I'm just about to finish my first fixie in the form of a winter communter... I don't plan on running a front brake in the winter cause i've gone down too many times because of one... so i guess my question is... is there any down side to just running a rear brake on a fixed gear? will it cause me problems if i'm trying to backpedal and squeeze the break at the same time, or should i put on a front brake and just try to ignore it for the winter? All wisdom welcome!

oh and i am set on running a brake... for now... so don't try and convince me otherwise

put on a front brake and learn how to use it properly. there's no reason to be crashing once, let alone "too many times" because of a front brake.

front brake is so much more powerful than a rear. i run no brake but im not opposed to it if necessary. A rear alone would kind of just be silly when a front would be more efficient.

you can stop faster with a front brake (because your weight shifts to the front when you're breaking hard)

I agree. You shouldn't be going over the top that much. One or two fingers man, you don't need to make a fist around your brake lever.

However, I had a fixed winter bike with front/rear and rear while backpedaling isn't a prob.

yeah, learn to shift your weight back while front braking.
unless you're a total **** you should not be falling while braking.

Why would a front brake cause you to go down? I'm not sure I understand.

I would absolutely advise a front brake over a back brake. You can get much more stopping power (something like 90% of your stopping power is in your front brake), especially if you combine it with resisting the pedals.

I'm thinking he must mean because of ice...so try not to turn or lean when braking when ice is present...kinda' like not applying front brake when riding thru loose rocks or sand.

haha

The front will be much more effective. The rear you'll actually be skidding more than braking and on a wet surface the rear brake is nearly useless. Just use the front and learn to use it properly and you shouldn't be falling at all. I put on a front brake for my winter commuter and rode it in the rain the other day, it made riding in the rain much easier cuz i'm not skiding so much.

Post #7 before someone trotted out some random number! Nice work.

The front brake has 100% of your stopping power. I'm going to get THAT tattooed on MY ass.

That aside, a rear will provide some stopping power, just not as much. If you're talking about the brake you'll use in nice weather, go front. If your question is, is there anything wrong with running a rear for use in the winter? Nah, go for it.

Hell, you can still run just a rear, it'll work just fine. But for a regular sunny-day brake, front's the way to go.

Exact same comments I got when I questioned the logic of someone running just a front brake on a winter-only beater. People, the problem isn't going over the bars, it's locking up the front wheel and having it side-slip out from under you. It sucks, and it happens fairly easily on snow/ice. It's the same sort of problem you can have riding off road -- you have to really take it easy on the front brakes in loose downhill corners.

At the same time, I think it's kind of silly to only have a rear brake on a fixie. I think it all comes down to the amount of snow/ice you're going to be contending with. I say go with the single front brake, but stay away from it unless you're on clean ground. You can stop basically just as fast on a brakeles fixie than on a rear-brake-only fixie as far as I'm concerned. But, it's nice to have that safety blanket there.

To answer your question: No, there is nothing wrong with having a rear brake on a fixie. You will find it much easier to skid, whether you want to or not, though.

Have you ever hit the rear brake hard on snow/ice? You slip off the bike just as fast as if it were the front brake....

You lock up the front or rear wheel in snow or ice or slippery conditions and you are screwed, regardless if this was from a front brake, rear brake, or rear wheel skid on a fixie.

Thanks guys for all the advice... I think I will go with both breaks... The reason i don't like front brakes for the winter is for the exact reason Somnambulent said... I've gone down a couple (not many... i do learn from mistakes) from using my front brake in snow, and i'll have to disagree with bostonfixed... it's A LOT easier to recover from your back wheel losing traction than your front.

Oh, and just for the record, I am aware of the reasons for running a front break (i.e. more better than back for making stopping) and i've never fallen from using one under normal (not ice or snow) conditions. I was just curious as to whether it was a stupid idea to run just back brake for a beginner to a fixed gear, since i'm competely unfamiliar with riding one (my bike will be done tonight so this will change )


Thanks for all the tips... i'm gonna run both for now... and i'm off to put the finishing touches on me bike... i'll be sure to post picks when i can!

You aleady have a back brake...you're legs. I don't see a point in putting a back break on a fixie. Just learn to skid and run a front break if neccesary.

you already know how to use a brake (no learning required), it is less physical work than skidding, it doesn't hurt your tire, it puts less stress on your lockring, hub and cog (if you're worried you have cheap parts) and it offers more control. but other than that, there is no point

This is blatantly untrue. If you have ever been in a race situation or even a tight pack, you know that there is a lot of skill to using your brakes effectively. Unless it is an emergency you should never lock up your wheel. And never, regardless of the conditions, use your brake while turning.

back wheel it may be easier to recover but harder to realize until is to late, on the front you feel the missing traction before is too late.

a front brake has only sent me over the bars twice and both time it was because all my weight was all the way over the front wheel which was incredibly stupid and will never happen again

you should have learned after the first time

The LBS that sold me my rear wheel recommended I leave both brakes on. He said if you're new to fixed riding, and it's a conversion so you already have the brakes, then why not? You won't gain coolness points by ditching the rear.

I didn't take his advice (I run just a front), but it makes sense, you can always remove the rear later if you feel the need.

i love riding in the snow and ice fixed. the control is much better than on regular bikes ime. i have noticed an amazing ability to recover from slips by working the back wheel to regain traction. i personally wouldn't lock up anything, a brake or a back wheel while on ice unless i wanted to eat it on the shoulder of the road as opposed to getting eaten in the intersection.

7 - is the number of times brake is misspelled in this thread.

I'd say run a front brake but put a shiny steel rim on the front, that way, when you do brake in the wet you'll just keep going, when it's dry the brake will work just fine.

(joke)

there's not knowing the difference between "break" and "brake," but using both in a sentence is remarkable.