jasonyates

I have been riding my Bianchi Pista exclusively since February. Last week I visited a friend in Florida, and he has a road bike with a single speed freewheel and a front brake. I took it out for a spin, and I was just cruising along when I saw some people ahead in the street. I went to slow down by slowing my pedalling, and it was a horrific feeling to have my legs just hanging there with no resistance from the bike. I felt totally out of control for a moment, and then I realized I was going to have to make my hand squeeze the brake. It was a pretty foreign feeling and it took a good part of my concentration to move my hand over to the brake lever. (I am used to being able to slow down with no hands on the bars, with my hands on the tops, or where ever..)

The funny thing is that before I started riding fixed, what got me interested in it was the idea of having such control over the rear wheel and such feedback between the bike and me. I have been taking that feeling for granted since then, and until now I didn't realize how much of a difference it makes. If the people in the street were looking at me at that moment they must have seen my expression of fear and wondered what in the world was wrong..

-Jason

roadfix

More than having that brake, it's that 'bottomless' feeling I used to get on my geared road bike. I now ride my geared bike once a week. Large pack rides used to scare the heck outa me having that out of control feeling when I have not ridden my road bike in a long while.

auroch

i just did a century on my gear-ie. around the 80th mile i kept "mispedaling" and forgetin' to hit the brakes.