Hey guys, I was curious how many of you have brakes on your fixies?

7.

You don't need a brake riding fixed but it's good to have one, especially on a conversion. That being said, I, along with a lot of other people here don't have them, and there are just some bikes which you should, under no circumstances, add a brake.

I have an 80's bianchi premio and riggt now there are no brakes but I just feel like it would be a lot more safe if I put brakes on but would that kill the look of an 80's converted fixie?

It is a road bike so obviously it was made for brakes initially, ultimately, it comes to personal preference, I used to think I'd never ride without a brake but now I don't even bother, it's your bike man, do what you want with it

I actually think that most of us here run a brake on our fixed gear bikes. If they use them or not, that is a different story. I have done it both ways. I prefer a brake.

Putting a brake on my fixed was the best idea I've ever had. The only reason I can see for not running a brake is track racing or cool kid points. Granted bikes look cleaner without a brake, and I rode without one for about a year, but I realize now what a bad idea it was. That brake has gotten me out of some sticky situations.

Two brakes. Too many canyons out here to climb and descend to rely on one brake.

Which ones?

Snapped the clip on a KMC master link last week and my chain came apart in midtown traffic. Glad I had brakes. Basically I'm saying that if you are me last week you want brakes.

On the track brakes were/are not allowed or needed.
I've run at least a front brake riding FG on the road for >40 years as all of my teammates did. An open public roadway is a different environment than the track and requires a different set-up.
For the last 23 years I've run a rear as well in my hilly terrain.

The Magical Thinking of "Flow" or "Zen Control" is mythical/non-existent twaddle and no substitute for an actual front brake to be used as required along with proper foot retention and a track style hub.

-Bandera

Good lord why are you people entertaining this.

The ones that you ride on a track where nobody else has brakes.



Kill the look or kill yourself in traffic? Decisions, decisions....

I'm running a brake, and have no problem saying I do.

I have a front brake which is never used. I have it cause the county requires that my bike be equipped with a brake

Currently, I am not running a brake on my fixed gear/track bike. I used to, but one day I wanted to see what all the fuss about riding brakeless was all about. So I took it off. Admittedly, it scared the bejeezzuz out of me for about two days, then I got used it. Then I realized I liked the mental/psychological aspect of riding brakeless and how it affected the way I ride, in a positive way (it made me have to be more "present" when I ride, more cautiously, more aware of my surroundings, and less of a jack-ass). So I never put the brake back on. I'm sure my wife hates the idea.

However, there have been times I wished I had a brake, then again, even when I had a brake there were times when I wished I had more than one brake. So what I'm saying is: I've had "oh ****!" moments with and without a brake.

Because it's either entertain this or actually do work (I'm the crown prince of procrastination).

My brake is great. It's there if I need it, and doesn't hurt anything if I don't. Brake pads are also cheaper than tires.

I concur! Buying new tires all the time sucks. I try to skip stop, and anticipate stopping and back-pedal, and skid less.

I feel like there's some bikes where you should just not put a brake on, high end and vintage bikes where either the frame or stock fork was not drilled to accept a brake. It's just not right imo.

Those would be Track bikes: designed for operation on a Velodrome.
As an operator of such a machine "back when" what is now Vintage was New here's a fact about riding FG on the street from decades ago.

In our club we had a machinist who, for a modest fee, would cleanly and accurately drill track bike forks for a front brake for winter FG base miles on the road.
Knowing that the steep descents, potholes and left-turning busses which are very rare on the track are quite common on open public roads we fitted front brakes for road miles.

Shocking that we paid no attention to what has become obsession of fashion today that is a clear mis-representation of what Old School FG cycling was back when for serious club riders.

-Bandera

I like the tone.

Entertain me!

Well obviously, but even so there are track bikes which are drilled (See: 2001 Flite 100). I mean when it comes down do it it's all a matter of personal preference and people do run brakes on expensive track bikes (my friend came across the pursuit bike ridden by Taylor Phinney ridden on the '09 track world champs and he threw a brake on it). If anyone wants to put a brake (or two) on a track bike that's their business. But I will say if you put a brake on an L96 you are most likely dead to me, that's just my 2¢.

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