Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - rear brake mounts for track bike?

I received a Pista frameset that I intended on adding a brakeset, but unfortunately, the seatstay bridge is too thin to be drilled for a rear brake. My manager showed me a kit that Dia Compe makes for such frames. I was wondering if there are any other brands that make such a kit or if there are any other ideas for mounting a rear brake to a track bike?

i except people to flame you for doing this.

Oh yeah, because brakes aren't cool when you're running a freewheel. Right.

You bought a Pista and now run it as a singlespeed?

You are one brave or terribly lost soul to admit that on this board.

Track bikes are not allowed to have brakes while on the track. Some companies do drill the fork for a brake; I highly suggest you put a front brake on your Pista.

Rear brake is more for stability under hard stopping and control while flying around corners. Though you don't brake in the curve but rather before the curve and then modulate or tap-tap-tap the brakes just a bit to scrub speed if necessary. On exceptionally steep downhills a rear brake is nice to have as it keeps the rear end from trying to walk around you as you are going downhill and trying to keep the speed way down because there are so many twists and curves that if you ever let up on the brakes you'd fly off the mountain and die.

But I wouldn't worry too much about that; riding singlespeed you are unlikely to get into such a mess. Just use the front brake and you'll be fine.

I bought a Pista that I intend on running as a fixed and single. For those times I run it as single, I'd like to have as much braking power as possible. I know most of my braking power will come from the front. This is nothing new to me. But when riding downtown through traffic, or going downhill, it'd be nice to have a little extra braking ability. If that's going to get me flamed, then whatever.

While you can try that Dia-Compe (Cane Creek) brake, I personally wouldn't feel too comfortable with it. Looks rather homemade and will probably scrape the paintjob up. Pic shows black electrical tape used to protect paint.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/gbarchus/3Rensho1.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/tero_penttinen/contents/media/l_dsc00436_106_detail.jpg


Sheldon Brown breaks braking down for you here: http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

Dia-Compe seems to be the easiest resource for these rear brake kits. I'm not sure where you'll find a better option. But they do tend to tear up your finish.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_482_1210

poor poor san rensho stuck with the diacompe brake kit.

any particular reason for going with the pista then? if you want to run it in single speed there are other choices. Like, a Fuji Track.

The diacomp kit works fine. If you want better braking power, swap the calipers for a nicer dual pivot design (front and rear).

I went with the Pista because I figured it wouldn't be a problem to drill the seatstay bridge for a brake, but when I noticed how thin the tube is, I ruled that out.

... On exceptionally steep downhills a rear brake is nice to have as it keeps the rear end from trying to walk around...

... But I wouldn't worry too much about that; riding singlespeed you are unlikely to get into such a mess. Just use the front brake and you'll be fine.



:twitchy:


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reading that, i thought for a second that red stars were mods too, and i died a little inside.

Before you drill or bolt anything ugly on, ride it on the fixed side of the hub for a while (with front brake, if you like). It's addictive. I've never known anyone with a flip-flop use the freewheel side.