My first (and only so far) ride on fixed was with a borrowed mate's bike in a busy town centre at morning rush hour. It was also my first time with the old school, leather strap toe clips.
I managed the first 50m with no problems. Then there was a t-junction - left lane to turn left and two lanes for ahead, controlled by traffic lights. I picked the middle lane. Lights on red. I applied the brakes, as you do, and came to a gentle stop. Fine. Then I tried to put my foot down, but I had yanked the toe clips way too tight and my foot would not come out. I balanced for a good six or eight seconds but then came the inevitable, but graceful, topple over.
Unfortunately, as I lay there in the middle of the junction, the leg that was on top of the bike was stretched out straight and I could not reach the toe clips to undo it. The leg that was closer was under the bike and I could not easily reach that one either, due to the frame being in the way. Because of the angle I was at the rear wheel also seemed jammed and I could not "pedal" it around to get a better grasp at my feet, and being fixed I could not freewheel it backwards either.
With horns sounding and the lights now on green I could only bum-shuffle across several lanes of traffic, bike still attached to my feet and pride in tatters to get to the pavement. Thankfully there was only one double decker of kids laughing and pointing, otherwise I might have felt a bit of a plonker ;-)
Moral of the tale - pick somewhere clam, empty and free from distractions and then enjoy it,
J
