I've ridden fixed for four years now, and always ridden with a front brake. I very rarely use it, but I can't bring myself to take it off as I've needed it a couple of times where I've nearly crashed. I use toestraps at the moment, and run 48-16 gearing. Is using clipless more effective for braking than toestraps, or a different gear set up? I can imagine a bigger front chainring would make stopping easier? The reason I ask is I keep eyeing up track bikes which come without brake mounts, which I would like to stick to. So, how do you guys find riding brakeless, and what set up do you use?

I hate riding without a brake. I feel like I have to ride much slower and worry about skidding, which I don't like to do. I ride a track specific bike but I bought a fork for it that is drilled for a brake. If you are building up the bike from scratch this might be the best way to go. While I agree that brakeless riders are usually perfectly capable of riding safely, I wouldn't ever want to give up my comfort of riding for the sake of either being cool or riding a particular kind of bike. When I ride brakeless I feel much happier with a lower gear (< 65 gear inches) and this also contributes to me going slower. What is the point of going slow on a fast bike?

i do like the feeling of not using the brake, and i dont want to buy new forks for a new bike. ive seen a few complete builds i want you see. but, like you say, its comfort in safety having a brake on

No.

I enjoy how removing the brake immediately changes how the bike feels but I only did it for a few days at a time and not very often. That and I could not being myself to ride into dense areas without a front brake.

I do it because premium rush told me to do it.

I like having a break because I'm not cool.

Dang son, you mental.

I think I'm gonna stick with front brakes, and knock the track bike idea on the head. Suppose it gives me an excuse to custom build another fixie instead. My bank account will be thrilled.

You're a sellout.

I'd sacrifice my life for the track bike feel on the streetz

im sorry Sir. but health and safety has once again stuck its nose in and won. i sold out.

If you used a front brake to avoid crashes " a couple of times" wait for 1 more braking/not/crashing.
3 is a charm! Then no more worries, remove that brake superstition will prevent your next crash. (No, it won't but a brake might)

Clipless is very positive foot retention, in slowing vs. a front brake think of it this way:
Foot retention aids pedaling brakes slow/stop. They are not the same.

A bigger chainring makes pedaling harder. Do they make any that aren't "front" now?

-Bandera

front chainring. that was a bit silly...
however, im going to stick with the front brake regardsless. as much as i would like rid of it and get that "track feel"

Good plan, brake when you need to otherwise proceed.

If you want "track feel" go on the local Velodrome, it is an entirely different experience to riding FG on the road, one I recommend.
There is always a beginner's program & coaching available. It is really fun, or not.
After a few sessions you won't swallow the B/S about "track feel", "Zen" or the other nonsense spouted by know-nothing/do-nothings.

-Bandera

How does having a front brake remove the "track feel" ? You don't have to use it, you know, except for emergencies. I often ride my FG bike all day w/o ever touching the front brake.

i know, but i know the brakes there. feels different without it.
and in merry old england, there isnt many velodromes. and not being a driver, getting to one makes it even harder.

I'm pretty sure there are more velodromes per capita in merry old England than in any other country in the world.
edit: I looked it up. Japan has more than England but England (or the UK taken either way) is definitely second.

i just had to look this up myself. theyve kept some of the ones on that list quiet. but even still, the nearest one to me is 55 miles away. one day ill go to one.

With that kind of grit, drive & determination forget the Velodrome even it was at end of your street, you would not enjoy actual "track feel".

-Bandera

Can't stop, don't want to.

But seriously... if your skills are up to par, is brakeless any different safetywise than a coaster brake? True that the riding environment forces gauging your speed according to how quickly you may need to decelerate, but isn't that also part of the 'track feel'? Not that I've done any significant amount of track riding.

On the track, the only time you decelerate is when you exit the track. If you backpedal on the track while riding in a train (paceline), you'll quickly find yourself becoming extremely unpopular.

A Fixed Gear by definition cannot incorporate a coaster brake, sheer utter nonsense.

By: "Not that I've done any significant amount of track riding" did you mean:
"I have Never Ridden on a Velodrome and have No Idea what Actual "track feel is."?

See TJ's post above.

-Bandera

heh. Not to be rude, but your comprehension of English is lacking. And yes I've spent a little time on the velodrome.

Understood, but what about matched sprints? Some backpedaling going on there, no?

I think we have gone over how fast you can stop with and without a brake... if you only need it once that one time may be the difference between life and death or serious injury.

I ride bikes with coaster brakes with the understanding that my stopping abilities will be limited and if those bikes can use a front brake it gets added.

Not necessarily. Only if the riders decide to do track stands, which is not mandatory, and not a very common tactic anymore.

Also, the majority of racing on the track is either mass start like point races or time trials like the kilo and pursuit, none of which involves decelerating.