Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Suggestions for Stopping on a fixie

Well, enchanted by their simplicity, I decided to buy a fixie, and am throwing on a freewheel cog for when I need a break.

Maiden voyage today! and I love it! its quick, agile, and I am just so in love with my new fixed gear bike. Luckily I didnt run into any problems with traffic (so far). I tried to avoid traffic as much as possible, but I had a fairly safe day to say the least.

My question is regarding Stopping.

I have a stock Windsor Hour, which has a fairly high gear ratio. 48/16. Idk.....it FEELS high. For the mean time while I grow more comfratable using the fixed side, I have been sort of coasting to a stop until I can comfratably resist the crank rotation without putting lots of pressure on my knees.

Any other suggestions? because I cant seem to get the hang of skids yet......idk. My friend who also has a stock Hour (experienced fixed rider) and says that its hard to skid with it because of the high ratio.


What you say everyone?

Well, you could always install a brake...

http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f0j00oesaLzBcfHkdM/Caliper-Brake-SD-68-.jpg

..

lol. well that was a given. But I dont have a front brake (im trying to install the rear brake and will then save instead for bullhorns + aero/TT clip ons + brake levers and THEN front brake XD).

Might eventually save up for Deep Vs. Idk lol. I also so want to remove the logos etc.

Quit screwing around and install a front brake.

Even if you have 2 brakes, the front brake does 80% of your braking.

You can buy a fancier lever later for your new handlebars, but get a regular front brake and brake lever and install them ASAP.

You don't always have the luxury of avoiding traffic, and when you need to stop quickly, there isn't a substitute for a brake.

It's a lot cheaper than a trip to the emergency room.

Just get a front brake. It's the best option. Get a front brake. Get one and install it.

I agree with the front brake suggestion, but eh, it's your skull.

This thread really needed to be created?

This thread really needed to be created?

Clearly.

Your friend is right. It IS high, for the street anyway. Get something in the neighborhood of a 42 tooth chainring or an 18 tooth cog (cheaper) and it will become significantly easier to slow down with your legs as well as to accelerate.

Quit screwing around and install a front brake.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/bears.jpg

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 2 characters.

But I dont have a front brake (im trying to install the rear brake and will then save instead for bullhorns + aero/TT clip ons + brake levers and THEN front brake XD).

Might eventually save up for Deep Vs. Idk lol. I also so want to remove the logos etc.

I think ur priority list needs to be readjusted to this:
FRONT BRAKE + brake levers, Bullhorns, Rear Brake, TT

Everyone on this thread is right. Get a front brake.



and am throwing on a freewheel cog for when I need a break.


ESPECIALLY if u have a freewheel cog.

..actually. Because of the freewheel, u should get both front and rear brakes before bullhorns.

Ryan made a funny. Needs more cat though.

I hereby nominate the OP for a Darwin Award.

I hereby nominate the OP for a Darwin Award.

OP post is the POST OF YEAR!!....So far

Lol
https://www.canadabicycleparts.com/store/catalog/images/2-103.jpg

I'm surprised all the cranky-pants posters around here aren't telling the OP that he needs to get hit by cars, and possibly die, to thin out the gene pool and all that.

You ought to bring your rear brake to the front. Just swap the pads around.

Geez. Just start off with a front brake.
This is such a no-brainer issue.

Now I'm ready to have my first cup of coffee. :D

You ought to bring your rear brake to the front. Just swap the pads around.

You'll need a longer nut.

You'll need a longer nut.

Just wait a few years; they stretch over time. Oh, wait. I guess we are talking about something else here.

Just wait a few years; they stretch over time. Oh, wait. I guess we are talking about something else here.

Yeah...

Boxer briefs, ftw.

You need to install a front brake before you decide to ride this again anywhere near traffic. Right now if a car pulled out in front of you you'd run into them, probably dent their car, and then get sued for not equipping your bike with a front brake. Also, it sounds like you'll need a helmet as well.

You know you'd be the envy of everyone at bike polo if you had this:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/Tulsa_s13/03A0712.jpg

lol. well that was a given. But I dont have a front brake (im trying to install the rear brake and will then save instead for bullhorns + aero/TT clip ons + brake levers and THEN front brake XD).

Might eventually save up for Deep Vs. Idk lol. I also so want to remove the logos etc.

sounds like the op is just ****ing with you guys. just my opinion...

a rear brake only on a fixed gears is a major pet peeve for me. Also people starting to ride without a brake are the fools who make the rest of the riders look bad. i would add one thing to you list of things to do after a brake and toe clips, throw a 17 tooth cog on there it will make you like a whole lot better.
man this paragraph has bad grammar on there. oh well.

Tes, front brake, but go with sexy!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/newparts001.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/newparts002.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/newparts003.jpg

trollheim? :p

Luckily I didnt run into any problems with traffic (so far). I tried to avoid traffic as much as possible, but I had a fairly safe day to say the least.

As I or anyone else who's been hit by a car will tell you, getting hit sucks. Take it slow, get a brake ASAP (as in, this week) and enjoy your new ride.

Take it slow, get a brake ASAP (as in, this week) and enjoy your new ride.

this week meaning between today (thurs) and saturday?
+1

http://img1.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/c/0//44/266/44266966_unsuccessful_troll.jpg
sad troll is found out :(

yes indeed. thank you guys lol. FRONT brake. Plus. i Need a smaller gear ratio anyway. The gear ratio is fast when I get it up to speed, but its a ***** when im going slow. But Of course i knew i needed brakes....just didnt know exactly which one was priority? Thanks guys lol



Trollheim as in Runescape Trollheim?

k. Btw....if I change the cog which I definitely will do, should I make it a 17t or 18t cog? Again, the chainring is 48T according to bikesdirect from whence I got the bike.

Sorry for making you look bad btw. BUt I am truly impressed with the bike. Simple, quick, and light. Best bike I ever bought and its only day 2 on it. =].

I'm surprised all the cranky-pants posters around here aren't telling the OP that he needs to get hit by cars, and possibly die, to thin out the gene pool and all that.

I agree! "Survival of the fittest" FTW! :D:D:D It is crucial to the survival of the **** sapien race.

OP should just get a brake OR stick his foot into his spokes every time he needs to stop :rolleyes:



Trollheim as in Runescape Trollheim?

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW......

Try the 18, it will be easy to get up to speed which is nice for riding with traffic around. For a while I had 48 x 18/19 and I liked it a lot.

http://hdabob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Fred-Flintstone-Barney-Rubble-Car-300x231.jpg

Fred and Barney never needed brakes.

Hey LoRoK, XD. thanks.

Its all good. Of course I know I needed brakes. Maybe I should have been more specific? Aside from the brakes which were a given, (and I dont HAVE a front brake to work with atm), was the best way to learn how to skid stop? Was the best way to just resist the crank rotation? was the best way to not exert power to the pedals and let the bike roll to a loooooooong stop? XD sounds stupid. but then again......only my second day =p/


Looks like its an 18t.

Break are for sissies, just spend some time learning how to skid properly.

Oh no you didn't.

Go here:

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html

Study and use the above applet for a few minutes and you can choose your chain ring and sprocket for yourself.

I find 72 gear inches most versatile for a strong rider, although many rider go up to 82 gear inches for the speed, and I presently ride at 61 gear inches for the control and because I don't use a brake and I don't skid.

Ride with a brake, and a front brake only, until you realize a year has passed by without using your brake.

Even then, it makes good sense to ride with a front brake if you like to ride fast.

I don't care that much about fast, but if I had a long commute and geared up for the commute, I'd ride with a brake.

As for braking without a brake, forget about skidding.

Skidding doesn't work; it only ruins tires.

Learn to stop without skidding.

As a starter, when you want to slow down, make your bottom light on the saddle and slide back a bit; and resist the rising pedal.

Do this for a few months and you'll get better and better at it.

It takes coordination and not strength.

If you want to skid just for the skid of it, get out of the saddle and resist the rising pedal; as you resist the rising pedal, start moving your hips forward, towards the handlebars; at a certain point, you will automatically start pulling up on the descending pedal; the more you move your hips forward, the more you will resist the descending pedal; continue to resist the rising pedal, as well as the descending pedal, and eventually, as you experiment with moving your hips further forward, the rear tire will surprise you by skidding.

Don't try to do it all at once.

Play with it.

Just remember that skidding won't stop you very quickly compared to a tire that remains stuck to the pavement.

How is resisting your pedals better than stopping by skidding? I do this all the time while cruising under 10mph but what about faster and more abrupt stops? Skidding also lets you regulate your speed more effectively, especially at speed and down hills. A brake of course is ideal.

How is resisting your pedals better than stopping by skidding? I do this all the time while cruising under 10mph but what about faster and more abrupt stops? Skidding also lets you regulate your speed more effectively, especially at speed and down hills. A brake of course is ideal.

locked tire = no traction to go sideways. meaning you can't do anything but plow straight forward on a locked wheel.

read up on winter driving and why it's bad to lock tires up... similar rules apply to bikes.

If your dead set against a brake....

http://www.unitedmaskandparty.com/Armor/images/italian_knight_armor.JPG

Break are for sissies, just spend some time learning how to skid properly.

Really? ok, you versus me and my 6Klb SUV. Lets see who wins, yes I will!

Skidding is not stopping properly.

Maybe when we where kids on BMX bikes. Yes, I was the KING back then.

But while skidding you are NOT in control.

Break are for sissies, just spend some time learning how to skid properly.

You can still skid properly with a brake. With a brake, when your chain breaks because it's stretched out from all that skidding, you can still stop without laying the bike down / Fred Flintstoning it / Ted Shredding it / soiling yourself.

^ You mean "With a break, when your chain brakes"...right???

Its all good. Of course I know I needed brakes. Maybe I should have been more specific? Aside from the brakes which were a given, (and I dont HAVE a front brake to work with atm), was the best way to learn how to skid stop? Was the best way to just resist the crank rotation? was the best way to not exert power to the pedals and let the bike roll to a loooooooong stop? XD sounds stupid. but then again......only my second day

Best way to get used to skidding is to just put your junk to the stem and lock the legs. I know it can feel super scary at first, but you just gotta do it. Start out like that and then you'll get comfortable with your timing to lock your legs, and you won't have to lean so far forward eventually and you'll be able to do seated skids. It's good to mix up all techniques of stopping. I ride 48x17 (just switched up from 42x16) and I back pedal, or resist, a lot when I have time to, skid sometimes just for fun or to check my speed down a bridge or hill, and also rock a front brake for the "oh sh*t!" moments. Just always look ahead at an intersection you're coming up on, or traffic light, or anything at all. Most important thing is to be aware of what's ahead of you and allow plenty of time for stopping and reaction. There's also what some people call "ghost pedaling" or any other name you might hear for just letting your legs rest in the pedals, no forward or backward motion, kind of like coasting to a stop.

You'll develop your own style and comfort level the more you ride, just spend as much time on your bike as possible and get used to it and comfortable and it will be like second nature before you know it. You can even set up fake scenarios when you're on a nice open road or parking lot, like pretend a certain line in the road is a car that just whipped out in front of you, or a light that changed, and practice stopping at that point. I know it may sound corny, but it's good to know you can handle all situations to fully enjoy your bike and ride confidently. Hospitals are overrated. Hope this helped some, and enjoy your bike!

(and at risk of sounding redundant or repetitive with everyone else, but definitely invest in a front brake haha)

forget the brake. rear bumpers slow you down way faster anyways.

locked tire = no traction to go sideways. meaning you can't do anything but plow straight forward on a locked wheel.

read up on winter driving and why it's bad to lock tires up... similar rules apply to bikes.

I guess what I meant to say is can people actually resist their pedals to a stop (in a short distance) when pedaling fast? I have driven quite a bit in winter weather to snowboard but in southern california we don't have winter weather. Luckily with clean dry roads nearly all year round you don't have to worry about traction :P

...when your chain breaks because it's stretched out from all that skidding...

No.

if you have only had it for a few days or a week, keep a brake on til u learn to skid, i learned to skid in about 15 minnutes, and eventually after a week i could hold a skid for as long as i wanted, then eventually i didnt have to lean forward anymore, just stand up a little bit, and farther down, after getting tired of killing rear tires, i learned to skip stop, which was really easy after i built up the muscle for a regular skid