Commuting - Winter fixie...

Can someone explain to me why I've read so often that fixies are good for winter commuting. And while we are on the topic would it be wise to add something that is a slick for when teh snow falls? Last winter I did it on slicks but had a couple of questionable incidents and this winter i won't have as much braking power to rely on due to my fixie.

I think that the reasoning is that the fixed wheel gives you a very good feel for exactly what the traction situation at the rear wheel is. Also, it's possible to slow down by resisting with your legs in case brakes freeze up, less mechanical complexity, etc.

I think that, although this is true, lots of bikes make good winter commuters. I've ridden in two winters with rim brakes and derailers. The first winter was a bit sketchy due to crappy brakes, but the next one was fine. However, I rode most of that winter on a bike with hybrid (front derailer, 3-speed hub) gearing. I still had rim brakes, which wasn't a problem. This winter I'll be riding a 3-speed Schwinn frankenbike and expect to have no problems.

As for tires, you might want to try cyclocross or MTB knobbies, depending upon wheel size. This is definitely more critical on the front wheel, you can probably get away with a slick or inverted tread semi-slick on the rear. Just don't go too fast, no matter what kind tires you're riding on :).

Can someone explain to me why I've read so often that fixies are good for winter commuting.
Possibly because those who think that is true write about it frequently. Also depends where you do your reading and whose posts you read/trust..
Even more relevent, depends on how you and your sources define "good for commuting."

I think it's largely a fad. Wait three years and see how many people are advocating riding a fixie in a real winter.

While I love riding my fixie during dry weather, I don't think I'd like to try it in winter. As a winter commuter I find that when I get off main roads I often need to use my granny gear due to deep snow. Also, winter road conditons change rapidly, from deep snow, to ice, to packed snow, to dry roads. For safetly and efficiency I find that each of these conditions needs it's own gearing.

If you live somewhere that has a mild winter, or cleans it's streets like a German grandmother cleans her house, go for it. Otherwise look for something with gears.

From December to April I use Nokian 106 studded tires.

As a fixed rider (not exclusively), my only comment as to the benefit / suitability of fixed gear in the winter is the lack of gearing and brakes to get mucked up. Basically less maintenance.

Then again, it depends on your "winter". Winter for me is -20F and hard packed snow.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/feb/dobber10.jpg

Oh, i should have specified that I live in Denver with fairly mild winters and snow off the road within a day or two.

I became a fixie convert last winter, my first in
Vermont and the longest of any area Ive lived in.
Because I could not keep up with the salt and slush that were ruining
my junk geared bikes got me thinking about it, and then actually
doing it sealed the deal. I cant elaborate any further here but you
do have waaay more control in slippery conditions by being directly
linked to the wheel instead of relying on a mechanical third party that
might be affected adversly by the afformentioned undesrable elements.
I wouldnt go slick, but contrary to popular belief a skinny tire works better
in the snow for me. A 28 with Cyclo-X tread I think would be ideal.
That being said, I am not using my fixed this winter because even though it
was bought in the winter as a beater I have fallen in love with it and cant
stand to see its premature aging vis-a-vis icky road chunder !! :eek:
I will be splitting hairs and using a S.S. hub braked single speed after the
first snow. Opinions vary wildly and often get ugly. This is my opinion for what
its worth :D

You do get instant feedback about your level of traction when riding fixed, and of course there's less of a drivetrain to get mucked up, but the latter is true for singlespeed as well.

What I definitely don't like about riding fixed in the winter is darkness. Riding dark pothole-ridden streets in the rain on a skinny tired bike I can't coast on is just not my idea of fun. Also, more reaction time is required in the dark and resisting with your legs and a front brake alone may not be enough. Also, if you run two brakes you don't have to rely so heavily on being locked into the pedals to stop, so you run platform pedals and wear boots if you want.

Finally there is the issue of fenders and handling. A road, cross, or touring frame with horizontal dropout is really the way to go. Slick roads are not a good place for track geometry, and if you want to run fenders, horizontal dropouts make it much easier to get your wheel out when (not if) you get flats.

Sooo... If I were setting up a fixed gear for winter commuting it would have to have:

fenders
horizontal dropouts
two brakes
fat tires

I just prefer singlespeed for nasty/wet/dark conditions though. It's a lot less stressful than riding fixed.

This is sorta out in left field but, so I assume all you folks who live in places where they salt the roads ride aluminum bikes with full alloy components in the winter?

This is sorta out in left field but, so I assume all you folks who live in places where they salt the roads ride aluminum bikes with full alloy components in the winter?
Nope. I a ride steel frame which has been treated with Frame-Saver. It also gets a lot of TLC over the summer.

I can't imagine any reason fixed would be better than a singlespeed which can coast in slick conditions, a coaster brake probably being best if you're winter riding on only one gear. If anything you're probably more likely to break traction going over icey spots on a fixed gear than you are on something which allows you to coast. Three speeds work fine too, all of those gear keeping cozy inside their hub.

To the naysayers: get a clue.

Soooo many people have had derailers cables, derailers, freewheels etc. gunk and freeze up. BMX freewheels actually coast forwards sometimes.
Fixed just works. You have few drivetrain parts, and the ones you have are bombproof. Whatever happens, the chain will stay on, you will have drive, you will have braking even if the brake pads are blocks of ice and the rim is covered by a film of ice. You can control the braking on the rear wheel very finely, which is nice on slippery roads. A front brake is very warmly recommended, though.

Plus the slush does less damage, and a full drivetrain change is cheaper anyway.

An internal hub transmission and foot brakes are also unaffected by winter conditions. And you still get to coast.

Coasting is NOT a plus in slippery conditions....

To the naysayers: get a clue.

Soooo many people have had derailers cables, derailers, freewheels etc. gunk and freeze up. BMX freewheels actually coast forwards sometimes.
Fixed just works. You have few drivetrain parts, and the ones you have are bombproof. Whatever happens, the chain will stay on, you will have drive, you will have braking even if the brake pads are blocks of ice and the rim is covered by a film of ice. You can control the braking on the rear wheel very finely, which is nice on slippery roads. A front brake is very warmly recommended, though.

Plus the slush does less damage, and a full drivetrain change is cheaper anyway.
Get a clue, not everyone rides the same way as you.

I take care of my bikes and the only problem I had last winter when it was -30c was that the grease in my hubs froze and the hub would not engage properly for the first kilometer or two. Same thing would have happened with a fixie, except when the snow gets deep I can change gears and ride through it instead of walking.

In the UK the tradition for many club riders was to use a fixie over winter but one with clearance for wider tyres and fenders. It is simple, nothing to go wrong and is good for training legs. We dont get much deep, heavy snow but people ride fixies in the 3-4" that we do get. Your style of winter bike really should reflect the kind of winter you have.
It was not the only kind of winter bike, some people used a hub geared racer style bike or ordinary derailler race bikes.

In the UK the tradition for many club riders was to use a fixie over winter but one with clearance for wider tyres and fenders. It is simple, nothing to go wrong and is good for training legs.
The OP asked about what is good for winter commuting? Is that what you are writing about?

Coasting is NOT a plus in slippery conditions....
Is that right?

I've never had a freewheel freeze up, at least not in Colorado - we get a lot of snow, but it doesn't get very cold. I suppose if you lived somewhere in the northeast where it does get very cold that could happen. And now I'm in washington, so supposedly I'll get even less snow now and it still won't get very cold.
Can somebody point out why not being able to coast would be better in slippery conditions? I'd think coasting would prevent you from sideslipping accidentally, but I can't think of how not being able to coast would improve anything.

I always find it interesting that there is NEVER any concensus on winter equipment.

Get a clue, not everyone rides the same way as you.
I take care of my bikes and the only problem I had last winter when it was -30c was that the grease in my hubs froze and the hub would not engage properly for the first kilometer or two. Same thing would have happened with a fixie, except when the snow gets deep I can change gears and ride through it instead of walking.
Actually this problem would not happen on a fixie as the hub does not engage anything. The fixie hub is only bearings between the axle and hub. The cog is directly attached to the hub which drives the wheel. Nothing to freeze up and fail to work.
Still you do have a point about having several gears for various road conditions. My winter fixie has a considerably lower gear than my summer ride and so is somewhat slower in good conditions. When the snow starts acculumating the relatively narrow 35mm studded tires cut through pretty effectively and have only left me walking on heavily rutting walking paths. My main reasons for fixie riding are lack of require maintence and reliably. I use brakes front and rear on a touring bike converted to fixed. Even if the rim brakes are ineffective I still have braking capability. And my drive train never lets me down. Cleveland sees lots of snow so the road crews use plenty of salt. They also are pretty efficient in removing the snow so I seldom deal with deep snow or icy roads but salt and slush are very common. These conditions play hell on derailers and rim brakes but do not really affect fixed gears.
Still to the OP I would definately recommend using at least one brake on your fixie to improve stopping.
Craig

I've never had a freewheel freeze up, at least not in Colorado - we get a lot of snow, but it doesn't get very cold. I suppose if you lived somewhere in the northeast where it does get very cold that could happen. And now I'm in washington, so supposedly I'll get even less snow now and it still won't get very cold.
Can somebody point out why not being able to coast would be better in slippery conditions? I'd think coasting would prevent you from sideslipping accidentally, but I can't think of how not being able to coast would improve anything.
Coasting is fine in slippery conditions it is braking that is the problem. With experience you can coast through a ice patch as easily with a fixie as you can with a freewheel bike, but the fixie will provide you a better feel of the available traction when you try to brake. If you lock up the rear wheel on a freewheel bike you don't realize it until the wheel starts to move sideways. On a fixe you get immediate feedback. This may be the difference between going down and keeping the bike under you. It a small advantage but one combined with the reduced maintence and improved reliability makes it well worth it to me.
Craig

I got laughed at at a LBS when I told them I ride a studded tire fixed gear in the winter for commuting. They thought their Surly Pugsley (http://www.surlybikes.com/pugsley.html) would be better I guess. I am pretty happy with my set up. I am going to gear it around 50 gear inches this year, last year was 70 and it was too high for the really nasty days. This winter I also have two wheelsets. One with slick tires that is single speed and one with studded tires that is fixed.

Last year I really liked riding fixed with studded tires in the snow. And the ice. One morning, the worst of all winter, was nothing but sheets of ice for the whole 5.5 miles to work. Cars were all over the place. I motored on like it didn't matter. I was also in boots that are NOT clipless and on platform pedals. I figure its the best combo. With the low gearing, you don't need clipless as badly. That doesn't mean I haven't thought about how to make my boots clipless though ;)

Take care, hope this helps!

Coasting is NOT a plus in slippery conditions....

Sure it is. It lets you keep your feet to the sides and close to the ground if you think you are about to slip. :)

I got laughed at at a LBS when I told them I ride a studded tire fixed gear in the winter for commuting. They thought their Surly Pugsley (http://www.surlybikes.com/pugsley.html) would be better I guess.
That Pugsley is great in really nasty conditions. I guess if I could stomache riding a bike as nice as my Pugsley on winter roads it would make a fine commuter able to handle anything you could throw at it. My only concern would be the puncture resistance on the Endomorph.
However given my disdain for maintence during adverse weather and my lack of stomache for watching a bike new bike with $100 rims and $300 hubs detoriate in the relentless salt I will have to stick with my cheap fixie. Plus I havn't figured out how to make a good fender to fit around that beast of a tire.
Craig

Sure it is. It lets you keep your feet to the sides and close to the ground if you think you are about to slip. :)
+1

I need to ride over 1km of solid rutted ice before I reach the main roads in winter. The foot plant is a highly refined skill in these parts.

+1

I need to ride over 1km of solid rutted ice before I reach the main roads in winter. The foot plant is a highly refined skill in these parts.I've never ridden in ice, but I have walked on ice, so I know how easy it is to slip while walking. How do you manage to keep from slipping when you do a foot plant?

I've never ridden in ice, but I have walked on ice, so I know how easy it is to slip while walking. How do you manage to keep from slipping when you do a foot plant?
It's more of a foot tap to right yourself when you start to slip or fall over. Studded tires help with the bike.

I rode a cheap, small MTB last December/January in Calgary (cold, little snow). I got the beater for winter riding, and decked it out with BMX platforms. It rides great on hardpack snow and the studded front has not failed me on the ice patches. Just ride slow and careful and enjoy the ride.

Can someone explain to me why I've read so often that fixies are good for winter commuting. And while we are on the topic would it be wise to add something that is a slick for when teh snow falls? Last winter I did it on slicks but had a couple of questionable incidents and this winter i won't have as much braking power to rely on due to my fixie.
I liked riding my old fixie two winters ago, for a few reasons:
* no shifters or derailers to get clogged with snow
* resisting the chain is like a hub brake, it works even when the rims are icy
* my cheapest and simplest bike, so no maintenance worries
* I can feel immediately when the traction is poor

I've never ridden in ice, but I have walked on ice, so I know how easy it is to slip while walking. How do you manage to keep from slipping when you do a foot plant?

The thing is that 2 wheels plus one foot makes three contact points on the ground, like a tripod. If a camera can stand up using a tripod, so can a person. As long as you can balance nearly as well as an inanimate object. :D

Fortunately, I can. Usually. :o

I liked riding my old fixie two winters ago, for a few reasons:
* no shifters or derailers to get clogged with snow
* resisting the chain is like a hub brake, it works even when the rims are icy
* my cheapest and simplest bike, so no maintenance worries
* I can feel immediately when the traction is poor
Sounds just like a single speed with a coaster brake, except that the cyclist has no option for coasting. Note that a coaster brake IS a hub brake, not "like a hub brake."

...but it gives you the least possible control of braking (on slippery roads) and the worst reliability as opposed to most control and best reliability... Plus maintenance and durability issues.

...but it gives you the least possible control of braking (on slippery roads) and the worst reliability as opposed to most control and best reliability... Plus maintenance and durability issues.
I agree with you on control of braking but I thought that coaster brakes were pretty reliable and low maintence.
I think a coaster or hub brake single speed bike would be a good winter bike with the addition of a good front brake. The braking ability of a coaster brake or any rear only brake is just not sufficient for me.
Craig

Coasting is fine in slippery conditions it is braking that is the problem. With experience you can coast through a ice patch as easily with a fixie as you can with a freewheel bike, but the fixie will provide you a better feel of the available traction when you try to brake. If you lock up the rear wheel on a freewheel bike you don't realize it until the wheel starts to move sideways. On a fixe you get immediate feedback. This may be the difference between going down and keeping the bike under you. It a small advantage but one combined with the reduced maintence and improved reliability makes it well worth it to me.
Craig

I've never had any problem realizing when I've locked up my rear wheel.

You know you can keep pedaling forward on a freewheel bike, right? I've been known to do that on my coastie-gearie bikes in winter if I really want more feedback. Works fine.

In truly Arctic conditions, the arguments about reliability start to make sense, but for most there's no reason to be afraid of freewheels. And freewheels can be winterized in any case, so that they will continue to function to as cold a temperature as you care to be outside in.

I can't speak to any universals, but I can make a few empirical statements regarding my personal experience with fixie riding in the winter here in DC, where snowfall + varying temps= rutted ice.

After converting a Raleigh '71 supercourse (relaxed geometry) to fixed last winter, my commuter (MTB) drive train went kaput, and I was forced to use my fixie for the first time in ice and snow, on 7 miles of roads and paths, with great apprehension. Oh, on 28mm slicks, to boot.

To my great surprise, not only did I arrive at work unscathed, but I negotiated several nasty slips & skids that would have sent me down on my geared bike, or at least required me to put a foot down--the only exception was when I crossed a sheet of ice and had not foot or tire traction.

In my experience, fixies make superlative commuters in crap conditions. I think it may have to do with maintaining steerage and momentum. With a dual-braked or coasting bike, if you have a sudden slip, your tendency will be to freeze up/lock up brakes, and if you brake on a slippery surface, you'll initiate a skid. With a fixie, that tendency is much lessened because the rear wheel has a tendency to keep moving.

I've never had any problem realizing when I've locked up my rear wheel.

You know you can keep pedaling forward on a freewheel bike, right? I've been known to do that on my coastie-gearie bikes in winter if I really want more feedback. Works fine.

In truly Arctic conditions, the arguments about reliability start to make sense, but for most there's no reason to be afraid of freewheels. And freewheels can be winterized in any case, so that they will continue to function to as cold a temperature as you care to be outside in.
I've said that freewheel bikes can work just fine for winter and there are definate advantages to having some gears but I find fixies to also have advantages and to best meet my needs. I am not the quickest or most graceful cyclist so I need the extra warning provided by the feedback on a fixie. It is a small difference but it helps. If weather conditions were horrible I'd probably take my Pugsley but most of the time my fixie is the best tool for the job.
Craig

I have no winter experience with a fixie (yet) but I can state that I can "feel" the level of traction (or lack thereof) to a finer degree with my fixed gear than any other bike I own, including singlespeeds. Sure, you can always pedal a coaster hub. But the real benefit of fixie, I think, is that you feel in your pedaling when the rear wheel lets go. With a coaster, the rear wheel can speed up when it lets go and you never feel that (because it... coasts!). On a fixie, you feel that quick speedup.

After riding fixie for a month or so, I became very in tune to things like that, and your legs compensate quicker than your hands (on brakes) ever could.

The path I ride is often littered with leaves. And I cross several wooden bridges. All are quite slippry in the rain/wet conditions. I like my fixie best on these days.

fixed gear gives you better control then a rim brake in the back in slipery conditions. like everyone said your legs can avoid locking up the rear wheel much better somehow than your hand on the brake.

and the with better rear control you don't have to hit your front brake nearly as often. it's usually the front wheel slide that will take you out!

but small slick slick tires on snowy icy steets only do so much... it's still not magic.

i might have to rig the crosscheck up with my some studs on a fixed wheel this winter.

Sounds just like a single speed with a coaster brake, except that the cyclist has no option for coasting.

So have you ever actually tried a fixed gear bike?

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Sounds just like a single speed with a coaster brake, except that the cyclist has no option for coasting. Note that a coaster brake IS a hub brake, not "like a hub brake."


So have you ever actually tried a fixed gear bike?

Nope don't need to, as I alreay posted, I can get the same alleged benefits from a single speed with a coaster brake to experience:
* no shifters or derailers to get clogged with snow
* resisting the chain is like a hub brake, it works even when the rims are icy
* my cheapest and simplest bike, so no maintenance worries
* I can feel immediately when the traction is poor

or perhaps you disagree or have never riden a single speed with a coaster brake.

As an aside, and as mentioned by Max, the main danger in slippery conditions comes from losing traction with the front wheel, not the rear.

Nope don't need to, as I alreay posted, I can get the same alleged benefits from a single speed with a coaster brake to experience:
* no shifters or derailers to get clogged with snow
* resisting the chain is like a hub brake, it works even when the rims are icy
* my cheapest and simplest bike, so no maintenance worries
* I can feel immediately when the traction is poor


Hey, you copied my description of why I like fixie! :rolleyes:

I've ridden a single-speed, though not with a coaster brake. I would have to say that you CANNOT feel the traction with a single speed in the same way in my experience. Also, resisting the chain is different from a coaster brake: when you resist the chain, the slowing of the pedals and wheel is GRADUAL and dependent on both your foot pressure AND the traction. With a single speed, the speed of the wheel and pedals is de-coupled when you engage the brake.

If you like a singlespeed, ride a singlespeed. If you like a fixie, ride a fixie. But it seems presumptious to say "a singlespeed is just like a fixie only it can coast" if you haven't actually TRIED a fixie.

Hey, you copied my description of why I like fixie! :rolleyes:

I've ridden a single-speed, though not with a coaster brake. I would have to say that you CANNOT feel the traction with a single speed in the same way in my experience. Also, resisting the chain is different from a coaster brake: when you resist the chain, the slowing of the pedals and wheel is GRADUAL and dependent on both your foot pressure AND the traction. With a single speed, the speed of the wheel and pedals is de-coupled when you engage the brake.

If you like a singlespeed, ride a singlespeed. If you like a fixie, ride a fixie. But it seems presumptious to say "a singlespeed is just like a fixie only it can coast" if you haven't actually TRIED a fixie.

ILTB (aka Stanley) likes to make presumptions without personal experience.

or perhaps you disagree or have never riden a single speed with a coaster brake.


:lol: That seems unlikely. Every 12 inch wheeled bike I've seen at ToysRus was such a bike. I think 99.999 percent of us started on a single speed with coaster brake.

Just for the record, I liked both my childhood coaster brake bikes. Never had any problem with them.

At this point, I'm kind of in the SS coaster brake (or at least hub brake) camp. I started my second fixed gear experiment yesterday. Its going much better than the first one. I'm still not a convert yet. Just giving it a try. My initial opinion is "golly, if I have to brake going down hill to keep from spinning out, what's the point." On the other hand, I did brake going down hill all last winter on my SS bike to avoid wind chill and high speed excitement on ice. So, maybe in the dead of winter I'll appreciate it more.

fixed gear gives you better control then a rim brake in the back in slipery conditions. like everyone said your legs can avoid locking up the rear wheel much better somehow than your hand on the brake.

and the with better rear control you don't have to hit your front brake nearly as often. it's usually the front wheel slide that will take you out!

but small slick slick tires on snowy icy steets only do so much... it's still not magic.

i might have to rig the crosscheck up with my some studs on a fixed wheel this winter.
But you also have to shift your weight off the rear wheel, to the front wheel when locking up your rear wheel on a fixie. Not cool if you are starting to slide around on the ice.

Personally I find nothing better than disc brakes for the harsh winter. They stop on a dime, they are hand controled, I can choose just how much braking power I need for a given situation, and they work despite the weather conditions.

Nope don't need to, as I alreay posted, I can get the same alleged benefits from a single speed with a coaster brake to experience:
* no shifters or derailers to get clogged with snow
* resisting the chain is like a hub brake, it works even when the rims are icy
* my cheapest and simplest bike, so no maintenance worries
* I can feel immediately when the traction is poor

or perhaps you disagree or have never riden a single speed with a coaster brake.


I have owned and ridden many singlespeed bikes with coaster brakes, and I can tell you fixed gear is not the same. I'm not saying it's better, but it's not the same. The ability to coast is not sacred to me. If it is to you then a fixed gear bike is clearly not right for you. That doesn't mean it's wrong for everyone else.

You repeatedly weighing in on fixed gear discussions is like wearing a mink coat to a PETA convention. You must really enjoy the attention/abuse, because I can't see any other reason for you to post in these topics given your stated lack of interest in and experience with fixed gear bikes.

If you want a more satisfying war of words please feel free to post over in singlespeed/fixed gear. You'll certainly ruffle some feathers over there and everyone will get their jollies. Here you're a broken record and everyone is either to nice or too bored with it to call you out.

Here you're a broken record and everyone is either to nice or too bored with it to call you out.

+1

I'm interested in setting up one of my 26" freewheel hub rear wheels with a BMX sprocket and a lockring plus a Nokian studded tire for my beater rain bike. I plan on having it spaced and dished so I can take off the rear derailleur,change the wheel, tie off/secure the gear cable, put a chain round the middle cog of the MTB crank and the sprocket. The Hardrock frame I have has a semi-horizontal dropout, so I can tension the chain.

I'm hoping for more traction and control on ice. The cycle path I use to commute on is covered in ice if it snows for a period that can as short as a few days or extend to weeks.

I have owned and ridden many singlespeed bikes with coaster brakes, and I can tell you fixed gear is not the same. I'm not saying it's better, but it's not the same. The ability to coast is not sacred to me. If it is to you then a fixed gear bike is clearly not right for you. That doesn't mean it's wrong for everyone else.

You repeatedly weighing in on fixed gear discussions is like wearing a mink coat to a PETA convention. You must really enjoy the attention/abuse, because I can't see any other reason for you to post in these topics given your stated lack of interest in and experience with fixed gear bikes.

If you want a more satisfying war of words please feel free to post over in singlespeed/fixed gear. You'll certainly ruffle some feathers over there and everyone will get their jollies. Here you're a broken record and everyone is either to nice or too bored with it to call you out.
BS! The problem is that fixie devotees cannot stand to read skepticism of the claimed magic karma of their fadish choice on a COMMUTING discussion list. Get over it. The OP asked a question about the alleged advantages of fixed gear for winter riding but fixie cultists such as yourself can't handle any response that doesn't reflect their own geneflection towards the object of their affection. The Commuting discussion list is not a forum only for those who sing the praises of the fixie fad.

But you also have to shift your weight off the rear wheel, to the front wheel when locking up your rear wheel on a fixie. Not cool if you are starting to slide around on the ice.


Why on earth would you make a special effort to lock up your wheel if you're riding any bike on ice? This really makes no sense. As with any bike, riding a fixed gear bike requires some skill and practice. This is NOT a recommended stopping technique when it is slick out any more than grabbing all of your rear brak e on a bike that can coast would be.

If you're running at least a front brake like a sane person you can resist with your legs a little, brake a little, and so on. With two brakes it's even easier. If your legs stop moving you're giving it too much rear brake.

If you're vain enough to ride brakeless and foolish enough to ride in an ice storm you deserve what you get.

But you also have to shift your weight off the rear wheel, to the front wheel when locking up your rear wheel on a fixie.

yeah but your not doing much weight shifting or intentional skidding in nasty weather. or at least i am not.

gentle pressure is key to deceleration and i think you can do it better with your legs than you can with a brake lever.

but really, i live in phily and get to ride in the snow MAYBE 2 weeks a year so i am gonna just shuddup. :D