Rather then put on my clipless pedals and front brake on the fixed gear bike i finished building 2 hrs ago, I decided to take it for a quick spin, and pick up breakfast at the local joint.

On my way back, I was cut off by a full size Toyota truck, who promptly slammed on his breaks to make his turn. This left me with less then 20 feet to go from 18mph to Zero. Had i installed my front break, or put my clipless pedals on the bike, I wouldn't have had a problem. But stopping a fixie with platform pedals only is just about impossible with that short of a distance!

I ended up hitting the guys bumper as i tried to go around without jumping infront of oncoming traffic. I would guess my speed was under 3mph at the point of impact, but just enough to send me on my hands and knees. The fall broke my seat clamp, everything else, including myself came out just fine.

Guess I'll go put a front brake on the bike, riding in traffic brakeless is just stupid, or so I am told...

Glad you're ok Joe. Cool that you've built a fixie. Do you like it, aside from a minor incursion.

Hey, did the Yota stop after the accident?

William, this is my 2nd fixie, I just sold my first one last week to my mechanic, the frame was a bit to small. However, I am very new to the fixed gear world. Other then riding some of my friends track bikes over the years, I have under 300 miles on fixed gear bikes. I love riding fixed, I also own a SS mtn bike, but I haven't put any miles on it in the last 3 1/3 years due to my chest surgery's.

The guy in the Yota stopped, and was very apologetic. He made sure I was in full working order before leaving.

Looking back, I dont think I was going over 15mph when he cut me off, and may have hit his truck at or around 5mph.

From the man who owns the house!!

(That's gonna stick!)

That's cool on top of cool. The last collision I had, the guy looked over his car and then jumped in and took off. Volvo drivers, I tell you what.. (With the except of Rev Chuck!)

I think the issue was your lack of clip/clip less pedals rather than the lack of a brake. If you are comfortable riding brakeless you won't have the problems that you had, if you had the right pedals. IMHO. Glad you are OK.

fixedgearhead

truth. riding on JUST platforms with no brake is the problem.

mc

Very true, I should have taken the time to switch out my pedals. I'll still add a front brake for safety reasons.

I am surprised how shaken up I was, very slow crash; but it was with a big truck, on a street with traffic. I hope thats the last bike / car run in I ever have.

Just goes to show, even a 5 mile ride can take your life if you don't play the game correctly. And if your wondering, yes, I was wearing my helmet, but it never made contact, luckily.

i thought riding without clips and brakeless would be a good way to start.

wrong!

i promptly took of my flat pedals and through on the stock toeclips that came with my khs. now riding brakeless is a blast.

I think I have an old pair of power straps. I may bolt those on until i can get a 2nd set of look pedals.

glad you're ok joe, crash's always shake you up, just don't let them dishearten you

my first singlespeed was my old huffy mountain bike w/ platforms. If I had to stop fast I'd jump off the back and grab my seat. Once I missed and my bike hit a bus, but I was okay.

Joe, when you posted the info on the rod insertion of your surgery I thought.geez looks like handlebars..Titanium...hmmm, could you mount em on a bike?
Glad your feeling up to riding, thanks for the forums. Take a bit of special care when spinning the gears.. sorry S.S? o.k? (k stands for kids, less risks, and lets see a new photo of the lil' one) peace>j.