aixaix 

By no particular power vested in me, I hereby declare Vintage Track Day at the venerable and historic Kissena track in Queens. (That's NY, if you want to make flight plans.) This remarkable event will give vintage enthusiasts an opportunity to exercise their ancient track iron (& ancient muscles) on the last of the great NY tracks. We will swap stories, lies and maybe even bikes. I am expecting some of the leading Classic Rendezvous luminaries from the area to attend, bringing with them their enviable knowledge of racing, as well as some great bicycles.

Nothing more specific is planned, other than a group warm-up. If people want to race, fine. If, like me, you'd rather just circle the track and rediscover what a fixed gear bike is really built for, cool! There's nobody official around to yell at you, though some some common sense rules (ride counterclockwise, don't use your brakes if you have them, e.g.) will be observed.

Please come with what you got: all bikes welcome.

We meet Saturday, October 15 at 11:00AM (rain date October 22), tootle around the track for a couple of hours, then get some pizza.

No RSVP necessary, though I'd be happy to hear from all who plan to go.

Velognome 

Ohh now I want...scratch that...need a vintage track bike.......Almost in my backyard and nothing apprpriate to ride

aixaix 

Don't stress over it. You can ride anything you bring.

J.Wolfe

i wouldn't think of participating. but spectating... that's another story

Giacomo 1 

Wow, this is a no-brainer for me.

I live only 15 minutes from the track, and I've never been there! Truth-be-known though, I've only gotten back into the bike thing this summer, so...

But it sounds great. I will plan to be there, if I can. I'm abit confused though - does it have to be a fixie to do some laps on the track or will any vintage racer do? I'll bring my 90 Miyata 14 speed if it's OK, I don't have a fixie.

A quick point, the great George Hincapie was a Queens boy, and I hear he got his start at Kissena...

Velognome 

Sounds like fun, I've got a C&V fixed gear 3 speed with drops, so that's kinda appropriate I guess? How do we find each other.....oh yea, we the guys on old bikes. See ya around 11am, the weather looks good for saturday!

aixaix 

Kissena is as accessible as a track can be: park, walk through (or over) the little gate, look left so you don't get run over by adrenaline/testosterone-fueled loonies on bikes, cross the track and walk into the infield. Here's a link to directions: https://kissena.info/track/more.php?id=59_0_8_0

Really, this is not formal or stuffy. Nobody's going to keep you from using the track if you don't have a track bike. It is a public facility in a public park, for our use and enjoyment. Kind of like a swing set. It just happens to be a bicycle track with a pretty cool history.

repechage

Has it ever been resurfaced? Washboard comes to my mind.

aixaix 

Washboard? You are too kind.
I heard it was resurfaced (retextured, more likely: it ain't great) a few years ago. When were you on it last?

Standalone 

I last saw that track when I was living in Astoria in 1999. Hope it's much better now!