Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - New Years Resolution, or Thoughts from SF

So after my single day in San Francisco, I decided on 2 things.

1. Brakeless in that city is insane. If you ride brakeless there, you should have a sticker on your bike that says "Deathwish" or "I'm planning on dying" or "Go to Hill" or something.

2. I vow to never visit a half decent city without a bike again. And with that, I vow to put together as many of the pieces of bike sitting in my basement as I can, so I can lend bikes out to anyone visiting Philadelphia. Call it a bike sharing program. Cause it sucks to be stuck in the trendy downtown area, with no clue where to go, and no way to get there.

1) i rode a freewheel BMX brakeless in San Fran for a summer (99) while living at the top of Nobb Hill. Made for some interesting riding and I wore through two pairs of Chuck Taylors. It was a pain in the ass but all i had.

edit: oops, forgot...

2) i definitely know what you mean. I'm heading down to new orleans tomorrow and dread not having a bike to get around.

Why didn't you post up that you were visiting? I always have a loaner bike and some time to show people around the city.

As for brakeless in the city, other than wearing through tires at an accelerated rate (I got a flat on a skidded out tire half-way down a hill on saturday), I don't see what the problem is...

I can understand if you're coming from a city that is not hill prone and then going to one that is...getting freaked.
But, honestly it's no thang at all.
You just can't friggin BOMB down some parts is all. If you don't think you can skid it off at the bottom just take it slow.

I just received this book on bicycle history. There is this great b/w picture of 3 police officers in it. Each one of them is holding a fixed gear bicycle with a huge front chainring and - guess what - not one of them has handbrakes on this bike. Those were the days!

I just received this book on bicycle history. There is this great b/w picture of 3 police officers in it. Each one of them is holding a fixed gear bicycle with a huge front chainring and - guess what - not one of them has handbrakes on this bike. Those were the days!


haha that reminds me of the cop i rode behind for a bit the other day spinning out in an incredibly low gear to the point where he looked like he was going to blow a gasket... and he was going about 10 mph at most.

haha that reminds me of the cop i rode behind for a bit the other day spinning out in an incredibly low gear to the point where he looked like he was going to blow a gasket... and he was going about 10 mph at most.

Looks like pride and style of bicycle cops is no longer what it was back in 1910.

Why didn't you post up that you were visiting? I always have a loaner bike and some time to show people around the city.

As for brakeless in the city, other than wearing through tires at an accelerated rate (I got a flat on a skidded out tire half-way down a hill on saturday), I don't see what the problem is...

Thanks, I appreciate it! But we were only there for one day (actually more like half a day), and I wasn't sure what day that was going to be. But I'm coming back sometime, and when I do, I plan on spending some time biking the city. And seeing more than just Union Square and Chinatown. It would be great to have someone who knows the city as a guide.

Every now and again I get to cross the bay and ride fixed in Oakland when I need to get somewhere. Most of it is so flat I can easily ride brakeless without even warranting a skip or skid..

It's nice! The hills in SF do keep me braked, mainly for safety's sake what with the crazy drivers cutting me off turning right at the bottom of some killer grade..

1. Brakeless in that city is insane. If you ride brakeless there, you should have a sticker on your bike that says "Deathwish" or "I'm planning on dying" or "Go to Hill" or something.

Go to Hill? What does that mean? Swet I am CRAZY!!!!! I am planning on dying one day too.

I just received this book on bicycle history. There is this great b/w picture of 3 police officers in it. Each one of them is holding a fixed gear bicycle with a huge front chainring and - guess what - not one of them has handbrakes on this bike. Those were the days!


psssh. posengers.