixed gear gallery you'll see one brake, two brakes, and no brakes. It's your skin, you decide. Crashing sucks."

"I've had a fixed gear for about two months now and I have enjoyed it immensely. It is a very different experience than riding a geared bike. Concentration is ""on"" at all times. In fact, I didn't ride my roadie for nearly 4 weeks after getting the fix. It has definitely make me a stronger and better cyclist.

I use a De Bernardi track frame, 2cm smaller than my roadie (58 vs 60) and use a 42x15 gear, which I find is just about perfect for city and Central Park riding. Good for spinning and not too tough on the CP hills.

I don't have brakes on the bike, which may be ""foolhardy"", but (I like to think) further sharpens my awareness when on the bike. On the city streets I ride in a very deliberate manner and in control, and wind it up only on the bike path and in the park. I haven't found a brake necessary, though I can say I would have used it more than once.

I use my eggbeaters rather than cages for my pedals. I bought cages and found that I am much more proficient with what I am used to than that which I am not. Entry/exit/control is much better with clipless pedals than cages, at least for me.

By all means go fixed. It is great fun and will improve your road fitness and technique.

Another great site: http://www.oldskooltrack.com/

"

I should have guessed that the fixie converts would have some of the most intelligent and passionate responses out there. My own fixed started in an attempt to build a sub-$200 machine for NYC streets but after 3+ years, I wouldn’t dare part with it! After riding fixed for a while, the bike becomes uniquely yours.