Hi all, I saw the film Premium Rush. The lead character rides fixed gear, without brakes. I used to ride SS with no brakes and found bike with v-brakes much more controlable in heavy traffic, allowing me to do ride more aggressively (and faster) in heavy traffic. However, I'm not a messenger and my ride is some 25 km per day commuting. I apologize in advance if I'm asking stupid/obvious questions.

Do people really ride in NY traffic without brakes, just FG? When you ride your bike for work, every day for several hours, is it a bother to change pads/cables?

Same question about gears - is it pracitcaly easier to go SS, no deraileurs etc?

One more thing. I see them carrying those bags. I sweat and hate having anything on my back. Is some sort of rack (with a quick release, like Topeak makes) not easier?

And... fenders? :/

breaks r d3th

But seriously folks,

Brakeless fixed gears are popular because they're cool, and because there's less maintenance. Work bikes get beaten up in all kinds of weather, and you don't want to clean or take care of them because they get damaged all the time.

The idea of the bag is to get in and out of the building as quickly as possible. As a messenger, you waste a lot of time waiting for elevators and signatures. With the bag, you jump off the bike, run inside, unload your packages on the elevator, run back out, get on the bike and go. Racks slow everything down, so you only use them for things you can't carry in the bag.

Lots of people use fenders.

PS- Joseph Gordon Levitt is not actually a messenger.

Yes, he says that in the film. Was it made just so he looks cool, or is it really better not to have (and rely on) brakes in that line of business? Just blocking the rear wheel and swerving.

Can't stop. Don't want to.

Can't stop.
No really, I can't stop.
CAN'T STOP SOMEONE HELP ME

Yes, they do.

Steel frame. Fixed gear. No brakes. Can't stop. Don't want to, either.

I do not like riding without brakes, in fact, I am contemplating selling my Dolan due to lack of rear brake, I just don't feel safe with all the moron pedestrians walking in the bike paths and roads of NYC. I love riding really fast and aggressive but don't feel like I can be as quick with just a front brake. (granted, I am not a big skidder)

a few years ago i narrowly avoided (in a CAR) a hipstergrlll on a fixed at broad and south in philly who was literally screaming "I CAN'T STOP, THANKS" as she went through a red light (it had been red for like, 15 secs).

Messengers? Here? Nah, bro. We don't ride bikes. We just build them, take pictures of them, post GIF's making fun of things, and then build more bikes.

This thread is gonna be good.

Just started checking this forum again after some years of gears. Nothing's changed. How depressing.
People still on this no brake thing? How quaint.
The Blockboi rap video gives me hope. I'll say that much.

Don't worry your poor little head. I still have boxes on boxes of Darwin awards to give out. FREE!

Here's a consolation prize


Let's see what you have here:



First off, what got you out on the wrong foot was you mentioning the movie "Premium Rush". Hollywood, forum trolls, and the like thrive off cliches and this movie was mind-numbingly full of them.


Riding brakeless in traffic? Yes there are people that do do that. There are also people who do illegal substances. Sure they're still alive and well but they're going to meet their maker sooner or later. What else would I use my boxes and boxes of Darwin awards for? Building material? I think not.


Maintenance & time? Sure it's an inconvenience but you're not changing them after every ride. Under normal conditions of daily riding, you'll have to replace both in a year, you can and most likely can go longer without. Not to mention, you can pay someone to do it for you while you go on with your life.


Gears? Gears are definitely more convenient and practical than fixed gear as far as getting around and approaching terrain of varying elevation and grade. However if you're getting around and locking up a lot fixed gear is preferred considering how delicate derailleurs are and how clumsy and mindless other cyclists are at bike racks. Believe me, I happen to be buddies with riders in godspeed courier in SF, and even professional messengers use geared bikes with both front and back brakes. Which I'm pretty sure they/ you would rather prefer to get to their destination in one piece rather than look cool at it and risk life and limb to motorized coffins.


Racks? There are options out there but they are often times very clunky and bulky to be useful in city life/ messenger. I believe panniers are the closest and most likely alternative to what you seek.


Fenders? Strap based fenders. Check out SKS raceblades and Topeak speed ez fenders. Minimal hardware and no fender eyelets required.