Originally Posted by Kiecker
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...
Indeed, other people tear up the trails too but that doesn't mean you should. Beginners will always do so and its unfortunate but everyone has to learn good bike control somehow. Weekend warriors and fg riders being skidiots are both equally reprehensible. I don't cut them any more slack this is just an thread about fg riders.
Originally Posted by Kiecker
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.
Unfortunately I have heard of this happening and there is no excuse for it. Yes noobs will always tear up trails but even they have a responsibility to keep it to a minimum. I think it will become more and more common as the group of people who have little to no biking experience outside of fixed gears has grown so large. There is a reasonable portion of this board for instance that got into cycling in thier late teens or twenties on fixed gear bikes. When people like this decide they want to try their hand on the trails a fair number of them may be tempted to do so on a fg which is not a good choice for them or the trails.
Originally Posted by Kiecker
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.
I didn;t mean that riding the trails since thier inception was a prerequisite but rather that you should at least figure out whats around every corner before you ride a new trail fixed.
Originally Posted by Kiecker
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.
I did no such thing. I don't even know if he plans to ride it off road period. My original post merely states that he needs to keep the brakes on it and if he is not already an accomplished rider he should stick to ss until he is.
Originally Posted by Kiecker
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
Not being able to lock up my wheel and throw my bike around on super tight switchbacks throws off my mojo on fast descents. I still don't do it(except on private trails on private land) though becuase I'm not a jackass. I don't care how much more pleasant it is to ride without a back brake unless you can apply smooth enough pressure so that you skid no more then you would with a brake you are a peice of **** for putting your own enjoyment over the trails health.