Advocacy & Safety - "Legistlation targets Fixie riders" - Found a rant on CL.

I found a rant (since flagged on CL) that led me to this: Bicyles required to have brakes (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/S1349.htm)

The current Idaho law is that the bicycle must be able to stop within 20 feet.

I personally think this is a GREAT idea. Brakeless fixies belong on the track, not the streets. I mean, what do you do if your chain breaks and your coming up on a busy intersection?

Thoughts?

It makes sense, but sense isn't what brakeless fixies is about.

49*725. BICYCLE EQUIPMENT **REQUIRED. Every bicycle, when operated upon a roadway of this state, shall be equipped with at least one brake adequate to control the movement of such bicycle and to stop and hold such bicycle.

Some fixie rider will argue that his shoes do the job.

-Kurt

You do, of course, realize that a GREAT many bikes are equipped with coaster brakes and no hand brakes, right??? What do THEY do if their chain breaks?

Idiots. The whole lot of you safety nannies.


I found a rant (since flagged on CL) that led me to this: Bicyles required to have brakes (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/S1349.htm)

The current Idaho law is that the bicycle must be able to stop within 20 feet.

I personally think this is a GREAT idea. Brakeless fixies belong on the track, not the streets. I mean, what do you do if your chain breaks and your coming up on a busy intersection?

Thoughts?

A lot of the fixters I see when I travel aren't going over 8mph, so 20 feet shouldn't be a problem.

Ouch.

At least the fixies have a means of slowing down. The mid 90s brakeless fad for freestyle BMX is still going strong. (Firefox's spell checker doesn't recognize the word "brakeless," but did suggest the word "brainless." :lol: ) I saw a kid 'bout kill himself last year trying to get around a corner on a steep hill, without any brakes on his bike. He barely got slowed down enough to make the turn, by dragging his feet.

Of course, he sailed right through a three way stop, in the process....

I found a rant (since flagged on CL) that led me to this: Bicyles required to have brakes (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/S1349.htm)

what do you do if your chain breaks and your coming up on a busy intersection?

Thoughts? what do you do if your brake cables snap?????

If your brake system fails, whichever you choose to use, you could always do the Ted Shred. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5W1Z23wPg

Who cares about brakes on fixies? If its that dangerous to go without brakes, Darwin will soon teach them a lesson.

I just find it amusing that people will go to such legnths to ride a bike that is in the wrong gear 95% of the time, that you can't bomb a corner with because you will strike a pedal, and that you have to go way slower than you could because you refuse to put a front brake on the bike and instead have to brake with a technique that is about as effective and reliable as Fred Flinstone's braking technique.

If your brake system fails, whichever you choose to use, you could always do the Ted Shred. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5W1Z23wPg

What if you have full length fenders and a pannier? Looks like I'll have better luck doing the Fred Shred (Flintstone, that is) in case of a dual brake blowout.

what do you do if your brake cables snap?????

I engage the other brake. I think it's imperative that your bike have two brakes. Always a backup. If the two brakes are skidding and a front brake, fine.

I realy don't understanding bicyclist hating bicyclist. the mtbers hate the roadies mtbers and roadies hate the urban fixed gear rider. this stuff realy makes me hate having a bicycle. live and let live. I would have to say an experinced fixied gear b/l rider can stop his/her bike as effective as a new comer on a hybrid. they'll be affraid of grabing the front brake lock up the rear wheel and skid away. realy why hate someone on a bike.

They'll still ride brakeless in effect by putting the brake lever on their seat post

I realy don't understanding bicyclist hating bicyclist. the mtbers hate the roadies mtbers and roadies hate the urban fixed gear rider.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-YgQ5pwSw

-Kurt

That was brilliant

I personally think this is a GREAT idea. Brakeless fixies belong on the track, not the streets. I mean, what do you do if your chain breaks and your coming up on a busy intersection?

1. most brakeless riders use the beefy 1/8" chains... and snapping one of those is neigh on impossible.

2. we can play the "what if" game all day if you want. as in: "what if you're riding in wet conditions and your friction brakes become frictionless" or "what if you snap a cable" or "what if it's -30 and your braking mechanism fails".... and there's a lot more where that came from.

3. it's a good idea to be careful about making "this vehicle belongs here and not here" statements... i hear lots of motorists saying bicycles don't belong on the street citing safety as their reason.

4. in what way is a law going to help the problem? laws don't change people's attitudes or beliefs or desires. at best all they do is force compliance by the threat of sanctions and even then they do a piss poor job. when you outlaw brakeless riding you make brakeless riders into badass, sexy outlaw rebels.

5. as a disclaimer: i have a front brake installed on my fixed gear bike. i only have to use it a couple of times a year, but i'm really glad i have it when i need it.

5. as a disclaimer: i have a front brake installed on my fixed gear bike. i only have to use it a couple of times a year, but i'm really glad i have it when i need it.
me too. there also quite handy at keeping tires around.

Almost hit a squad of fixies running a red light while driving. The first squeezed through on a yellow light, but the 4 others were following 2-3 seconds behind. They tried to run it. Locked my brakes and laid on the horn. They weren't expecting a car to be coming. Lots of middle fingers were exchanged. Not a brake in the bunch.

Almost hit a squad of fixies running a red light while driving... Not a brake in the bunch.

a fascinating piece of correlation. however, it's dangerous to assume that the reason they ran the red light because they were unable to stop. in all liklihood, their scofflawisms are more a function of their attitude than their gear or lack thereof.

Right you can wittness the same behavior anywhere. it's not the bike perse but the individuals. There is alot of freedom with the bicycle you can't find else where I'd hate to see that removed. rebellious thrill seeking individuals are gonna do what they'll do. better to have that attitude on a 25lb bicycle then a 2,500 lb auto

Hand brakes and freewheels make it possible to ride much more aggressively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-YgQ5pwSw

-Kurt

Kurt,

The video has been disabled by request.

Kurt,

The video has been disabled by request.

Embedding has been re-enabled by request ;)

-Kurt

that video is great why disable it???

that video is great why disable it???

I usually disable embedding on my videos; forgot to set it otherwise for this one.

-Kurt

Ahh, sorry i'm computer dumb guess i miss interpeted

a fascinating piece of correlation. however, it's dangerous to assume that the reason they ran the red light because they were unable to stop. in all liklihood, their scofflawisms are more a function of their attitude than their gear or lack thereof.

Agreed. However, they were in a situation that when they had to stop fast & hard, they couldn't. I pulled out of a little used roadway on a green light. It was night. I only saw them because I was actively looking for them when I saw the leader look over his shoulder behind him. Otherwise, I'd would have T-boned the entire pack.

I mean, what do you do if your chain breaks and your coming up on a busy intersection?

Thoughts?

you're probably more likely to snap a brake cable than a chain

you're probably more likely to snap a brake cable than a chain

Really... snapped three chains in the last five years, never in LIFE snapped a cable.

Really... snapped three chains in the last five years, never in LIFE snapped a cable.

really, I've snapped several brake cables, and never a chain

:)

Yeah, but you have two brake cables ;)

you're probably more likely to snap a brake cable than a chain

I've snapped several master links, does that count?

Yeah, but you have two brake cables ;)


What ya don't think that it'd be possible for two brake cables from the same batch to fail at the same time?

I've snapped several master links, does that count?

you actually use the master links?

:eek:

Maybe you should sue SRAM

;)

Yeah, but you have two brake cables ;)

not necessarily

you actually use the master links?

:eek:

Maybe you should sue SRAM

;)

They were SRAM's.

Surefire method to snap a chain: Reinstall the existing pin of a 7-speed chain into a link.

A method perfected by two-cent, LBS summer help.

-Kurt

you actually use the master links?


master links are fine to use... just not reuse.

the only i ever snapped was a 1/32 kmc with a re-used master. snapped it at 20~ km/h while standing on the pedals. wound up breaking two ribs and scattering 8 felafel sandwiches out of my bag all over 12th avenue.

ouch.

master links are fine to use... just not reuse.

the only i ever snapped was a 1/32 kmc with a re-used master. snapped it at 20~ km/h while standing on the pedals. wound up breaking two ribs and scattering 8 felafel sandwiches out of my bag all over 12th avenue.

ouch.

what's the point of having a master link if it's not reusable?

Surefire method to snap a chain: Reinstall the existing pin of a 7-speed chain into a link.
A method perfected by two-cent, LBS summer help.

-Kurt

what is this suppose to mean? sounds like you're saying the whole chain can't be reused once it is opened

what is this suppose to mean? sounds like you're saying the whole chain can't be reused once it is opened
I think he means popping a pin out of a link, and then pushing the same pin back in - The only time I've ever had troubles with a chain was when I attempted to do this. On mine, the pin fell out after about five miles.

I think he means popping a pin out of a link, and then pushing the same pin back in - The only time I've ever had troubles with a chain was when I attempted to do this. On mine, the pin fell out after about five miles.

only a novice takes the pin entirely out of the link; and if you don't take the pin entirely out of the link, you are, by definition, reusing it.

master links are fine to use... just not reuse.

the only i ever snapped was a 1/32 kmc with a re-used master. snapped it at 20~ km/h while standing on the pedals. wound up breaking two ribs and scattering 8 felafel sandwiches out of my bag all over 12th avenue.

ouch.

One of the times that I "popped" a master link that's pretty much what happened to me. I was on 49th St. N. going to Tampa and was standing on the pedals going through the Ulmerton Rd. 49th St. intersection and about a 1/4 of the way or so into the intersection it pops. Laying my chain out nicely and of course leaving me without a drivetrain. Fortunately I'd built up enough speed that I was able to coast through the intersection and also fortunately for me I did not end up "eating" the pavement.

I just coasted through cut through the parking lot of the gas station to my right, dismounted crossed the street at the crosswalk. Waited for the light to go red so I could run out and get my chain and pulled out an extra link that I carried for such emergencies.

It pays to carry spares of things that you would think that ya shouldn't need to carry cause there will come a day when ya will need it. I carry a spare tube, a patch kit, plastic tire irons, several dollars for bus fare or to use as a boot if I have a big hole enough hole in the tire, two different multi-tools, first aid kit, CO2, pressure gauge. Just to name some of the things. Everything except the first aid kit and one multi-tool is in my saddle bag. The first aid kit and other multi-tool is in my pannier bag.

only a novice takes the pin entirely out of the link; and if you don't take the pin entirely out of the link, you are, by definition, reusing it.

Last summer while a friend and I were out riding it paid off that one of the multi-tools that I carry has a chain break on it. We encountered a father/daughter team that were out riding and she'd hit a bump and her chain came off the gears and got wedged between the cogs and her frame. He was trying to pull it out and not having much luck, I was able to "break" the chain and get it out, and re-thread it where it should be.

One of the times that I "popped" a master link that's pretty much what happened to me. I was on 49th St. N. going to Tampa and was standing on the pedals going through the Ulmerton Rd. 49th St. intersection and about a 1/4 of the way or so into the intersection it pops. Laying my chain out nicely and of course leaving me without a drivetrain. Fortunately I'd built up enough speed that I was able to coast through the intersection and also fortunately for me I did not end up "eating" the pavement.

I just coasted through cut through the parking lot of the gas station to my right, dismounted crossed the street at the crosswalk. Waited for the light to go red so I could run out and get my chain and pulled out an extra link that I carried for such emergencies.

It pays to carry spares of things that you would think that ya shouldn't need to carry cause there will come a day when ya will need it. I carry a spare tube, a patch kit, plastic tire irons, several dollars for bus fare or to use as a boot if I have a big hole enough hole in the tire, two different multi-tools, first aid kit, CO2, pressure gauge. Just to name some of the things. Everything except the first aid kit and one multi-tool is in my saddle bag. The first aid kit and other multi-tool is in my pannier bag.

don't forget your space blanket and emergency rations!

;)

don't forget your space blanket and emergency rations!

;)

both of you are forgetting the two absolutely most crucial pieces of emergency gear!

1. $100 cash
2. cell phone

don't forget your space blanket and emergency rations!

;)

Does carrying packages of GU in my jersey pocket count as emergency rations? Actually a space blanket wouldn't really be a bad addition to the first aid kit.

both of you are forgetting the two absolutely most crucial pieces of emergency gear!

1. $100 cash
2. cell phone

I carry a PDA/cell phone in a pouch on my CamelBak. And besides the $5 or $6 in my saddle bag I also carry a $20 in my purse which is "buried" inside my backpack along with my laptop, maps, Florida Statutes, and other misc. "junk."

better to have two brakes instead of just one