Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - switched to bullhorns, now gone brakeless...

i've only been riding fixed for about 6 months. the whole time using nitto b123 track drops and a front bmx brake. i had seen other riders doing skids and riding brakeless but never understood how they managed with the hills in seattle. then, last week i did the unthinkable to my beautiful nitto drops... i flipped and chopped them.

riding with horns made all the difference. it gives me the added forward weight distribution to lean up on the front tire, letting the back tire skid effortlessly. the faster i want to stop the more weight i put on the back tire as i'm skidding. it was as if a light bulb switched on in my head, and suddenly the world became clear. i hadn't touched the brake since and so i took it off this morning. i just got back from my first brakeless ride. needless to say i didn't miss the brake.

there's really no point to this post, other than to share my jubilation and possibly shed light on the subject for other newbies. if you're trying to learn how to skid with drops, switch to horns!

You did what?? I've got a set of trash picked road drops, I would have chopped them for you and paid for shipping to trade for the Nitto!! Dang!

Congrats on the new found skills and all, but... at what cost??

sacrilegious, i know. i actually tried it using some old soma track bars first, but the sizing was all wrong. they were too wide and long. i tried to avoid cutting up the nitto's, but they were the perfect size, and i knew i wouldn't use them as drops.

I would have kept the track drops and thrown down some cash on Nitto bullhorns.

friend of mine did this with some cinelli drops. i almost cried.

yeah yeah, i would have had to order them and i didn't want to wait... plus i really like my narrow 38cm b123's. the nitto bullhorns are too wide at 42cm, imho. if for whatever reason i go back to drops, i can always buy another set of b123's.

just be careful out there.
that initial rush of freedom sometimes fogs the mind's perception of how to conduct oneself in certain riding situations.

I've lost a lot of confidence since I went from riding brakeless on risers to riding brakeless on track drops, so I know know how you feel.
I never had any problems before and now I'm kinda nervous in traffic. luckily I'm not in the big city anymore.
I'm told I just have to get used to it and it will become second nature after a while.

I'm glad you're having fun easy ridin'

Great to hear! I will probably take away my front brake since I never use it but I've only had my fixie for a few weeks so I think I'll wait until I really feel mature for the task. Maybe in a couple of months.

I am putting together mine now and this thread couldn't be any more topical. :)
I have a set of Cinelli L.A.84's 42 aero's, I guess they are not true "bullhorns"?
Would it be a bad idea to cut off some of the length?
I like the overall ride of bullhorns, riding on drops for too long of period of time gives me
sore back muscles.
Plus raising my site level on bullhorns, slightly gives me better sight when riding in and around traffic.

So again:

Are Cinelli L.A.84's considered Bullhorns.
whats wrong with chopping an inch off from them?
Can you get Cinelli Bullhorns ..anywhere? Anymore?

Can you get Cinelli Bullhorns ..anywhere? Anymore?

there's a guy on ebay that is always selling the cinelli tempo bullhorns.

theres nothing wrong with chopping nitto drops.

dumpster bars don't have the same curve...if i go with bullhorns again ever, it'll be chopped b123s.

that's what i'm talk'n bout.

hopefully you dont strip your hub going 20mph into traffic