Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - credit is due

big ups to all fixed riders. i just changed my ss to fixed yesterday. riding fixed is hard work. for serious. i rode to work this morning and its really difficult to anticipate moves and stop without brakes. this is going to take a while to get used to. but it is fun. ok thats it.

lol sweet have fun don't coast watch curbs and you'll only be cool when you can do a nathan fabian with style

I suggest putting a front handbrake on until you're more comfortable.

I suggest putting a front handbrake on until you're more comfortable.
+1 I have no qualms about using mine.

i do have a brake on there, its just not very strong and i have to reach in the drops to use it. id rather use the wheel. ill prob start using the brake for downhills though. i have a feeling it will help my cycling for my tri races. is there a steep learning curve? btw, i have no style.

I'd recommend a brake. I wrecked my knees by not using the brake I had installed. Once I started using the brake more often, my knees got better.

I hear so much about brakeless = knee trouble, but I'm just not convinced.
I have a front brake but never really use it...my fixie gives me no knee trouble.

I more often develop knee pain with my geared bike, when I ride it too far and too hard. But my knee tends to recover when I ride fixed. I've never felt knee pain when skipping or skidding or mashing up hills fixed.

YMMV. My knees were fine when I was on the bike. I would ride 8-9 hrs. a day no poblem. When I got home, however, I could barely get up the stairs. I just couldn't get my knees to move through all the pain. I started using my brake and the problem disappeared. I may not look badass anymore, but I can get up the stairs.

YMMV. My knees were fine when I was on the bike. I would ride 8-9 hrs. a day no poblem. When I got home, however, I could barely get up the stairs. I just couldn't get my knees to move through all the pain. I started using my brake and the problem disappeared. I may not look badass anymore, but I can get up the stairs.


Yeah, I've developed similar stair climbing problems, but only after very long rides on my geared bike.I commute during the week on my fixie, and my knees tend to get better through the week. I dunno, maybe its the shorter cranks on my fixie.