Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Why only front brake ??

I am new to SS and I saw so many bikes with only front brakes, and I was just wondering why? Is it a matter of style or preference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_gear

They have a fixed gear. When they stop peddling, the back wheel stops moving.

Edit: I considered posting a witty sarcastic remark, but I couldn't think of a good one.

Because you touch yourself at night.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_gear

They have a fixed gear. When they stop peddling, the back wheel stops moving.

Edit: I considered posting a witty sarcastic remark, but I couldn't think of a good one.
I would not have been surprised with a sarcastic remark I actually expect a few. So front brake only bikes are fixed type. Thanks.

i cried at such a happy thread

good on everyone here cept 1>2

Style is no brake, front brake only is preference of people not motivated by social pressure to be 'cool' or those who would most likely kill people because they have to ride densely populated areas where people walk (squirrel dance) a lot, such as me riding to class through campus. Also track specific bikes generally have no place for a brake anywhere. If the bike is ss and they aren't running 2 brakes, the person is either stupid or crazy, or both.

rear brakes are about useless anyway

I've gone brakeless with the Guerciotti. Must've lost my right mind at some point. It's all the same, really...just bike control. I'm having the time of my life.

I've gone brakeless with the Guerciotti. Must've lost my right mind at some point. It's all the same, really...just bike control. I'm having the time of my life.
its not like you have the option to put a brake on that bike.

you have the option not to ride it on the street

I'm having the time of my life.
same here

Style is no brake, front brake only is preference of people not motivated by social pressure to be 'cool' or those who would most likely kill people because they have to ride densely populated areas where people walk


I am pretty sure that most people that ride brakeless will never kill anybody. What is wrong with being cool? its pretty cool.

SS with only a front brake is not such a great idea but yeah, fixed is fine with only a front because you can stop with your hands and your feet. It is neat but less zen.

It is neat but less zen.
I know a guy who rides brakeless blind-folded. Maximum zen?

The rear brake on a road bike is practically useless anyway unless you like locking up the rear wheel
I rode a regular 5 speed road bike commuter for years with only a front brake and it was no problem

The rear brake on a road bike is practically useless anyway unless you like locking up the rear wheel


x2.
Recently i mounted a rear brake, via brake plates, on my track frame. I was thinking i would comply with the new brake law here so i got a cheap rear brake and brake plates. I rode it about 2 minutes with this rear brake and realized what a 100% waste that was and took the **** off. Useless it was.
I am not currently complying with the law but i think they havent started fining people yet.

I know a guy who rides brakeless blind-folded. Maximum zen?

you mean that deaf guy?

rear brakes are about useless anyway
Totally disagree, at least for us less endowed with superior brake handling skills. I use the rear brake to steer my (SS) bike in difficult situations, I much prefer to broadside an obstacle than to hit it straight on.

Totally disagree, at least for us less endowed with superior brake handling skills. I use the rear brake to steer my (SS) bike in difficult situations, I much prefer to broadside an obstacle than to hit it straight on.

I agree with you. I guess i should have said, for pure stopping power the rear brake is useless.

you mean that deaf guy?


The one with one leg?

The one with one leg?

and no soul.

I am new to SS and I saw so many bikes with only front brakes, and I was just wondering why? Is it a matter of style or preference.

crippling fear.

1- college campus has lots of blind turns and golf carts that don't stop for bikes

2- i can't skid and suck at riding so i need a brake.

The rear brake on a road bike is practically useless

but not completely.
1. In poor conditions you can lock up the front wheel long before completely unweighting the rear wheel therefore the rear brake helps.
2. While mechanical failures are less common then with brakeless riding they still do happen and back up is always good.
3. even a short descent with one brake can heat up a rim damn fast.

It makes a lot of sense to use the front brake only.

The front brake has many times the stopping power of the rear brake. By training yourself to use only the front, in case of an emergency, your training kicks in and you use the only brake that can really help you, the front.

Go into a corner too hot and almost any use of the rear will lock it up, and down you go. Try using the rear only to stop fast to avoid something and you will likely hit it, or start skidding the back end and lose it.

About the only time to use the rear only is in really slippery stuff, because if you use the front in slippery conditions, it locks up very easily and will throw you down.

That being said, I use the rear but I have it set so loose, that its almost impossible for me to lock it up even holding the lever against the bar, so in case of a panic stop, I'm less likely to skid the rear.

i think most of us ride fixed because we don't want our bikes to be any more complicated than they have to be. those that choose to put on a front brake do so because they need/want it, but since the front does 70% of the work in a braking situation there's no reason to clutter things with a rear.

If you are going down a steep hill (on a freewheel bike) and stop suddenly with only a front brake, won't you endo?

try leaning back

or

put you butt over the rear tire

If you are going down a steep grade (on a freewheel bike) and stop suddenly with only a front brake, won't you endo?

if you are about to endo the rear brake isn't doing anything anyway. The key is to learn modulation and to shift your weight behind the saddle.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2003/interviews/annabaylis/Baylis4.jpg

The only times I kind of wished I had a rear brake in addition to my front brake on my fixed were during very looooong and tiring descents (like 10 miles down GMR, for instance) where I usually ride my brake most of the way down. My hand usually gets tired from the continual squeezing of the lever and I always worry about my front tube popping due to the extreme heat build-up. Perhaps only a front disc may be preferable, instead.

Assume you don't have the time to get in a better position, and you just slam on the front brake. Wouldn't a rear brake help prevent you from going over?
edit- never mind, I type too slow

if you are about to endo the rear brake isn't doing anything anyway. The key is to learn modulation and to shift your weight behind the saddle.



So if you're going to flip over, you'll flip over rear brake or no?

The only times I kind of wished I had a rear brake in addition to my front brake on my fixed were during very looooong and tiring descents (like 10 miles down GMR, for instance) where I usually ride my brake most of the way down. My hand usually gets tired from the continual squeezing of the lever and I always worry about my front tube popping due to the extreme heat build-up. Perhaps only a front disc may be preferable, instead.

id add very rainy or wet descents as a second time a rear can be helpful

lets rename this the brake forum

Assume you don't have the time to get in a better position, and you just slam on the front brake. Wouldn't a rear brake help prevent you from going over?
edit- never mind, I type too slow
modulating the front brake will keep you from going over

stop squeezing before you perform your front flip



So if you're going to flip over, you'll flip over rear brake or no?

i cant think of a way a rear brake will reweight the rear wheel if it has come up

maybe someone can

if you transfer brake force from front to rear yeah but it won't do anything if you don't lessen front braking force or transfer weight back.

you won't flip over the back if there's a deceleration force, you have to come to a stop before you'll flip over the back.


this discussion is ridiculous






it's a functioning system that requires its own parameters of use, just like any other functioning system. The style aspect is separate.

For my own sanity I couldn't ride a freewheel bike with only a front brake, regardless of physics. I'd still freak out every time I went downhill.

For my own sanity I couldn't ride a freewheel bike with only a front brake, regardless of physics. I'd still freak out every time I went downhill.

fine but if you want to become a qualified brake user learn to ride one without using rear brake

dont remove it just dont use it unless necessary

qualified brake user
Will I get some sort of merit badge for this?:)


dont remove it
Don't worry, I like brakes. Too much for my own good apparently.

Will I get some sort of merit badge for this?:)



you will have satisfaction of knowing you will not endo nor hit a buick

and you will be alive to give your daughter away at her wedding

you will have satisfaction of knowing you will not endo nor hit a buick

and you will be alive to give your daughter away at her wedding
Hey, stop with the wednesday addams business. The smiley face means I was kidding.

:)