trackietrack

Greetings Cyclists,

There is a heated debate on the Surfer Magazine forum about fixed gear cycles:

https://forum.surfermag.com/forum/sho...=0#Post1408233

I would like to ask you forum members and experienced cyclists a few questions.

• Are front brakes generally considered "lame" or "gay" on a fixed bike?
• Are they supposed to be called "Track Bikes" or "Fixed Gear".
• What are alternate names for these types of bicycles? Is "fixie" commonly used?

Please feel free to read the exchange of replies on the Surfer Magazine thread and we would enjoy input from people like yourselves that ride these bicycles and spend a lot of time discussing/debating on an acual cycling forum about fixed gear cycles.

Kind Regards,
-otf

ZiP0082

my front brake is asexual.

iamtim

Sadly misinformed.

patrickgh

I'm pretty damn glad I have my brake. In fact, I love it. It saved me not once, but twice today

Scenario #1: (Kinda my fault.. )
I was crossing a street on the crosswalk (I had the green/walk) and a truck comes flying around the corner making a right.. I was sorta not paying attention and had to jam the brake to not end up a decal on his door. It was more of a paniced move though, because I was able to swerve out of danger long before I got close.

Scenario #2: (not my fault)
Making a higher speed left onto a multiple lane road downtown (I had the green arrow) when two peds decide it'd be a wise idea to attempt a sprint across the road. They do the start/stop/start dance, which leaves me to decide if I go left around them on right. At this point I was really cookin' it, so I had to act fast and hit the brake + swerve right.. barely missing the dumbass who once again decided to STOP and BACKUP after she saw me begin to go behind them. She made a silly "OOF!" noise as I went past though ..it was kinda cute

iwegian

i think there should be some liability with running no brake

Mofopotomus

There is, it's called looking like a dumbass for the rest of your life because you knocked out all your teeth.

iamtim

HAHAHAHAHAH!

ndnyc212

front brakes fo' lyfe !

huerro

All track bikes are fixed gear, not all fixed gears are track bikes. Fixed gear describes the drive train and can be on any kind of bike.

c0urt

look on page 3 it's death hare

sluglug

your brake reproduces by itself?

sdge

I don't know if having a front brake makes you "lame" or "gay", but not having one kinda makes you pretty cool, IN THE EYES OF SOME...

Track bikes are a specific type of fixed gear bike that has a frame geometry made for the track. A lot of fixed gear bikes are old converted road bikes, which are NOT track bikes. All track bikes are fixed gear NOT all fixed gear bikes are track bikes.

I use the word "fixie" if not only because when talking about them saying "fixed gear bicycle" over and over again is not fun.

bbattle

Those surfers could use a Surly Big Dummy to haul their boards and gear to the beach. If Surly would build a Big Dummy/Pugsly you could ride ON the beach.

operator

My brake is definitley gay

ZiP0082

i believe so.