I'm seriously thinking about getting a fixed-gear bike and have some questions about brakes. I am thinking about getting a KHS (or Mercier, seems to be the same exact bike), Bianchi, or Raleigh. They all seem to be drilled at least for front brakes. Since these bikes don't come with brakes, I'll have questions about what brake levers and calipers will work with these bikes. I will at least want to start off my entrance into the fixie world with front brakes.

Will any front road brake caliper work?
These seem to be really cheap: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Will any road brake lever without a shifting mechanism work?
For instance, these:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Blaze-Road-Brake...QQcmdZViewItem
Or these:
https://cgi.ebay.com/New-Tektro-Road-...QQcmdZViewItem

Will any cyclocross brake lever work?

I've searched through many of the brakes threads and none of them were clear on this. I'd like to get them as cheaply as possible, since I will probably want to get rid of them in the near future. Any suggestions or sales are also appreciated.

Thanks!

My suggestion...don't get a brake. Unless you live in a really hilly area it's not neccesary(i.e. essential) and it's not that hard to learn without a brake (I did it so anyone should be able to).

mostly any front caliper brake should work - one consideration is whether the fork takes a recessed bolt or not. check this out at Sheldon Brown's site (look under "Recessed Brake Mounting").

the levers you point to should work fine. cyclo-cross levers will work fine too (i've never encountered any kind of lever/brake incompatibility).

after you get your bike, bring it to your LBS to get your brake for fastest and hassle free results!

um, i disagree with that - i suggest running the brake for a little while at least to get used to fixed.

you definately should not jump straight in to brakeless if its your first time riding fixed. im sure some people around here could throw you some old brakes and or levers for free.

If someone could spare some old brakes and levers, I'd gladly pay shipping for it.

You should hit up the "trade" thread ...

if you plan to move to riding breakless, don't get a break....

just ride only as fast as you feel comfortable with until you get comfortable with riding faster (and maybe moving up a gear)...without the break you'll learn to ride breakless quicker

agony.

i've got a brake you can have. i don't have a lever, sorry, PM me if you want it

Why not ride brakelss first? A lot of people here have done it...its not a bad idea, especially if as Teia put it, you plan on ever going brakeless. Just ride carefully and get used to the bike, if after a week you feel like ou need a brake then get ne, but you probably won't.

I don't know how anyone starting out could run brakeless unless you are running a 2:1 ratio in a city with no hills and no idiot motorists that can cut you off. I heartily embrace and celebrate my front brake. Theres no way on earth I could stop on some of the hills around here in an emergency situation.

If there are solid reasons why the poster should run a brake (or if he never plans on going brakeless) than by all means install a brake.

Poser vs. Hipster - FIGHT!

Blah blah blah ... like anyone seriously gives a **** if there's a brake on your bike or not.

PLEASE run a brake. PLEASE.

The levers that you linked to will work perfect. Any cyclocross inline lever will work.

Here is an example of cyclocross levers taht will work with any brake you pick. Nashbar also sells cyclocross levers like these.
https://cgi.ebay.com/SRP-top-mount-br...QQcmdZViewItem

Here are some brakes that will work well with your bike and whatever lever you chose.

https://cgi.ebay.com/New-Tektro-Comfo...QQcmdZViewItem



Check a LBS for a used brake and/or lever.

Check the swap thread above to rtade for a brake and/or lever.

You should probably have a bike shop install and adjust the front brake setup if you don't know what you are doing.




PLEASE run a brake!

Can't agree more.

Here's a cheap brake that will work well:

Nashbar, $11 for just the front:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

There's no pic, but it should work fine.

And nashbar's inline levers, $10 for the pair, and you can trade the other one.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

You can get used 600 ultegra brakes on ebay (older ones) that are some of the most powerful brakes youcan buy... usually pretty cheap.

Mmmm, brakes.