Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - huh?

This morning on my way in I noticed a guy riding a singlespeed with no brakes. I know it wasn't fixed because he was occasionally coasting. Seemed extremely dumb to me. Is there something I'm missing here?

I put big knobbies on my singlespeed and riding in the snow I almost never use my brakes. But yeah, I do have em.

coaster brake?

damn... even I'm not that dumb

yes, coaster brake...

Hmmm.... what's a coaster brake? It somehow provides friction on the hub or bb when coasing?

Coaster brake = a rear hub which incorporates a brake which is operated by applying backward pedaling pressure.

Remember when you were a kid and the bike you owned allowed you to crank the pedals backwards and skid down the road?

That's a coaster brake.

PJ

I thought everyone knew what a coaster brake was...

I thought everyone knew what a coaster brake was...

Pardon my ignorance on the issue.

Its funny, because I've been thinking about the little Diamond Back I had as a kid, and was just wondering if they made a hub that worked like that for big kid bikes. Now I know.

There's a thread that was started a while back and recently resurfacedcalled "coaster brake" on this forum, and some pictures, too. You could go check it out.

Actually, my tiny, poor quality avitar is my coaster brake Schwinn road bike...

Actually, my tiny, poor quality avitar is my coaster brake Schwinn road bike...
May I click on it?

Sure, Fixer, feel free to click on it, nothing will happen, though...

This morning on my way in I noticed a guy riding a singlespeed with no brakes. I know it wasn't fixed because he was occasionally coasting. Seemed extremely dumb to me. Is there something I'm missing here?


This bike could have coaster brake that you didn't notice.

This bike could have coaster brake that you didn't notice.

Yes, we've already discussed this...

Yes, we've already discussed this...

Yeah ... I'm just a newbie too anxious to contribute. I read the original post and the reply after it, but I didn't page down to see the rest.

Sorry about that ... I need to calm down!

Frogger

It's arright! Deep breath...... ;)

We don't mind more coaster brake fans! I just got back from riding mine. :D

It's arright! Deep breath...... ;)

We don't mind more coaster brake fans! I just got back from riding mine. :D

Hi Folks....

Speaking of coaster brake fans, here's my Steamroller. The hub is a Fichtel & Sachs with a nicely machined body. It's very smooth and quiet. The front hub is an old Suntour large-flange jobbie. Both are laced into Velocity Fusion rims. This bike is so much fun to ride.

Thanks

jim

PS: As for the 2 tugnuts? .... I don't know, I had two and figured why not.

.

You know, I've actually seen people riding ss with no brakes. SS/fixie seems to have suddenly gained cachet amoung the students at the local art college, and this spring I passed a fellow who had converted his bike to SS by the simple expedient of removing the derailleurs and brakes, and setting the chain on one of the middle cogs of the freewheel. He was braking by scuffing his feet along the ground. I kid you not. I thought it might be a performance art piece, art school being what it is, and left him to meet his end.

You think that's bad? The other day I saw a kid, maybe 12 years old, on a crappy full-sus MTB, and he'd deicded it would be a good idea to unhook the cables from his V brakes. As far as I could see they were perfectly good, he just unhooked them. Brakes, but no brakes.

Its funny, because I've been thinking about the little Diamond Back I had as a kid, and was just wondering if they made a hub that worked like that for big kid bikes. Now I know.


I own a Straight-up X 7 (http://www.vandesselsports.com/b_st_X7.shtml). Mine has a Nexus-7 hub, but they do make a model that is SS. It has a coaster brake as well.

This bike makes a great summer commuter bike, I have added fenders, a rack, some different pedals, and some lights.

The "moustache" handlebars are a bit unusual as well.

Dan

at the local art college.

Please tell me you are not referring to VCU.

"Please tell me you are not referring to VCU."

Yep, that's the only one here I know of. Went there myself briefly in the eighties, before deciding the best decision I could make as an artist was to drop out of art school.

"Please tell me you are not referring to VCU."

Yep, that's the only one here I know of. Went there myself briefly in the eighties, before deciding the best decision I could make as an artist was to drop out of art school.

Graduated from there in '91. I was a rebel at VCU in the late eighties...I didn't dress like Robert Smith.

I left in '87. Don't worry, all the Robert Smith wannabes are now riding fixies... :). (just kidding)

Posted by Poguemahone:

" and this spring I passed a fellow who had converted his bike to SS by the simple expedient of removing the derailleurs and brakes, and setting the chain on one of the middle cogs of the freewheel. He was braking by scuffing his feet along the ground. I kid you not."

I'm 90% sure I know the person you are talking about. He's since developed the techinique of sticking his shoe between the frame and the rear wheel. And I don't think its a matter of converting his bike, more like making a found bike rideable again on a tight budget.

Tight as in non-existent? Who can't afford a new brake cable or two? Someone who probably can't afford new shoes every two weeks that's who.

Graduated from there in '91. I was a rebel at VCU in the late eighties...I didn't dress like Robert Smith.
Sure, sure you didn't.

You had big hair. Admit.

I just put this together last night, it's a singlespeed with a coaster brake. Well, it's actually a busted Sturmey-Archer internal 3-speed hub that is stuck in the highest gear.