Uh, I would say it differently.

The best thing you can do is follow common sense, science, and good advice. Being unique and true to yourself does not preclude you from following good advice.

The best fixed gear is not one that you make your own and ride with your own style, the best fixed gear is the one that fits your body, needs, uses, and passions best.

If you're passionate about brakeless(dumb thing to be passionate about, admittedly...), you're going to hate riding a bike with a brake, be it because of how it makes you look or otherwise- whatever your reasoning, the best fixed gear for you is the best fixed gear. No one ever said the best fixed gear for you won't kill you.

Fit is by far most important, value is pretty important to most of us, and ride quality or characteristic is important to the seasoned, discerning rider.

Being an individual is important to people who are vehemently against doing what other people do for the sake of doing it. But if you ask me, being for what other people do because other people are for it is only a bad thing in certain times and places.
Brakeless in SF? That's a time and place.
Riding without fenders because you like the look, even when it rains? That's a time and place.
Hating Jews because your nation's head of state tells you to? Time and... okay that's pretty universally bad.


I have just as much fun on my aluminum bike as I do on my steel bike as far as ride quality is concerned. I'm not buying into any kind of 'trend' by riding both, but if i were it would be because that 'trend' fits me. I ride brakeless when I'm being stupid because, for whatever false-explanation-you-call-excuse, I like it.

I make my kilo pretty damn unique, but cmon. It's a kilo.

If we didn't have followers no one would be apart from the flock.

What you really mean to say is "do what you feel, but ride a brake."

And I hear and support that. But I don't always do it. And so far it hasn't killed me.

In my defense, I *have* a brake... and a bike with two... but I don't always have it installed on my track bike. Because when it comes down to it, I like riding brakeless. It keeps me from doing anything immediately stupid. Not everyone is like that, it would probably push others to do things that are immediately stupid.

But you telling someone to not follow others is a little bit of a Catch-22, no?