pistaboy

Hi guys. I new here so I'm just introducing my self. I'm 14 and I live in Ashland Oregon. I just got my first fixed gear. A Pista from 2005. I LOVE it! I put a front brake on it but that will be coming off as soon as I can be comfy with skidding and such. Thanks for reading the post and feel free to drop me a line...

dubteka

welcome.

kurremkarm

It's great you like the bike but leave the brake on in case you want to live to reproduce.

rvabiker

I am soon going to get tired of all this pro-brake vs anti-brake bickering. I do not run a brake a do not forsee a situation where I ever will. I think running a fixed gear sans brake on the street is tons of fun and a great way to develop a new skill set. That said if you are uncomfortable without a brake then put one on and stop lecturing the rest of us.

TheDL

Welcome. Glad to see another Oregonian!

btw: rvabiker - hope you never bust any chainring teeth

pistaboy

^ where in Oregon are you?

icithecat

Welcome pistaboy. Santa must have been good to you. pdx is Portland. We also have a pista owner from Bend by the name of Ken Cox here on the forum.

rvabiker

I've thrown chains before...just used my foot to stop...either way its part of the risk which I embrace. Deal with it or put a brake on...either way who cares, just ride and enjoy it.

onetwentyeight 

How did you lose the chain? Did the masterlink pop off? Those things always make me nervous, so I have a chain that has a screw instead.

rvabiker

It just broke...sucked but didn't ruin my day. Basically I was speeding up from stop so I was applying a lot of torque and it just freaking snapped. Thats what happens when you have an $8 chain...most of the time they work fine but every once in awhile you'll get a bad one.

kurremkarm

That wasn't lecturing that was advice and it was free. See he's 14 and I'm 37. He is free to do whatever he wants but I actually care if 14 year folks who are getting into my favorite sport are doing things that might get them hurt. At least enough to speak my opinion when i feel it is required.

Fisty 'O Toole

PLEASE keep your brake on.

Everytime I see a brakeless fixed gear bicycle I cry a little inside.

hyperRevue

PLEASE ride your bike however YOU deem appropriate.

shants

**** brakes and **** ******bags who think that everyone needs to use one.

oh, welcome to the forum. enjoy.

hyperRevue

I love shants more and more every post.

EnLaCalle

welcome to the crack that is bikeforums ss/fg. This isn't like cigarettes back in the day where they "didn't tell you it was bad for you." You heard it here first.

You're going to learn a lot here, get really annoyed here, laugh a lot here and for sure spend too much time here. Your grades will plummet and your real life relationships will suffer.

Also, don't let the peanut gallery here make you feel bad about the Pista. Because they'll try. But they're idiots. Don't listen to them. Well, listen to them when they say the fork is kind of ugly, b/c it is. But just that.

Good luck. Don't skip school to post, kid. At least I get paid for this.

jyossarian

Jeez, my bike's older than this kid. Welcome and always remember that girls dig guys w/ one pant leg rolled up and a big-a$$ chain around their waist. Or they should.

celephaiz

And everytime there's a break in the clouds that allows me to see you way up on your high horse, I throw up a little bit in my mouth.


BTW i run a brake.

Shiznaz

These old fogies are just jealous because by the time you are their age, you're going to be way faster than them and you'll be doing backwards figure-eights no handed while bunny hopping and drinking a beer pie. You'll also have a way nicer stable of bikes than them, and probably be covered in bike related tattoos and have a girlfriend who custom builds track frames.

Welcome, and enjoy your stay! Also, a good time to switch to brakeless is when your brakes give out and you're too poor/lazy to replace them. Thats what I did!

lunacycle

Yeah, sooner or later you'll ask a question about your bike and some genius will reply, "Get an IRO." So let me the first to say, dude, you should have got an IRO. Ha ha, just kidding. I have an '05 Pista, and I love it. Welcome to the forums.

rvabiker

Yeah, I guess he's right. Better put a brake on it, and make sure you have a low ratio or you'll hurt your knees. Stop at every light until it turns green, walk your bike in heavy traffic. Make sure to have front and rear reflectors and a bell(its the law). Wouldn't want to get hurt...

humancongereel

yeah, do whatever you're comfortable with. but at least be honest with yourself about your skills before you make that decision.

mrbertfixy

i think the scar thread should be required reading for all minors.

humancongereel

sure. brakeless is a matter of your own skill and confidence. but you ought to also know what sort of pain you can end up in if your skill and confidence isn't all you need. let's revive that scar thread!

stendhalian

ressurected to get pistaboy to post the photo that will seal his immortality and make him famous the world over...let's have it.

oh and **** a brake!!