aight everyone. as per the discussion a few threads down on someone's new Pista with flat pedals.

Am I the only one who feels like I am seeing an inordinate amount of fixed bikes out there with no foot retention? It seems like I see them almost every week in nyc and I find it distressing. Nothing worse than a newbie with a ghost bike.

I guess this goes along with the Poseur/Jackass thread but I was interested if anyone has pictures of these fools doing endos while slamming their front brakes on or just photos in general of this type of jackassery.

hollah.

If i didn't have straps on my first fixed ride i would have eaten some serious pavement. I'll probably eat some even now if i tried. These guys have some serious platform skillz no doubt.

i'm not sure they do man. i think it's a lot of newbies who just don't know. it's also scary that no one at the lbs told them about it.

yeah coming from the non-cycling world,
who knew what being strapped in even was?

What is baffling is why would they put themselves at such a disadvantage, such as losing grip on the pedal and getting manhandled by a bicycle, no pulling up when climbing, being unable to properly sprint, being unable to skid etc.

it is baffling. i see lots of these fools drifting around 3 mph in the LES. no control, scared to approach an intersection. no f'ing wonder. they can't STOP! i don't get it, but i WOULD like to see how many photos we can get up on here of this. but maybe that's too much to hope for.

The first day I rode fixed, I understood within minutes what it would be like going down hills. I came from a bmx bike, so clips & straps were non-issues, and the thought of having my feet strapped in was a little scary at first. But the thought of not having any foot retention on a fixed gear bike is just stupid. Those that go this route without even getting a better understanding for riding fixed won't be in it for very long.

I keep a fixed gear errand bike (old Bianchi Pista) at work with plain platform pedals and no retention, no big deal.
I run a front brake. I've never had a foot lose its footing while pedaling this bike, even at high rpm.

I run clipless pedals on all other fixed gear, ss, and geared bikes.

If they are running brakes, at least a front brake, I don't see a problem here.

foot retention, my friend. the only way to properly control a fixed gear bike.

Sorry, I disagree. Under normal everyday riding conditions you don't need them as long as you're running a brake(s).
But I agree that they help control the bike and keep you in the saddle under certain riding conditions......but that can be said for any type of bike, not just FG.

Well in that case why the hell are you even running fixed, a single speed would be better. No foot retention and two brakes on a fixed defeats the purpose somewhat don't you think?

People rode fixed gear bikes with no foot retention for many decades. They didn't seem to have a problem. I don't either. But I agree foot retentions make pedalling a lot more efficient.

imagine falling on a penny farthing while still clipped-in.
haha

Well i guess it depends on your gear inches and how aggressively you're riding. The way i ride can't be done without retention, and would be ten times less fun and safe. There are many advantages to fixed, and to be honest i actually don't like or miss coasting anymore

yeah, I rode my first fixed gear with the ****ty platform pedals that came with the bike. I had both rear and front brakes (I just flipped the wheel on a flip-flop).

I almost got thrown off my bike a few times with some pedal slips, but I could stop myself with both the brakes.

However, I still see brakeless bikes with platforms, and THAT is a recipe for disaster.

You don't need them but you're asking to get your leg smashed by a pedal as far as I'm concerned. I find it's pretty easy to have a foot slip off platforms if you're spinning at around your maximum rate, and at that speed the pedal is coming around again in half a second to smash you in the leg. Totally unsafe IMO

yes, but they were riding in an era of horse and buggy, where there would be much less traffic on the road. there would have been much less urgency to stopping, and fewer hazards, whereas now, there is potential disaster around every corner.

i do both riding with no strap is fun

even with both front and rear brakes, no foot retention is ********.

I saw these guys last week on w 3rd st. Real ass kickers. dont **** with them

ted shred ftw?

If you have a brake, it's no big deal. For the brakeless hipster, foot retention is a must else Darwin intervenes.

They also had brakes of some kind. Even most Ordinaries had spoon brakes.

I'd love to find foot retention devices that would work with size 13 winter boots.

I'll do clipless in the spring/summer/fall, but winter around here is too damn cold, slippery and snowy to use clips