Do you have to install a brake on a fixie? (NYC cycling laws)
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Posts: 386
Bikes: Trek 3900, Trek 2.3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you have to install a brake on a fixie? (NYC cycling laws)
§ 1236 - Lamps and other equipment
White headlight and red taillight must be used from dusk to dawn;
Bell or other audible signal (not whistle) required;
Working brakes required;
Reflective tires and/or other reflective devices required.
I sold my hybrid, gave my sister my mountain bike (she lives out on Long Island and wanted to start riding trails) and bought a road bike. Now, I'm regretting selling my hybrid, as I hate leaving my "nice" road bike locked up even for five minutes.
I want a cheap bike to have for errands and rainy day commutes, so I'm looking to pull the trigger on a Kilo TT. I don't live in Williamsburg, but I still don't want to be "that guy" using brakes on a fixed gear.
So, does having a "built in brake" override the law of "working brakes required?"
White headlight and red taillight must be used from dusk to dawn;
Bell or other audible signal (not whistle) required;
Working brakes required;
Reflective tires and/or other reflective devices required.
I sold my hybrid, gave my sister my mountain bike (she lives out on Long Island and wanted to start riding trails) and bought a road bike. Now, I'm regretting selling my hybrid, as I hate leaving my "nice" road bike locked up even for five minutes.
I want a cheap bike to have for errands and rainy day commutes, so I'm looking to pull the trigger on a Kilo TT. I don't live in Williamsburg, but I still don't want to be "that guy" using brakes on a fixed gear.
So, does having a "built in brake" override the law of "working brakes required?"
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DeSouf
Posts: 2,145
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Probably.
Or pay for your cred via citations during their monthly crackdowns.
Or pay for your cred via citations during their monthly crackdowns.
Last edited by rustybrown; 10-21-11 at 09:37 PM. Reason: period
#3
Brown Bear, Sqrl Hunter
To address your question. Not having a brake doesn't equal having a brake no matter how you look at it.
#4
Still kicking.
Run a front brake, and if they give you a hard time tell them the rear is a foot brake.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Posts: 386
Bikes: Trek 3900, Trek 2.3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
Brown Bear, Sqrl Hunter
#8
Live long and prosper.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tucson
Posts: 154
Bikes: '06 SE Draft
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A front brake is the correct place to have one if you are running a single brake on a fixed gear bicycle.
People who make fun of you for not having a brake are gonna be dumbass kids who don't know what they are saying. Do you really feel the need to impress high school youth? I ride without brakes, but I've become comfortable with it over time. If you are super inclined to ride without a brake keep the front one on until you are fully comfortable with not using it.
People who make fun of you for not having a brake are gonna be dumbass kids who don't know what they are saying. Do you really feel the need to impress high school youth? I ride without brakes, but I've become comfortable with it over time. If you are super inclined to ride without a brake keep the front one on until you are fully comfortable with not using it.
#9
calm down its just a bike
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Inland Empire, SoCal
Posts: 602
Bikes: PK Ripper FG, raleigh folder, felt z5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
honestly i rarely have the need for brakes when riding my fg, but my next build will def have one...better safe than sorry
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 117
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Most state laws and provincial laws require a "braking mechanism" or "a means to slow down" on the front and back of the bike. By legal definition, this means I have to run a front brake.
This would also mean that I must run lights after dark (it gets dark around 5PM right now in Canada) but it's one of those laws that are loosely enforced. I've personally never seen a cyclist or known anyone that has been ticketed. Those who remind of the law are typically non-cyclists who are ticked off that I am moving at the same speed of the cars.
It's just smarter to run a front brake, in my opinion. I hardly use it, but when my knees need some rest or if I have to make sudden stops, it sure does come in handy. When you learn to ride so that neither becomes a problem, then lose the brake if you really want to.
Though do keep in mind that if your chain gets derailed for some reason, you lose 100% of your braking ability on a brakeless fixie. If your rear tire gets punctured, you lose a significant amount of control / braking power.
This would also mean that I must run lights after dark (it gets dark around 5PM right now in Canada) but it's one of those laws that are loosely enforced. I've personally never seen a cyclist or known anyone that has been ticketed. Those who remind of the law are typically non-cyclists who are ticked off that I am moving at the same speed of the cars.
It's just smarter to run a front brake, in my opinion. I hardly use it, but when my knees need some rest or if I have to make sudden stops, it sure does come in handy. When you learn to ride so that neither becomes a problem, then lose the brake if you really want to.
Though do keep in mind that if your chain gets derailed for some reason, you lose 100% of your braking ability on a brakeless fixie. If your rear tire gets punctured, you lose a significant amount of control / braking power.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Posts: 386
Bikes: Trek 3900, Trek 2.3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's enough convincing right there. Definitely neglected that small fact!
#13
Still spinnin'.....
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Whitestown, IN
Posts: 1,208
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
#14
Fresh Garbage
#15
Live long and prosper.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tucson
Posts: 154
Bikes: '06 SE Draft
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle; Austin
Posts: 89
Bikes: Surly Steamroller
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i dont skid nearly as much as when i started. the more you learn how the bike works the less you need to brake as you start calculating distances and timing in reducing speed improves. having said that there΄s nothing wrong with having a brake until you feel comfortable.
#19
Still spinnin'.....
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Whitestown, IN
Posts: 1,208
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
#20
Business Man
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 222
Bikes: Cannondale Supersix Evo Hi-Mod, Soma Rush
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i live in brooklyn, and ride in the city a bunch. haven't had a problem with being stopped for being brakeless.. they care more about running red lights and all that.
but you're gonna want a brake when the tour bus tries to squeeze you out between him and a city bus. that ****'ll get you thinking real quick.
but you're gonna want a brake when the tour bus tries to squeeze you out between him and a city bus. that ****'ll get you thinking real quick.
#21
Your cog is slipping.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Queens NYC
Posts: 378
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
NYPD will ticket you for pretty much anything except riding brakeless.
That being said, I just installed a front brake after enjoying a brakeless summer.
I got my skidding/skip stops down and built up my hipster points (+1000!). Even learned that the horribly named "Zen feeling" people talk about actually isn't entirely a crock (+500). Then I used said hipster points to buy a 31.8 lever (-10000!) for my road drops (-2, they're apparently what the cool kids are rocking these days). Front brake + fenders + 68 GI = bring it on, winter.
That being said, I just installed a front brake after enjoying a brakeless summer.
I got my skidding/skip stops down and built up my hipster points (+1000!). Even learned that the horribly named "Zen feeling" people talk about actually isn't entirely a crock (+500). Then I used said hipster points to buy a 31.8 lever (-10000!) for my road drops (-2, they're apparently what the cool kids are rocking these days). Front brake + fenders + 68 GI = bring it on, winter.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Posts: 536
Bikes: De Rosa Planet, Shogun Kaze, Jamis Sputnik, Redline 925
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
nice blanket legal statement. this is completely meaningless information on a state-by-state basis.
#24
all-weather commuter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I tried that once. I can come to a complete stop with my front BB7 before I can get my foot unclipped and in a position against the tire to even start slowing down.
#25
Fresh Garbage