Originally Posted by dutret
I am lukewarm to the whole idea of fg mtbing in general because it is far more likely to tear up the trails. What do you do on behind the saddle descents for instance?
It's called controlled spin with front brake applied, ride it out, or hike down it. You speak as if I and my other fixed mtn bike friends have never ridden trails before
You and I have both seen newbie riders or even just your weekend warriors tearing up trails far more often then any fixed gear rider by locking up a wheel, riding around obsticals or puddles and widening the trial, etc...
However the vast majority of the people who I have seen doing it are incredibly experienced riders who have the skills to do it well and have been riding the trails since thier inception so aren't doing much damage. Plus they could use the extra challenge. However I have little respect for others who do so before they have mastered the basic bike handling skills that are neccesssary to ride fgmtb without damaging the trails.
Agreed in regards to experience. I don't know of any rider that takes a fixed geared bike out into technical trails when learning to ride dirt. Hell, I think most of us were dirt riders long before learning to ride fixed. I know I didn't start riding fixed until I got tired of waiting for the trails to dry out after a MN winter so I took my spin to the road. Although I disagree about "and have been riding the trails since their inception". Experienced riders learn how to adapt to new trails and surfaces whether for fun or for a race regardless if they are riding fixed or a coaster. The original posted never mentioned their background in dirt skills but you assumed they had none and then go one to call them names and threaten a beating if they don't run two brakes. For that sir you are a complete and utter tool.
Not putting a back brake on is completely reprehensible no matter who you are(I have never seen an experienced MTBer do so only people who came from the street fixie side of things.) You often need to stop with both wheels while mtbing since there is so much less traction then on the road. A brake is much better at applying pressure to the wheel and therefore no matter how talented you are it will keep you from skidding at least sometimes. Skidding is never ever appropriate while MTBing ever. Since not having one forces you to skid more and tear up the trails more you are deserving of the aformentioned beating.
Let me take a complete and utter guess here.....you've never ridden fixed off road have you? For the few people that I know that did have a rear brake on while riding fixed off road all of them have complained about how it throws your mojo off and all have since removed it. When you're up for a challenge and want to take your trail to a new level swap a cog on and give it a whirl. After a while you may also find your opinion on a rear brake may change
Keep it spinning.