Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - anyone know a NYC shop that will drill for a rear brake?

i have a bianchi pista, i love it, but i don't ride it as much as i would because of the lack of rear brake. I have no problem stopping it, but i do get kind of tired on it.

Also annoying is that in NYC now you have to stop at every red light, which will get really annoying. i realize that this is somewhat dangerous, but i don't think it'll see the kind of use or hard braking that would make it a serous problem.

so, I'd like to drill the rear seatstay bridge for a brake, i just can't find a shop that will do it.

You have to STOP at every red light? The humanity!

Where I live absolutely nobody stops for red lights(I'm talking trucks, cars, etc) and yet I do it, riding a bicycle.

Have you tried Bikeworks? Or maybe Chelsea bicycles?

Are you running fixed or free? Do you have a front brake?

Have you tried Bikeworks? Or maybe Chelsea bicycles?

i called a few places on the UES and got "no" so before calling every shop in the city i figured i'd ask if anyone affirmatively knew one.

Yeah there aren't very many technical bike shops up there. Bikeworks might have a rear keirin brake that you can bolt to the rear frame.

Yeah there aren't very many technical bike shops up there. Bikeworks might have a rear keirin brake that you can bolt to the rear frame.

how are those keirin brakes? i'd try that if it meant that i could put a freewheel on the bike and use it as a SS

I think it's the easier way to go. It's not pretty but it works and you wouldnt have to modify your frame.

Are you running fixed or free? Do you have a front brake?

Quoting this for emphasis. If you don't have a front brake, you need a front brake not a rear.

coaster brake so you can do sweet skidzzz.

I have a front brake. I don't do skid stops. I can handle slowing the bike without braking (or with just the front) but frankly i've been in a few too many close calls with unexpected cab lane changes.

the coaster brake is kind of interesting. what do you all think of this option?

If you already have a front brake you're not going to be getting much more braking power from a rear brake. Coaster brakes are alright but that means you need to buy a new wheel or re-lace your rear rim with a coaster hub, and scratch up your chainstay with the coaster arm's p-clip.

If you already have a front brake you're not going to be getting much more braking power from a rear brake. Coaster brakes are alright but that means you need to buy a new wheel or re-lace your rear rim with a coaster hub, and scratch up your chainstay with the coaster arm's p-clip.

I would probably put some rubber on the inside of the p-clip to protect the frame.
As far as re-lacing the wheel, i think that could be fun. wheels are the only thing i don't know how to service.

question is - will the rear spacing work? i actually don't know what it is on the Pista (it's a 2009)

Coaster hubs are usually spaced at 110mm, where your Pista is spaced at 120mm. It'll work fine with two 5mm washers.

Coaster hubs are usually spaced at 110mm, where your Pista is spaced at 120mm. It'll work fine with two 5mm washers.

allllllrighty then

I have no problem stopping it, but i do get kind of tired on it.

I don't get this. How are you getting tired? Sounds like you'd be better off with a freewheel (and two brakes.) Just use the front brake to stop, a rear brake will make no difference.

I've ridden a friend's bike fixed with two brakes, and it definitely felt steadier and easier to stop than with just the front brake. I'd heard before that there was no reason for a rear brake if you're riding fixed, but I felt like it was useful in stopping forward momentum (or something), esp. going down hills, and esp. if your legs are tired.

I don't get this. How are you getting tired? Sounds like you'd be better off with a freewheel (and two brakes.) Just use the front brake to stop, a rear brake will make no difference.

Maybe he's using backpressure for slow stops?

OP, unless you're riding ss with one brake, or routinely bombing down hills in Morningside, i don't think you really need a rear brake. A rear brake's primary use is modulating speed, typically on hills. It won't do beans for you in an emergency stop, since your weight (and hence your braking power) transfers to the front in that sort of situation.

That said, you might try Bicycle Renaissance on Columbus & 81st. They've done some strange jobs for me in the past.

Before you spend the money on a brake, another option is to change your rear gear. A bigger gear in the rear. Yeah you wont be able to sprint as fast, but it will be easier to stop. Also change your stopping technique. more weight over your rear wheel so you are not skidding, so you are just stopping. Another options, is a little less pressure in your rear tire. These all effect your top speed, but will allow you to stop faster. Also make sure your tires are not bald.

DO NOT DRILL YOUR FRAME IF AT ALL POSSIBLE that is a load bearing point, and it will not mind bending underneath you at the most inconvenient time it can find.

just to clarify:

yea, i use backpressure + front brake to stop. it gets rough on the knees if i ride long enough.
nothing will convince me that the mere fact that it's possible to stop without a rear brake means that i should not get one.

and yea, i want to avoid drilling the rear brake. the coaster is the best option so far, i don't know why i didn't consider it earlier. for $15 i wouldnt mind rebuilding my wheel.

I really don't see drilling a hole in the frame as being difficult or dangerous in anyway. It's a small hole that really isn't that noticeable if you ever don't run the brake.

If no options are left. Coaster brake.

Read the thread, brah.

yea, i use backpressure + front brake to stop. it gets rough on the knees if i ride long enough.
nothing will convince me that the mere fact that it's possible to stop without a rear brake means that i should not get one.


Just use your front brake, and don't backpedal. A front brake will stop you as fast as it's possible to stop all by itself. There's no reason to need a rear brake under normal conditions, even on a freewheel bike. (Of course it's a good idea to have two brakes in case the front brake fails, or you get a front flat, or you're on ice, etc.)

Live or die I don't care what happens, I won't remember tomorrow. Yes I read the thread. I was trying to offer other options. I have also had to dealt with people and catastrophic frame failure.



and yea, i want to avoid drilling the rear brake. the coaster is the best option so far, i don't know why i didn't consider it earlier. for $15 i wouldnt mind rebuilding my wheel.

Go for it, but that $15 assuming the hubs are the same size and you don't need new spokes or nipples.


Yes it is a small hole they drill. But that cross bar is different on different kinds of frames. On frames that are intended to have a hole drilled there, it is usually a solid piece of metal, and the hole isn't drilled it is cast. For bikes that are not intended to have rear brakes. it is a tube that goes straight across and is usually hollow. if you drill into that tube, you risk that tube failing. That tube is the one holding a brake on, so it fails while stopping. You see where this is going.

The likelihood of a tube "failing" is nearly non-existent. Ripping steel or a weld out from a bike frame is really. People who insist on riding track frames drill forks out forks out all time.

You are talking about two different parts, doing two different things. Forks are thicker. and usually 1/8th or above, rear triangles if hollow can be a little bit thinner.
I am not talking about a weld ripping out, I am talking about tube bending at the weakest point. Your rear triangle has that cross bar as a stabilizer, If you go drilling into bar, it is likely to more to bend and snap. It isn't the biggest they can just become misaligned and make the rear tire more prone become warped.

C0urt has a point, my road bike has a really thick break bridge even though its jut a straight tube. My fix gear's bridge is really thin and ugly..

C0urt how come i've seen custom frames with really thin break bridges with words or logo's cut out. Like Milwaukee's break bridge. isn't that kinda pointless then..

Another options, is a little less pressure in your rear tire. These all effect your top speed, but will allow you to stop faster.
What?

Less tire pressure makes your tire more supple, Thus having more traction to the floor, Also more tire resistance, Its like trying to bounce a flat basket ball.

Whoever drills that bridge is going to have some large balls. I mean, with all that can go wrong... I suppose they could do the work at your risk, but are you going to take the risk? "Yeah dude, we'll drill that, but if we screw it up we will not stand behind it."

I suggest getting a new frame. I know, that is a PITA, but you are in a good sized market and it probably will not take too long to find someone who will swap with you.

I dig coaster brakes. I would like to have one myself on a certain bike. However, I do not think that a coaster brake is your solution for tight city riding. That half-turn of the cranks required to getting in braking position might be turn that turns you into a hood ornament. Sayin.

C0urt how come i've seen custom frames with really thin break bridges with words or logo's cut out. Like Milwaukee's break bridge. isn't that kinda pointless then..
I will be honest, I haven't seen theirs before. odds are the entire thing is solid and mostly just meant to be pretty.

post a pic of the rear brake bridge please. all that's necessary to do this is a center punch and a good drill bit. if there is enough "meat" on the brake bridge this is a non issue, and i'll do it for you.

angry scientist is right if you have enough material on the bridge to accomidate a brake bolt. then all you need is a metal drill bit and a drill press. any machine shop in the city would do that for you at minimal cost.

That half-turn of the cranks required to getting in braking position might be turn that turns you into a hood ornament. Sayin.
Sure, but only if he's relying on the rear wheel to stop him. The front brake will do the job quite adequately on its own so I don't think the lag on a coaster brake would ever really be the margin between him and a broken face.

OP - I recommend that you read this article by Sheldon Brown, which explains the do's and don'ts of braking >>> http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

I asked MysticRat where he got his Dodici drilled this was his response:

went to Spokesman Cycles in LIC they drilled it.