I remember seeing a few pictures of fixed gear bikes around here and I vaguely recall a link to a Youtube video featuring crazy bike messengers, so I thought I’d post this.
I just finished watching Pedal, a very cool documentary on New York’s bike messenger scene. I’ve put some thought into it, and my recommendation would be to watch it–immediately.
It makes me wish I could say that buying a fixed gear bike and moving to New York would be a good idea.
did you buy it or watch it on the tubes?
bike messenger videos are general awesome
Get yourself a fixie/singlespeed bike and have fun. A fixie has the kind of impracticalities that a unicyclist will appreciate. 
Just resist the urge to get the bike as a boutique urban fashion accessory or as a messenger wannabe. It seems a lot of urban fixies are tricked out to fit a fashion statement rather than as a practical ride.
Riding brakeless in the city is just dumb silly crazy. Do that and you’re going to have close calls. It’s not going to be a question of if, but when, you are going to crash because of that fashion statement.
Bullhorn handlebars are also hip but the trend of putting on the little cross style brake levers moves the brake levers farther away from your hands in the normal riding position. That means you have to let go of the handlebars to move your hands over to the brakes if you need to make a quick stop. By the time you move your hands it may be too late if you have to make a panic stop.
The short flat straight cutdown bars are also trendy dumb. It’s nice to be all narrow if you’re squeezing between cars in NY being the hip messenger. But narrow bars have less control and climbing with little stubs for handlebars is more difficult.
My bike, a Cayne Uno by Sun Bicycles, has gone to the bullhorn style handlebars for 2008. All in the name of fashion rather than practical riding. My 2007 model came with regular drop bars. Very practical for a road bike, but not very hip and fashionable. My fixie isn’t a fashion statement or a trendy lifestyle statement.