Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Front Brake or Rear Brake?

n00b question... I tried the search, nothing "definitive"

What's the difference between using a front brake or a rear brake on a fixie?

I'm building my first one, and was just wondering if it came down to anything more than simplicity of cable routing to the rear?

Anyone know why I couldn't use a "rear" brake caliper on the front?

Thanks squad,
~DC

shouldn't be a problem to use the caliper that was on the rear in the front.


from my understanding they are the same

Running a rear is more of a PITA because every time you change gearing or your chain, you have to match your rim up with your brake pads. This can lead to you pulling out your hair in frustration and will offer you less gear ratios. As to using a "rear" caliper on the front, many modern calipers come with a certain amount of toe in already built into the brake caliper. Thus, running a rear brake on the front may lead to inefficient and noisy braking. As well, a rear brake caliper uses a different attachment bolt that may well be too short to go all the way through your forks.

You have a rear brake on a fix. It's called your pedals. And the only reason not to use a rear caliper on a fork is the length of the center bolt. Obviously, if your front caliper is damaged or for some reason unusable, you can swap out the center bolts.

Front brake is more powerful.

^^Wow. Didn't think of that. Makes total sense.

Then there's also this arg for front:

www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

For maximum braking power, a front brake designed as a front brake works best.

That said, for a brake intended as an emergency brake, should one throw a chain, a rear brake has some merit.

A few years ago I rode over the crest of a hill onto 1/4" thick clear ice.

I back-pedaled and my rear wheel spinned backwards.

Unconsciously, I tapped the front brake and the front wheel went out from underneath, resulting in four broken ribs and a punctured, collapsed lung.

I got back on my bike and rode five miles to the Emergency room where they put in a chest tube.

I eventually had three chest tubes and went a month without work.

Bummer.

If I had not had a front brake, I think I could have ridden through it, or onto the side of the road, or at least clipped out before I fell, and, perhaps, have fallen better.

That said, I recommend either a front brake or two brakes.

A rear brake alone looks too weird.

I got back on my bike and rode five miles to the Emergency room where they put in a chest tube.


Damn!http://smiliesftw.com/x/faint.gif

yeah that's pretty hardcore. i don't think i'd be able to do that. i should probably put my brake back on, i've tempted fate for a little too long now.

Yeah, I'm a car guy so I realize that the front brake is far more efficient in stopping force, but I wasn't sure if there was a specific reason for one over the other.

I actually only have a rear caliper, but I'm pretty sure i'll be able to adjust it to function on the front no problem. That whole adjusting gear ratio's is some good logic too, since this is my first setup I'm sure I'll try to be switching cogs initially.

But yeah, I'm gonna be taking the freewheel off of my wheel next weekend or so and i'm pretty sure thats called a "suicide hub" for a reason so it'll be just for an e-brake anywho.

really? with a name like evil evo i never would have guessed.

e-brake? dude... :picard: