After getting over the flu, I got sent on an eight-day road trip for work. It's nice to come back and see all the track and fixed gear discussions going on.
Last year I took an introductory track racing course at Trexlertown Velodrome and loved it. Went back every Saturday to watch the Vet's and Cat 4's & 5's race. I ended up selling my touring bike and my retro road racer and cashing in on vacation time to purchase a ~late 60's Cinelli track bike. This year I'm getting a USCF licence and I'll be out there too - off the back, but somebody's got to be last ;^)
My two fixed gear bikes are a 60's Frejus and a '72 World Voyageur. The Frejus has been with me since '78, and I've fixed it up as my go fast fixed gear. I have it at 44x17 (70") now and switch to 16 cog in summer (74"). The Voyageur was picked up from Walt S, and rebuilt. It's got Janet's 27" Campagnolo wheels, front panniers and Carradice bag, fenders and double leg kickstand. This is what I took out for my first ride of the year yesterday, and the 39x18 (59") was just about right. I don't gear this one too high since I do some short tours on it. Both of these have front and rear brakes.
When I rebuilt the Cinelli, a previous owner had drilled the fork crown, and I couldn't resist setting up an extra set of handlebars with a front brake. Short rides have shown that while it does work, the comfort level isn't the same as the other bikes (there's bumps out there!). This is what I'm bringing to the Cirque this year.
Roy "my dog is fixed too" Drinkwater Lititz, "I love that old joke" PA
p.s. there's a fixed gear list at
http://lists.davintech.ca/