View Poll Results: Do you use brakes on your fixie?
Nope.
51
38.35%
Front brake.
72
54.14%
Both front and rear.
10
7.52%
Voters: 133. You may not vote on this poll
Brakes or not?
#1
Sir Fallalot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
11 Posts
Brakes or not?
After trying fixed gear up for size for a couple of weeks, I personally don't want to say goodbye to brakes. My (very short, admittedly) experience suggests that it's reckless to ride without brakes - or at least, it is, for me. Maybe because I'm a beginner. Also, I want to spare my knees as much as possible, and it seems that forceful backpedaling may be bad for them.
On the other hand, there are accounts that show fixed gear biking to be good for one's knees.
So, as unscientific as this may be, I am curious to know how much fixed gear bikers use brakes. Hence this poll. I am sure there will be at least one post saying "what a stupid poll". I'll survive
On the other hand, there are accounts that show fixed gear biking to be good for one's knees.
So, as unscientific as this may be, I am curious to know how much fixed gear bikers use brakes. Hence this poll. I am sure there will be at least one post saying "what a stupid poll". I'll survive
#3
Senior Member
Front brake here.
For the experienced fixer, brakeless is probably OK if you are not riding very far or very fast. I've done it, and its a fun challenge. Brakeless in moderation is probably good for your knees. However, on an extended road ride, you will eventually let your guard down and your knees will start to suffer..thats when brakeless becomes dangerous and unhealthy...IMHO.
For the experienced fixer, brakeless is probably OK if you are not riding very far or very fast. I've done it, and its a fun challenge. Brakeless in moderation is probably good for your knees. However, on an extended road ride, you will eventually let your guard down and your knees will start to suffer..thats when brakeless becomes dangerous and unhealthy...IMHO.
#5
Sir Fallalot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
11 Posts
Judging from the poll results, it's not rare to have a brake or two, on a fixie. I had a completely different impression when I looked through the "Your Fixed Gear/SS Photos!" thread. There the proportion of brakeless to brakeful seems to be about 5:1 or 6:1. For the record, at the time of posting, the poll results are
4 9 2
4 9 2
Last edited by wroomwroomoops; 12-27-06 at 09:08 AM.
#8
Senior Member
Originally Posted by deathhare
No brake=small cock compensation
When you have a small cock you have more leg room to stop that **** with your legs. What's wrong with that.
No hand brakes here, but I I can stop as good as another other hack in town on their magna mountain bike. I like the simplicity.
#9
JuNKie! bike junkie!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,559
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
started with front brake.
now brakeless
my wife bike has a front brake and I never touch it when I ride it.
she even forgets it there. but she is glad it is.
now brakeless
my wife bike has a front brake and I never touch it when I ride it.
she even forgets it there. but she is glad it is.
__________________
www.cranks505.com
www.cranks505.com
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 2,188
Bikes: Land Shark, Level Professional, Tsunami singlespeed, Giant Reign 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i have one fixie with brakes, the other without
#12
Senior Member
Originally Posted by wroomwroomoops
Judging from the poll results, it's not rare to have a brake or two, on a fixie. I had a completely different impression when I looked through the "Your Fixed Gear/SS Photos!" thread. There the proportion of brakeless to brakeful seems to be about 5:1 or 6:1. For the record, at the time of posting, the poll results are
4 9 2
4 9 2
Fixed Gear Gallery is the same...lots of bikes with no brakes, or anything else for that matter. Its fairly obvious that people dont really ride their bikes all that much, or they photograph their bikes before installing the brakes and other accessories or remove them off to take the photos. I guess is supposed to make the bike look cooler...really, it just makes it look less functional. Can you imagine all these people riding around with no brakes, no water bottles, no fenders, no frame pump, or bag for spare tube and tools? I kind of doubt it. Theres no way I'd ride far from home without most of that stuff (except maybe fenders, which I only have on one of my bikes).
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 849
Bikes: 1985 Pinarello Catena Lusso / 1983 Pinarello Montello / Raleigh Marathon / Camel Cigarettes conversion / 1957 Worksman cruiser / Puch 140 / Raleigh Grand Prix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A singlespeed is obviously safer with two brakes. A fixed gear with two brakes, while not as aesthetically pleasing, is totally worth it.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 849
Bikes: 1985 Pinarello Catena Lusso / 1983 Pinarello Montello / Raleigh Marathon / Camel Cigarettes conversion / 1957 Worksman cruiser / Puch 140 / Raleigh Grand Prix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mihlbach
Fixed Gear Gallery is the same...lots of bikes with no brakes, or anything else for that matter. Its fairly obvious that people dont really ride teir bikes or they photograph their bikes before installing the brakes and other accessories or remove them off to take the photos. I guess is supposed to make the bike look cooler...really, it just makes it look less functional. Can you imagine all these people riding around with no brakes, no water bottles, no fenders, no frame pump, or bag for spare tube and tools? I kind of doubt it. Theres no way I'd ride far from home without that stuff.
#15
Senior Member
Originally Posted by I Like Peeing
Water bottle, pump, tools and tubes go in a bag on my back.
Yeah, I considered that..but I doubt everyone rides everywhere with a Mess bag, and why would you? Its way nicer to just put that stuff on your frame. But then again, I never have to lock my bike up, so I can see where using a bag would be advantageous there. Still, this still doesn't solve the puzzle of all the missing brakes.
#16
Sir Fallalot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
11 Posts
Originally Posted by mihlbach
Fixed Gear Gallery is the same...lots of bikes with no brakes, or anything else for that matter. Its fairly obvious that people dont really ride their bikes all that much, or they photograph their bikes before installing the brakes and other accessories or remove them off to take the photos. I guess is supposed to make the bike look cooler...really, it just makes it look less functional. Can you imagine all these people riding around with no brakes, no water bottles, no fenders, no frame pump, or bag for spare tube and tools? I kind of doubt it. Theres no way I'd ride far from home without most of that stuff (except maybe fenders, which I only have on one of my bikes).
OK, I went back to the "Your Fixed Gear/SS Photos!" thread, and I didn't see, in the few minutes I blanced through, one single instance where the bare brake tabs would be visible. So either all the frames where without them as designed, or they were shaved/filed off.
Just saying that I don't think people took off the brakes for the "photo opportunity", unless they are disc brakes. Either they have brakes, or they don't even have the possibility of have them installed. The ratio seems really to be about 5:1 as I guesstimated at first. So, this poll seems to show that there's a "silent majority".
#17
Bow$$
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bodymore, Murderland
Posts: 2,013
Bikes: Surly Instigator '02, Schwinn Traveler fixed conversion, '02 Fuji Track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
both of mine have brake mount holes, and neither have brakes, and both are in the photo's sticky.
#18
Weekend warrior
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 141
Bikes: 2005 Cannondale R700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just started riding fixed, and I'm really really glad I have the front brake, even though it's just some janky BMX brake my buddy put on it before I inherited the frame. I have a flip-flop hub with a freewheel on the other side, and am debating just getting a decent front and rear brake system for the highest level of safety.
#19
Senior Member
Originally Posted by wroomwroomoops
Actually, as far as I remember, most photos I've seen, have been of frames that didn't even have the brake posts.
OK, I went back to the "Your Fixed Gear/SS Photos!" thread, and I didn't see, in the few minutes I blanced through, one single instance where the bare brake tabs would be visible. So either all the frames where without them as designed, or they were shaved/filed off.
OK, I went back to the "Your Fixed Gear/SS Photos!" thread, and I didn't see, in the few minutes I blanced through, one single instance where the bare brake tabs would be visible. So either all the frames where without them as designed, or they were shaved/filed off.
Last edited by mihlbach; 12-27-06 at 11:19 AM.
#20
Strange As Angels
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Dersu Burrows
would anyone recommend running a ss (freewheel) with only a front brake?
I for one don't have the skill to stop my bike quickly without a brake so I use a front just to make sure because automotive sheet metal just dont taste good. My wifes bike has both brakes to make her feel more secure. I think the aesthetics aren't too bad with brakes (personal opinion for sure)
As for the carrying stuff thing, I usually have a messenger bag so I keep the tools and tubes in there, my bike has a Silca pump which I think looks pretty cool on it kinda adds to the vintage thing and I ride pretty far to work so bottle cage is definitely required. If I'm on a weekend ride or something I usually wear jerseys so I stuff all the junk in the back pocket
$0.02
#21
Sir Fallalot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
11 Posts
Originally Posted by dustinlikewhat
both of mine have brake mount holes, and neither have brakes, and both are in the photo's sticky.
Here's the pic:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 160
Bikes: White IRO Angus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Even when I ride a freewheel bike, I only ever use the front brake. I would occasionally use the rear brake to scrub speed, but the front brake is where all the stopping power comes from. I never felt like this was bizarre or put me in any danger. The back brake I just did not use. I run only a front brake on my fixed gear, though I rarely use it. I tend to skip to stop 99 times out of a hundred. I keep the front brake for emergencies.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 424
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mihlbach
Fixed Gear Gallery is the same...lots of bikes with no brakes, or anything else for that matter. Its fairly obvious that people dont really ride their bikes all that much, or they photograph their bikes before installing the brakes and other accessories or remove them off to take the photos. I guess is supposed to make the bike look cooler...really, it just makes it look less functional.
#24
Team Beer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 6,339
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 159 Times
in
104 Posts
Started out with a front brake and after a year or so of not using it, it was removed.
__________________
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
#25
Banned.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,416
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by wroomwroomoops
I'm looking at your Schwinn Traveler, and I can't see brake posts on the fork. How do you mount brakes on that frame?
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...chmentid=32693
There is a brake hole through the fork crown, where a brake is bolted onto.