Fixed gear Peugeot
 

It was donated to our group (basically we restore donated bikes with donated used parts and give the bike to someone who does not have one) and as we have a container in the velodrome we know very well the people here and a cycling instructor came to us asking for a fixed gear bike for him. We selected a Peugeot, painted it and then build it. I really liked that bike, but, i'm not used to fixed gear so when i rode it i was uncomfortable when needing to brake, i prefer coaster brake by far. Here are some photos of the bike :

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f5adf68b1.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...10c1a97f7b.jpg

None of the explanations I've heard about how fixed gear skill is good enough not to need brakes has ever convinced me. On streets and roads, a fixed gear bike needs a front brake. Put one on and try the bike again.

I agree with you. I was trying it really slow and it was imposible to make it stop. Maybe front brakes (cantilevers maybe) would be a good addition.

I almost always had a front brake on my fixed gear commuters in San Francisco and here in the valley, but I got so used to riding them that I rarely used the brakes. It just took some time to adjust to the change. The main part of the mental exercise was not to think of stopping as being equivalent to braking, but instead as dropping my cadence (at whatever pace) until I was going slowly enough to put one foot on the ground and come to a complete stop. You have to remain in the "groove" until the moment you dismount.

That's a great looking and rather unusual frame as far as I can tell. If it's a Peugeot the details on the lugs would throw it back to the 1950s at least?

-Gregory

When I started riding fixed gear, I had a front brake, but I worked as hard as possible to avoid using it. I used it mostly for urgent stops. Then I realized that I don't need to prove anything to myself. I use the brake first. I'll slow with only my legs only on occasions when I don't need to slow very hard.

There are still a lot of brakeless fixie riders in NYC, even though the trend has diminished. Some of the riders are very skilled, but many of them delude themselves about how safe they are. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But I keep my mouth shut about it most of the time.

The brake-less fixie-fad fables of "Zen Control" and "Ninja Skills" are just that: Fables.
On the open public roads fit at least a front brake, a rear comes in handy on long descents as well.

-Bandera