Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - options if I wanted to put a brake on?

My track bike isn't drilled. I don't want to drill it, so that isn't an option. If I wanted to add a brake on the front, could I change forks for a while until I get used to riding w/no hand brake? Is there any other ideas? I could use my shoe like that one dude on youtube, but that may be a little hard on my shoes. I plan on learning how to stop with my legs, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a little back up. I guess you guys are giving me cold feet a little, but if there are no options, I am going for it!

new fork is your best bet. Measure the steerer tube and threading and start scouring ebay.

Wait.....

Let me get this straight----- you "plan on learning to stop with your legs" and are gonna ride with no brake, and your major concern is whether you will damage your SHOES?

1) Buy a new fork.
2) Build a drum brake wheel.
3) Drill your fork.

dont ride a track on street! BAM!

there are a few options, but new fork is probably the best one. the bikeworks chrome straight blade fork looks decent, has a bit more rake (i am assuming) than your track fork, is drilled, and it's cheap. it's nice to have two different forks and gives you nice options. my track bike has tight geo's and a low rake track fork and is really fun but i also have a fork with a bit more rake that is drilled which is really comfortable for longer rides or situations where i'd like to ride with a brake. if you can get an extra crown race for your second fork, the change takes just a minute or two.

but i also have a fork with a bit more rake that is drilled which is really comfortable for longer rides or situations where i'd like to ride with a brake.

Why is it more comfortable?

just a bit less twitchy, comfortable is not the right word.

just a bit less twitchy, comfortable is not the right word.

More evidence that what most people *feel* about a bike is just a big ****ing placebo.

before scouring ebay and teh intertubes for the right fork, just go to a bike shop. preferably, the wonderful, cluttered bike shop in your town that has that guy who's been a mechanic since the 1960s. they probably have spare forks lying around somewhere, hopefully one will fit your frame. i'd do that before buying a new fork.

so are you saying that there is no noticeable difference between a road fork and track fork? i'm not sure what you are trying to argue.

so are you saying that there is no noticeable difference between a road fork and track fork? i'm not sure what you are trying to argue.

no I'm saying if anything increasing the rake would increase the twitchiness not the opposite. Sorry, I set you up for that.

no I'm saying if anything increasing the rake would increase the twitchiness not the opposite. Sorry, I set you up for that.

yes you did. a fork that gives me more trail was what i was looking for, correct? you weren't arguing the concept though were you?

http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/tech/trail/

thanks

I could use my shoe like that one dude on youtube, but that may be a little hard on my shoes.

I think stopping with your shoe would be a little more difficult with a fixy than a freewheel.

its not.

1) Buy a new fork.
2) Build a drum brake wheel.
3) Drill your fork.


plus a million on the drum brake. just something super cool, neat, and clean looking. drum brakes(i might be wrong on this) are supposedly better in wet conditions as well....so that should stop the whole rim-brake-dont-work-when-its-wet-out whine. there is also the option of the keirin rear plate fork. looks wierd but works. i think there is also the option of this:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2004/c/olsson2.jpg

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2004/c/olsson1.jpg

http://trackstarnyc.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=93

keirin brake from trackstar?

That disc brake looks like it will wreck the **** out of your fork.

That disc brake looks like it will wreck the **** out of your fork.

And you need fender eyelets which are oh-so-common on undrilled track forks. Oh, and you'd need a new wheel.

drum brakes(i might be wrong on this) are supposedly better in wet conditions as well

I've got a drum on my Steamroller, they work exactly the same in the wet. Drums don't fade/heat up on long downhills like some other kinds of brakes do. The downside is that its a 'slow you down gradually' kinda brake, not a 'stop on a dime' kinda brake. Still better than none, though.

If you don't want to drill it, you should just braze canti bosses onto it. Problem solved.

before scouring ebay and teh intertubes for the right fork, just go to a bike shop. preferably, the wonderful, cluttered bike shop in your town that has that guy who's been a mechanic since the 1960s. they probably have spare forks lying around somewhere, hopefully one will fit your frame. i'd do that before buying a new fork.

E.G. Kraynicks on Penn ave. He's got a buttload of threaded 1" NOS Paramount forks for $25 - perhaps not the apex of style, but real nice for the money. Probably a bunch of other options on one of the 4 floors....

By the way - what's the stigma with drilling a track fork? I can't imagine it weakens it significantly, and it's not like you can't take the brake off. Is it a collector thing?

what's the stigma with drilling a track fork? I can't imagine it weakens it significantly, and it's not like you can't take the brake off. Is it a collector thing?

from what I understand, track forks generally have round blades which are designed to withstand heavy side to side forces. a brake introduces front to back forces which can cause your forks to flex. I'm sure I've read this somewhere. someone back me up.

I think it's possibly also a collector type thing in the sense of not wanting to alter and potentially mess up an original part of your nice new bike. That's how I felt with my track fork, so when I want to run brakes i swap out my forks.

E.G. Kraynicks on Penn ave. He's got a buttload of threaded 1" NOS Paramount forks for $25 - perhaps not the apex of style, but real nice for the money. Probably a bunch of other options on one of the 4 floors....

By the way - what's the stigma with drilling a track fork? I can't imagine it weakens it significantly, and it's not like you can't take the brake off. Is it a collector thing?

Funny, I go to Kraynicks all the time and I really didn't think about asking him for a fork. I like live at that place. I will ask him first. He is one cool dude and that place is crazy.

My bike shouldn't be drilled. It is really in nice shape and should be left alone. I just figure a brake may be a good idea for some nut like me. I will be riding in front of buses in no time, and I probably should have a little insurance for a bit.

Thank you all for such great help. Hope I can find something that is close.
Curt

I think stopping with your shoe would be a little more difficult with a fixy than a freewheel.

Why? It seems that you could pull you feet out of the straps and let the pedals spin and put your foot back there. I was going to give that a shot for a little back up measure.

The way I feel tonight is, I don't really care about a brake. That is probably why I should have one on there.

Enjoy

If you don't want to drill it, you should just braze canti bosses onto it. Problem solved.
http://sexci11.orcon.net.nz/roflcopter.jpg

http://sexci11.orcon.net.nz/roflcopter.jpg

That's no laughing matter. :(

It seems that you could pull you feet out of the straps and let the pedals spin and put your foot back there.

I do this sometimes when i'm feeling lazy and don't want to spin. feet on the downtube, occasional foot on the back tire to regulate speed. not the safest thing in the world, so be careful when you try it.