Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - drilling for brakes

I have a gan well pro keirin frame that i have been riding fixed for a few years, and i got knee surgery last year and cant ride fixed anymore. i love the frame and want to(sadly) convert it to a singlespeed, but i need brakes now. does anyone know about drilling for brakes?

Get a new fork! Please don't drill her!

Firstly, it's not safe.

But whatever, we ride brakeless track bikes on the street, so thats not the issue.

So, secondly, and more importantly, ROAD FORKS ARE CHEAP!!

If you want: post pics of your headtube, as I have a lugged 1" threaded KHS track fork drilled for brakes that I'll get rid of super-super-super-cheap if it'll fit (it's been cut really short).

I second that - a new front fork would suffice. While apparently not of the approved status quo, I used to run a SS with just a front brake. However, there do seem to be ways to get a rear brake on the frame with some kind of mounting hardware.

However, if you really have to, I suppose drilling the frame could be done fairly easily though I'm not sure if the bridgestay will accomadate/weaken with such a modification.

I'm also thinking of possibly using a track frame for a singlespeed. Front problem solved w/ road fork. If the bridgestay is not beefy enough to be drilled and the frame is steel, you might have a road bike's bridgestay welded in.

Running a SS/Freewheeling bike without a back brake really isn't that big a problem, if a problem at all. Front brakes are much more effective, and perfectly adequate on their own if you aren't a "OH ****!" = SQUEEZE AS HARD AS I CAN!!!! type of guy.

Get a coaster brake and don't drill anything.

m.

If you go with a road fork make sure it has the same rise as the fork it's replacing. The lack of brake hole on track forks means that a lot of them have a lower crown so replacing it with a road fork will slacken the geometry.

As for front-brake-only SS, it's true that a front brake is all you need for maximum stopping power. However, for control under anything other than ideal circumstances, it's good to have some means of braking the rear.

Bah, just ride brakeless! One up the hipsters! Brakeless SS!

Brakeless SS!
Already exists.

See "Brakeless Deathwish"

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=107423

if you've got the money and desire, you could go with disc brakes. i don't know how those work, think ya need new hubs or something. i don't particularly care, because i'll never have the money or need for such things, but it might work well for you.

also, i'd echo frowning on drilling a track fork. so does sheldon brown, apparently.

i'd also echo the sentiment that if you are a careful rider, a front brake alone could suffice for a single speed. i'd also echo the radness of coaster brakes. plus, you get to look like yr riding brakeless! and then coast! and confuse the hell out of bystanders! who aren't really confused, or even paying attention!

(except for getting ridonkulous at the end i was serious. coaster brakes are rad)

if you've got the money and desire, you could go with disc brakes. i don't know how those work, think ya need new hubs or something. i don't particularly care, because i'll never have the money or need for such things, but it might work well for you.
You have absolutley no idea how disc brakes work, do you?

Discs need mounts welded on the fork and frame, as well as special hubs, blah, blah.

Frames are also specially designed to withstand the large braking loads from the discs.

This is completely out of the range of a kerin frame.

Some interesting disc brake mods from FGG:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/may/HollyGates.htm
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/gunnarstern.htm
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/jan/akers.htm
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/mar/MarceloRodrigues.htm

holy brake cable (on that gt) batman!!

You have absolutley no idea how disc brakes work, do you?

that's accurate.

you make it sound like i should be ashamed of myself or something.

thanks for the advice, i will probably get a new fork and just have a front brake. i've beeen riding my friends spare singlespeed for the last few months and dont think ive used the back brake the whole time anyway.

that's accurate.

you make it sound like i should be ashamed of myself or something.

Well, if you have no idea how something works, it would make sense if you didn't suggest it.

It's not like they're hard to learn about.

i don't particularly care, because i'll never have the money or need for such things, but it might work well for you.

I think that's the part that came across badly.

m.

Get a coaster brake and don't drill anything.

m.

i like this guys idea

Already exists.

See "Brakeless Deathwish"

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=107423
brakeless deathwish

this may be more sacrilegous than drilling the fork but may be more feasible--braze on a pair studs for cantilevers. Would also work for rear brakes.

I like the coaster brake idea. a front brake is nice to have with CBs too, so you can stop with your feet in starting position.

Keirin frame? Do what Keirin racers do.

Get the clamp on brake set. Racers train with thier race bikes on the road-and are required to have brakes. They then unclamp them for racing.

-Somebody had some fronts up for auction perhaps within 3 past months (they may have more). Not sure if this was before the e-bay/craigslist thread purge.

[EDIT] The rear clamp on looked simple enough to make. 2 metal plates if I recall.

Why eff up a beautiful frame (eg, drilling or welding extra bits) or buy stuff you don't really need (eg, a new fork)? Keep your back wheel, keep everything the way it is... get a nice real wheel with a nice coaster brake and use your track wheel at the track or if your knee improves over time. Not only is it the path of least resistance, but you're also not doing anything irreversable to the frame itself, you get to maintain the lovely aesthetics of a cable-free bike and you end up with something fairly uniquely esoteric. There aren't too many guys (anyone aside from jimv?) running high end track bikes with coaster brakes.

m.

Oh wait... Little Indy bikes... I forgot about those. So you'd have something that was unique to you and a horde of drunken frat dudes.

m.

IF you go the coaster brake route, get a good one. I seem to recall some Mass Bike folks did a study regarding rim heat while braking on descents. They also included a coaster brake equipped bike. If my memory serves, the coaster brake melted.

[EDIT]Found the study I was thinking about. "SAFE" BRAKES THAT BURN UP (http://www.johnforester.com/Articles/BicycleEng/safe_brakes_that_burn_up.htm) by John Forester. My mistake, it didn't melt...it burned.

step away from the powertools. move towards a yard-sale. convert an old road frame.

Trying to think of a solution that has not been recommended... Can't. Go brakeless, drill, braze, change fork, use canti's, use clipons, use a coaster, use a disc brake, change the frame... Maybe sy will suggest riding it fixed soon:-)

give me the frame and I'll buy/build/steal a singlespeed of your choosing.

They also included a coaster brake equipped bike. If my memory serves, the coaster brake melted.

There's a reason they named it Repack Road back in the day.