Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Using Front Side-Pull Caliper Brake on Rear Wheel

Hello Bikeforumers! before realizing my city's police are giving out tickets to cyclists who do not have a rear braking "system", I purchased a Tektro front road caliper brake (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220594448249) for my new fixed gear ride, I am wondering if it's possible & safe to install this brake on my rear wheel (700c x 20)?

muckybrake TM


short answer: no. put it on the front or get a rear.

just install it to the front wheel. since thats where most of the braking power is from anyways.

muckybrake TM


short answer: no. put it on the front or get a rear.

this, if you're running brakeless and only intend to avoid getting ticketed.


just install it to the front wheel. since thats where most of the braking power is from anyways.

city police are ticketing bikes that do not have a brake which "allows the bike to skid to a stop", which is why you need a rear brake. legs dont count.

If you were looking to put a rear brake on your bike, why did you buy a front caliper in the first place?

Don't you typically run front and rear brakes anyways, Travis?

Are you guys in the same town or something? My state has the same law but it's never (as far as I know) been interpreted to mean that front brakes don't count and fixed gear != rear brake.

I am from Montreal, perhaps having a rear-brake only setup is better for the snowy weather we get here ?


If you were looking to put a rear brake on your bike, why did you buy a front caliper in the first place?

I was intending to install a front brake only before I realized the law requiring rear brakes. (Radio debate (http://www.cbc.ca/daybreakmontreal/2011/05/not-giving-them-a-brake.html) btw Fixie Messenger & Traffic Cop)

A lot of places have laws requiring that all bicycles must be equipped with at least one mechanical brake which can cause the rear wheel to skid on dry pavement.

A lot of places have laws requiring that all bicycles must be equipped with at least one mechanical brake which can cause the rear wheel to skid on dry pavement.

Yes, and they're asinine and not enforced (except in Davis and Montreal apparently, where the courts aren't interested in enforcing the intent of the law).

edit: it's worth pointing out that Massachusetts simply states the desired stopping distance and does not require the ability to skid. How progressive!

I just want to see one concrete example of someone with a front brake getting ticketed for not having a rear brake.

I just want to see one concrete example of someone with a front brake getting ticketed for not having a rear brake.

I walked up to a street traffic cop today and asked the same question. The answer is negative.

OP - To answer your specific question, yes, you can install a front brake caliper on the rear by adding a bunch of spacers on the pivot bolt. It won't be pretty, but it can be done. You will need to replace the recessed nut with a regular external hex nut.

I walked up to a street traffic cop today and asked the same question. The answer is negative.

I'm confused... You will get a ticket? Or you won't?

Faux coaster-brake bracket plus your mad skiddzzz, in this situation.

But for real, just mount something there. Nothing more amazing than asserting your rights.