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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

allllllrighty then

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.

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.

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.

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.