Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Brake questions

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solipsist716
06-02-10, 10:44 PM
Hey guys,

I'm converting my singlespeed to fixed/free within the month. For the time being I'll be riding only fixed, since my freewheel right now is just a converted cassette with spacers. Anyways, I ride exclusively with a back rim brake, this is near-useless for fixed riding and I was curious if I could simply take it off, shorten the cable and put it on my front wheel? Any feedback is appreciated.

Squirrelli
06-02-10, 10:47 PM
I don't think you will be able to, since the bolt might not be able to reach all the way to the back of the fork. However, you can try to buy a longer recessed nut to see if it can reach bolt inside.
arcade
06-02-10, 10:52 PM
the real question is:
how do you know that brake is there, and is there even anyone to stop for?

dan32888
06-03-10, 01:35 AM
the real question is:
how do you know that brake is there, and is there even anyone to stop for?

come again?
arcade
06-03-10, 01:51 AM
come again?



http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kp9f6diIOO1qz9bwro1_500.jpg
gumbii
06-03-10, 03:16 AM
lol... just leave it... big whoop...

i ride fixed but left both brakes... i just don't want to have no brakes with TT brake levers on the bullhorn ends... i hardly use them, but i'm glad there are there... over here cholos and paizas drive crazy as heck...
Coluber42
06-03-10, 04:37 AM
There's no reason to remove the brake you have. The one thing to watch out for is that if you get used to applying some back pressure with your feet while decelerating, and still apply the same amount of pressure to the rear brake lever that you usually would, you're more likely to lock up the rear wheel because you end up applying more deceleration than you think, and may skid unintentionally. But that's not a reason to remove it, just something to keep in mind.
But in any case, you should add a front brake. On -any- vehicle, the weight goes to the front while decelerating, and your front wheel therefore has more traction for braking than your back. The harder you decelerate, the more this is the case. You get maximum braking power at the point just before the rear wheel lifts off the ground... at which point any rear wheel braking will do absolutely nothing. No matter how good your rear brake is, and no matter how good you are at skidding, it will never be as good as a decent front brake, and that's just physics.