To brake or not to brake
 

OK, I will take delivery of my first ever fixie on thursday. I am an avid and capable cyclist but I have never really ridden fixed. My question is should I just jump in and go brake-less or should I install a brake until I get the hang of it? What did you people do when starting out?

i went with a brake when i first started it out. probably a good idea. especially if you are an avid and capable cyclist, you might find that your enthusiasm might outweigh your brakeless stopping capabalities.

i went brakeless about a year later when i moved to SF. figured it would be a good test.

I ran a brake when I first started out, and have run one a couple of times since then. There are a lot of things that you will be learning simply by going fixed - they will be taking up a lot of your attention. Having the brake is a good idea while you're learning...

(1) put on a brake
(2) pretend you don't have it

I rode with a brake for about a year before I went brakeless. Personally I think that there are certain skills that you should know before going brakeless, but there are others that just jump right into it and turn out fine, it's your call.

i have brakes on both of my bikes. i never use them but i like having the option in an emergency.

I can't think of any good reason not to run a brake.

Mos def start with one. When you realize that you haven't touched it in a month, then deliberate about taking it off.

m.

if you're in a city, it's wise to start with a brake.

if you're in the country, i suppose you could survive without one.

i find that i'm much more aware of my surroundings and ride more careful without a brake. if i have a brake i tend to push my limits a bit. plus my track bike has no brake holes and no brake holes is elegant and sexy.

you forgot (3) wave your hands in the air and wave em like you just don't care.

i think its a good idea to start off with a brake. i rode with one for a year or so before taking the brake off. it seems to me like its a good idea to at least develop some skills before going brakeless, like skip stopping. i know some folks that just got an off the shelf track bike and rode brakeless without learning things like skip stopping. to each their own, i just didn't trust my abilities enough to do this.

Life sucks when you break a chain.

Or spin off a cog...

I started off brakeless simply because the bike I borrowed from a kind friend did not have a brake. It was a track bike with a track fork and no place for a brake. I did not question it. I just took it for what it was. I also did not zoom right out on mainstreet during rush hour traffic. I think there is something to be said about starting off brakeless, then you don't know any other way. It's sort of like learning to swim in the deep end. Some times the best way to learn is to just get pushed in, don't worry you'll swim.

or you'll just drown. no worries.

uhhhh ...lock-ring.

i ride with a moped chain, i doubt it will break. plus there is always the old feet-on-front-tire trick.

Doesn't always work. I've spun two off, and I'm pretty good about checking them.

really? ummm, then i'd say ...lock-tite.

when I got my first fixed I didn't have brakes and it was kind of scary going down large hills. the bike got a lot of momentum and my leg lock wasn't strong enough. I had to put my feet down a few times and that doesn't really work

I would say use a brake so that you feel safe.

if you have to ask....then that means you should start off with a brake...

A newbie myself, I ride with a front brake.
Sometimes I go several go commutes without using it; but, when I need it, I feel very good about using it.
In two years, with more skill and awareness, I might see it differently; until then it seems like an unnecessary risk to ride without one.

it really IS as simple as that.