rear brake?
08-09-10 | 06:41 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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rear brake?
I just ordered my first FG bike. I ride a lot, but a normal road bike...gears..brakes...etc.
The bike I ordered has a Front Brake but no rear, I am about to order a rear brake but thought I'd ask if it is worth bothering. I'm new to fixed gear, as in New...Should I order a rear brake or just go with a front only?
For reference, my new bike starts with a K and ends with pro....but that is not the point of this thread.
The bike I ordered has a Front Brake but no rear, I am about to order a rear brake but thought I'd ask if it is worth bothering. I'm new to fixed gear, as in New...Should I order a rear brake or just go with a front only?
For reference, my new bike starts with a K and ends with pro....but that is not the point of this thread.
08-09-10 | 06:43 PM
#2
Disgruntled Grad Student
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: CAAD 10, Cross Pro, Cross Comp, TK2
not necessary unless you REALLY think you'll need one. front brake is good most of the time, and you'll learn to modulate speed/lock up the rear wheel soon enough.
08-09-10 | 06:46 PM
#3
Felon
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: Fixie Conversion- Old frame(I think Spalding haha) custom painted myself with cannondale saddle, orignal seat post, decalless shun track crank, decalless vuelta deepdish wheelset, czar cst road competition tires, bullhorns and tange BB
Tried running a rear brake when I very first rode a fixed gear, and it resulted in me locking up the rear wheel a lot and falling. Front brake has a lot of stopping power, so its fine by itself.
08-09-10 | 07:00 PM
#4
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Forgot to mention in my first post that I ride 100% in the city....
08-09-10 | 07:04 PM
#5
GONE~
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I have two brakes and I use them both. I leave my rear brake on because I use my freewheel side occasionally; I hardly ever use it when it's on the fixed side though, unless my legs were really tired.
The reason why most of us don't use a rear brake because most of us just lock up the rear wheel to check our speeds, rear brake is not necessary on a fixed wheel.
The reason why most of us don't use a rear brake because most of us just lock up the rear wheel to check our speeds, rear brake is not necessary on a fixed wheel.
08-09-10 | 07:13 PM
#6
Veteran Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
Read this >>>> https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
Rear brakes are unnecessary on fixed gear bikes and only necessary under certain conditions on bikes with freewheels.
Rear brakes are unnecessary on fixed gear bikes and only necessary under certain conditions on bikes with freewheels.
08-09-10 | 07:28 PM
#7
Fresh Garbage
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Los Angeles
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Lots of roadies don't use the rear brake either unless it's needed. I too ride 100% in the city and have gone though multiple sets of brake pads for the front over the last two years, but only one for the rear.
08-09-10 | 07:47 PM
#8
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Think I'll go with Front only for now and be careful, I'll get a rear if I feel necessary.
08-10-10 | 11:17 AM
#9
:)
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: duluth
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
One of the few reasons for a rear brake on a fixed gear bike (at least in my opinion) is for long descents. Modulating between front and rear can keep rim temps down and prevent blowout.
I've had one incident where I did a 300' decent in about .4 miles and had a tube fail when the rim got way, way too hot.
Other than extremes like that, a functional front brake and a bit of modulation from your legs will keep you safe. Learn how to stop with your legs tho, never know when a cable will break
I've had one incident where I did a 300' decent in about .4 miles and had a tube fail when the rim got way, way too hot.
Other than extremes like that, a functional front brake and a bit of modulation from your legs will keep you safe. Learn how to stop with your legs tho, never know when a cable will break
08-10-10 | 12:51 PM
#10
Fresh Garbage
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From: Los Angeles
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^^^^ ooph, been there. Didn't expect the ride to head up into the Hollywood Hills so I took my fixed gear. I didn't bust a tube but the rim was on fire when I got to the bottom of the descent.
08-10-10 | 01:04 PM
#11
:)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,391
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From: duluth
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,0.016544&z=16
^^^^^what killed it.
08-10-10 | 01:49 PM
#13
:)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,391
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From: duluth
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
08-10-10 | 05:46 PM
#14
The bus, Gus
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 976
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From: NYC
Reminds me of a friend whose mother named her "Margaret" because she liked the name "Peggy" and wanted to call her daughter that. For some reason she didn't know she could just name her "Peggy."
08-10-10 | 06:12 PM
#15
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From: East coast
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown
never used a brake on my fixed gears, occasionally use it with my geared roadies, use it on the MTB's (but still front brake more).
08-10-10 | 06:38 PM
#17
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
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Flintstone it!
08-10-10 | 06:43 PM
#18
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From: East coast
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown
08-10-10 | 07:02 PM
#20
Fresh Garbage
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From: Los Angeles
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I actually melted the rubber rim strip and gum sidewalls of my crappy tires to the rim.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,0.016544&z=16
^^^^^what killed it.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,0.016544&z=16
^^^^^what killed it.
heh usually I pedal down without braking, but I unclipped(one sided pedals) before going down so I kind of screwed myself. I managed to clip back in a while after realizing how stupid I was, but my rim was burning by then.
there's a video on Youtube showing some old footage of an Italian guy going down these switchbacks on a road bike without holding the handlebars and using his foot to brake. Too bad I don't remember what it's called.
Last edited by hairnet; 08-10-10 at 07:06 PM.
08-10-10 | 07:20 PM
#21
Senior Member
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik
+1 Just replaced my front pads on my road bike, rear looks barely used.
08-10-10 | 07:47 PM
#22
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From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
the only time i wish i had a rear brake is when i bomb some crazy steep or long descents, especially after i've already got a good number of miles in. but usually on rides with those kinds of descents, i bring the roadie.