Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Went Brakeless for the first time!

Well, I took off my front brake off the Kilo TT bike friday and took it out for a 4 mile run. Whew, not even one close call, but I was being very cautious. It does seem to make you really look out farther, way farther than you would with a brake. It also made me more proud to be riding a track bike, my drops look much cooler without a brake lever and the fender/tire look is much cleaner. I'm going to try it out a few more times to see if I want to fully make the jump. I am not able to skid or skip yet, and probally should learn that first before I go brakeless. I also am running a 48x16, which is too high for me in hilly Southside. Gonna change it to a 40x15. Will have a 16t freewheel for the extra steep hills. The hills are also what I am not sure about without brakes.

Chad

Chad-
hurry and refine your skills for monster track in new york. First weekend of March.

i am hereby guranteeing a top three finish at MT7

Gonna change it to a 40x15. Will have a 16t freewheel for the extra steep hills. The hills are also what I am not sure about without brakes.

If you are going brakeless, you probably shouldn't be using a freewheel.

i am hereby guranteeing a top three finish at MT7
For you?

If you are going brakeless, you probably shouldn't be using a freewheel.

Don't listen to him, you can still easily stop by reaching down and shoving your hand between the tire and seat tube. Just wear really thick gloves.

also, learn to skip, for the love of god.

I pushed 48x16 up the Bates St. hill from Southside to S. Oakland alllllll summer for some dumb reason. I suggest you drop your ratio if not for any reason other than more skid spots.

For you?
no. for somebody.

no. for somebody.
I second that: Someone, will finish top three. I'll up the ante and predict a winner.

Someone won't finish.

Kilo TT ? Who is the manufacturer? Pics?

Whew, not even one close call, but I was being very cautious.Wait til after Christmas.... :D

i'm guaranteeing a bottom three finish at monstertrack. for me.

no. for somebody.
in fact, a top three finish may be there for THREE somebodies.

i will not be one.

i had that exact same gear, 48X16 for about a month. it's not the best gear to learn how to skid/skip. and i don't think anyone should ride high gears with out brakes.

i had that exact same gear, 48X16 for about a month. it's not the best gear to learn how to skid/skip. and i don't think anyone should ride high gears with out brakes.

i am currently rocking 48/16 and had no problem skipping and skidding. i think nimbus should perhaps keep the break on UNTIL he learns to skip and skid though. but wait...he's still on the freewheel? is it a track or freewheel cog nimbus?

i had that exact same gear, 48X16 for about a month. it's not the best gear to learn how to skid/skip. and i don't think anyone should ride high gears with out brakes.

never thought 48x16 was a high gear. I ride 49x16 in the city and I do just fine brakeless in the city. 49x14 maybe but 48x16 is not a tall gear for brakeless.

Well, I took off my front brake off the Kilo TT bike friday and took it out for a 4 mile run. Whew, not even one close call, but I was being very cautious.
Chad

4 miles, and not ONE close call?

Or do you mean you were out running your bike?

i had that exact same gear, 48X16 for about a month. it's not the best gear to learn how to skid/skip. and i don't think anyone should ride high gears with out brakes.
48x16=3 skid patches
48x17=17 skid patches

Try an 18 tooth cog before you change your chainring to 40. I run 48x18 here in Vermont so you shouldn't have any trouble with it there.

48x16 = 1 skid patch. not three. every rotation of the cranks rotates the wheel three times, but it is always in the same one spot making one skid patch.

Kilo TT ? Who is the manufacturer? Pics?
Mercier, supposedly. i dont have any pictures of mine i dont think, but as far as under-450 bikes go, i'm in love with it

48x16 = 1 skid patch. not three. every rotation of the cranks rotates the wheel three times, but it is always in the same one spot making one skid patch.

Isn't that assuming you always skip/skid with the same foot forward?

i just went braless for the first time

:O

herent, of course. but, if you do with two feet, then it's only two, which is still garbage. it's the minimum number of skid patches that you can possibly have.

Sorry for the long reply, holidays you know! I changed my gear ratio to 39x16 fixed, and put a brake on it. Now I am spinning out like mad, and the tops of my knees are sore, but I can skip and skid like I am on ice. It's quite simple actually, I just lean forward and just friggin stop my foot in the back...I even love the sound the tire makes skidding lol. When I was saying that I didn't have one close call, I meant that I didn't have any problems needing to emergency stop. I was keeping a watchful eye out. I really thought spinning more would be better, but jeez, my legs are telling me otherwise. I will use 39x16 for a couple weeks to build up my legs, but I do have another set (nashbar crank with suzue hub/CR16 rims) waiting for me with a 40x15. I am currently riding in verona/oakmont, as I am living there right now. TOO MANY GODDAMN HILLS! I am still walking up several of the hills around here, they are about 15% grades, no joke!

Chad

If you are going brakeless, you probably shouldn't be using a freewheel.
u can always stop with your...feet? ha

how do you figure out skid patches again?


what would 46x18 be? what about 47x18?

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/i1/FixedRatio.jpg

So I'm a newbie, as you all can see. I only started riding fixed maybe a month ago, and before I started I told myself I would use a front brake to have as an E brake. I haven't put one on yet, just haven't been going too fast. I kind of feel like if I put one on now that I'm kind of getting used to not having a brake, it would mess me up somehow, or I would have to re learn or something. What do you think, should I put one on eventhough I feel like I could get used to riding brakeless?

no brakes. i had one for too long and never used it. blech.

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/i1/FixedRatio.jpg

hey cool. do you have the info for a 36t front ring? thanks.

hey cool. do you have the info for a 36t front ring? thanks.
36/cog teeth = ratio

36/cog teeth -> remainder ; cog teeth /remainder = skid patches. Use your head. Do the math, etc. </surly engineer>

Edit: If the remainder is 0 (the cog teeth divides into the 36t ring evenly) there is one skid patch, not an infinite or undefined amount. Drinking leads to generalizations lead to bad math. Happy new years, suckers.