More trendy than functional?
02-23-10 | 09:13 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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More trendy than functional?
Is this topic prone to flaming?
It seems to be a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle with no brakes doesn't serve as anything but something you can ride around in the parking lot. Does advantage of saving a bit of weight and a bit of aerodynamic and a bit of bike real estate justify the disadvantage of not having brakes? I think, most would agree, that having brakes provides added security in any riding situation. Also, a fixed gear bike isn't too good on fast, long, hilly bike rides. Most fixed gear riders I've seen around (the Toronto area) do not at all look like fast or safe or responsible bike riders.
It seems to be a disadvantage in almost every situation compared to a SS with brakes or a fixed with brakes. So, is a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle more trendy than anything?
It seems to be a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle with no brakes doesn't serve as anything but something you can ride around in the parking lot. Does advantage of saving a bit of weight and a bit of aerodynamic and a bit of bike real estate justify the disadvantage of not having brakes? I think, most would agree, that having brakes provides added security in any riding situation. Also, a fixed gear bike isn't too good on fast, long, hilly bike rides. Most fixed gear riders I've seen around (the Toronto area) do not at all look like fast or safe or responsible bike riders.
It seems to be a disadvantage in almost every situation compared to a SS with brakes or a fixed with brakes. So, is a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle more trendy than anything?
02-23-10 | 09:54 AM
#5
extra bitter
Joined: Apr 2006
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Bikes: Miyata 210, Fuji Royale II, Bridgestone Kabuki, Miyata Ninety
Brakeless riding provides a zen connection to the bike and trains one not only to think ahead, but also to look through solid objects to see hazards not apparent to cyclists with brakes, let alone those pantywaists running gears. But this stuff is all over the internetz anyway, so read up and check back in later.
02-23-10 | 10:03 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: NYC
Bikes: Felt AR1, Cervelo S2
obviously, brakes make a bike safer.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, and don't use brakes. for various reasons.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride with brakes anyway.
some people are unable to adequately able to control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride without brakes anyway because they like the way it looks, or is trendy, etc.
it is not my place, nor is it anyone elses, to judge another's choices unless they directly put us in danger. which is not likely.
it is most certainly not our place to judge another's choices based on whether we feel they are, as cyclists, more or less "authentic" as we.
it is most hypocritical to judge another for making a choice based on aesthetics, since we all do it to some extent.
CLIFF NOTES: stop
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, and don't use brakes. for various reasons.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride with brakes anyway.
some people are unable to adequately able to control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride without brakes anyway because they like the way it looks, or is trendy, etc.
it is not my place, nor is it anyone elses, to judge another's choices unless they directly put us in danger. which is not likely.
it is most certainly not our place to judge another's choices based on whether we feel they are, as cyclists, more or less "authentic" as we.
it is most hypocritical to judge another for making a choice based on aesthetics, since we all do it to some extent.
CLIFF NOTES: stop
02-23-10 | 10:09 AM
#9
Fresh Garbage
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: N+1
obviously, brakes make a bike safer.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, and don't use brakes. for various reasons.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride with brakes anyway.
some people are unable to adequately able to control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride without brakes anyway because they like the way it looks, or is trendy, etc.
it is not my place, nor is it anyone elses, to judge another's choices unless they directly put us in danger. which is not likely.
it is most certainly not our place to judge another's choices based on whether we feel they are, as cyclists, more or less "authentic" as we.
it is most hypocritical to judge another for making a choice based on aesthetics, since we all do it to some extent.
CLIFF NOTES: stop
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, and don't use brakes. for various reasons.
some people are able to adequately control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride with brakes anyway.
some people are unable to adequately able to control a bike without brakes, but choose to ride without brakes anyway because they like the way it looks, or is trendy, etc.
it is not my place, nor is it anyone elses, to judge another's choices unless they directly put us in danger. which is not likely.
it is most certainly not our place to judge another's choices based on whether we feel they are, as cyclists, more or less "authentic" as we.
it is most hypocritical to judge another for making a choice based on aesthetics, since we all do it to some extent.
CLIFF NOTES: stop
02-23-10 | 10:24 AM
#12
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
Are you making an assumption, or have you tried? A fixed gear may not be the easiest choice to ride on fast, long, hilly rides but it doesn't mean it isn't "too good." I ride fast. I go out for long, fun, hilly rides. I've ridden across mountain ranges.
02-23-10 | 11:05 AM
#14
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 44
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haha what a complete durf.
02-23-10 | 01:09 PM
#16
thread derailleur
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 1
From: beyond Thunderdome
Bikes: 82 Bianchi ECO Pista, Pake, Kilo TT, some *** bmx i found underneath an old house
Big Bris didn't stop himself by skitching between 2 busses, he stopped 2 busses from hurtling out of control!
02-23-10 | 01:30 PM
#17
Elitest Murray Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
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Bikes: 1972 Columbia Tourist Expert III, Columbia Roadster
02-23-10 | 05:36 PM
#21
Elitist
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 94
From: Atlanta, GA
Is this topic prone to flaming?
It seems to be a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle with no brakes doesn't serve as anything but something you can ride around in the parking lot. Does advantage of saving a bit of weight and a bit of aerodynamic and a bit of bike real estate justify the disadvantage of not having brakes? I think, most would agree, that having brakes provides added security in any riding situation. Also, a fixed gear bike isn't too good on fast, long, hilly bike rides. Most fixed gear riders I've seen around (the Toronto area) do not at all look like fast or safe or responsible bike riders.
It seems to be a disadvantage in almost every situation compared to a SS with brakes or a fixed with brakes. So, is a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle more trendy than anything?
It seems to be a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle with no brakes doesn't serve as anything but something you can ride around in the parking lot. Does advantage of saving a bit of weight and a bit of aerodynamic and a bit of bike real estate justify the disadvantage of not having brakes? I think, most would agree, that having brakes provides added security in any riding situation. Also, a fixed gear bike isn't too good on fast, long, hilly bike rides. Most fixed gear riders I've seen around (the Toronto area) do not at all look like fast or safe or responsible bike riders.
It seems to be a disadvantage in almost every situation compared to a SS with brakes or a fixed with brakes. So, is a minimalistic fixed gear bicycle more trendy than anything?
There is no *single* reason why people ride fixed gear bikes. Fixed gear just describes how the bike works. There are still different uses for the bike.
Think of a manual transmission used in a car. These are generally considered fuel efficient. Some use them for high school cars, A-B basic transport cars, sports cars, car show cars, race cars, etc... So, saying "Isn't an economical manual transmission in a V8 sort of an oxymoron?" is you missing the point.
Also, people don't *exclusively* use tennis shoes for tennis, blue jeans for prospecting for gold, SUV for sports or utility...
Last edited by carleton; 02-23-10 at 08:13 PM.
02-23-10 | 06:49 PM
#22
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 150
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
"Brakeless riding provides a zen connection to the bike and trains one not only to think ahead, but also to look through solid objects to see hazards not apparent to cyclists with brakes, let alone those pantywaists running gears."
02-23-10 | 08:56 PM
#24
Your cog is slipping.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
