Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Noob braking question

I bought a flip flop hub single speed and decided to switch it to FG for the 1st time. Riding it is just fine, but braking proves to be a difficulty. Id say even slowing down. I almost flip over the handle bars when trying to brake even while going at 8 MPH!! I have a cruiser with coaster brakes and this dosent happen at all. I ride SS while commuting and XC MTBing..i dont think its a weakness thing:cry: Is it a cog thing? Or just some simple "under my nose technique? thanks

You gotta use your ABS finger ... & modulate. : o) ... maybe sit farther back in the saddle under braking ...


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sounds like you should upgrade to skidding. you're already going almost over the handle bars. so just keep your feet locked to the pedals in a horizontal position and keep your crotch on the stem.

but with brake-ing I think you need to use your brake, and when slowing through leg resistance you should keep your butt on the saddle and just push back as hard as you can without leaving the saddle too much.
-durty

sounds like you should upgrade to skidding. you're already going almost over the handle bars. so just keep your feet locked to the pedals in a horizontal position and keep your crotch on the stem.

but with brake-ing I think you need to use your brake, and when slowing through leg resistance you should keep your butt on the saddle and just push back as hard as you can without leaving the saddle too much.
-durty

Don't keep your crotch on the stem unless you are just trying to see how far you can skid. I can stay on the saddle and skid on some steep hills around here and hardly ever do I lean that far forward when I'm trying to stop. Lower gearing makes slowing and skidding easier as well.

sounds like you should upgrade to skidding. you're already going almost over the handle bars. so just keep your feet locked to the pedals in a horizontal position and keep your crotch on the stem.

but with brake-ing I think you need to use your brake, and when slowing through leg resistance you should keep your butt on the saddle and just push back as hard as you can without leaving the saddle too much.
-durty

upgrade? you're kidding right?
and are you really recommending to someone that has troubles using a front brake stop his bike with a balls-on-the-stem skid?

ya use lower gear ratio

and foot retention. if u have ss you prolly dont have foot retention.

try skip stopping. I stand up in my pedals and brace myself against the handlebars. Push down and pull up at the same time to counter the pedal rotation. You'll get a small "skip." Practice and you can get multiple little short skips. No substitute for an actual brake though.

sounds like you should upgrade to skidding. you're already going almost over the handle bars. so just keep your feet locked to the pedals in a horizontal position and keep your crotch on the stem.

Or upgrade even more to just taking your feet of the pedals and screaming "move move move!" at people in front of you...

I have a cruiser with coaster brakes and this dosent happen at all. . . . Is it a cog thing?

You do understand the mechanical differences between a coaster drum brake and a fixed cog, correct? You are never going to be abke to skid stop a fixed gear like you could a bike with a coaster drum brake. You actually have to exert enough force to stop the pedal rotation on a fixed gear. There is no clutch mechanism like a coaster drum has.

I've never had a problem braking and risking going over my handlebars ... you are clearly braking too hard ... like ... WAY too hard ...

All this talk about skip stopping and skid stopping sounds like nonsense to me. For chrissake, he can't even brake with a brake.

Try adjusting your brake cable ... it may be too tight ... ? I can't see why you'd have problems braking on a fixie vs SS ... assuming you are running a front brake, it should be EXACTLY the same unless you for some reason modified your brake or front wheel ... all you did was flip your rear wheel.

Unless you are talking about braking with your legs? In which case, I have no idea why you would flip over your handlebars ... just doesn't make any physical sense ...

add a rear brake.

Sheldon Brown lays it down: http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

And since you're a noob: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html

I've been told this works, so you should try it. Eat some more gnar for breakfast. Honestly, just ride more fixed, take it easy and you'll get the hang of it. If you want to skid, practice on wet concrete or grass. All in all, just be safe and have fun.

It sounds to me like the fixed gear is bucking you off the bike. If this is the case, then just stop trying to coast and you should be fine.

It sounds to me like the fixed gear is bucking you off the bike. If this is the case, then just stop trying to coast and you should be fine.
ahahaha

Brakes on a fixed gear, its a complete oxymoron. Ditch the brake, your legs are your machinery now. If you go back to SS use a brake.

Good Luck!

Brakes on a fixed gear, its a complete oxymoron. Ditch the brake, your legs are your machinery now. If you go back to SS use a brake.

Good Luck!

to the OP...IGNORE THIS ADVICE. this is quick way for you to die if you don't know what you're doing.

you're new at fixed gear right? DON'T ditch your brake.

ease up on the brake, don't go all out when squeezing the lever........just like in a car, if you smash your foot down on the brake you're gonna get jerked forward

Brakes on a fixed gear, its a complete oxymoron. Ditch the brake, your legs are your machinery now. If you go back to SS use a brake.

Good Luck!

That's not what oxymoron means.

If you feel like you are going to endo when you brake at 8mph, I suspect not only are you breaking too hard, but your frame is way too small for you.
Work both legs simultaneously, pulling front foot up and pushing back pedal down to slow down faster.

How many gear inches are you running? Sounds like you need to gear down.

Or upgrade even more to just taking your feet of the pedals and screaming "move move move!" at people in front of you...

I "Lol" so hard.