5 ms·
>For those unfamiliar, a fixed gear bike requires riding in a single gear and the only way to stop the bike is to pedal backwards to help skid the bike to a hal
by schiffern 15y ago
>For those unfamiliar, a fixed gear bike requires riding in a single gear and the only way to stop the bike is to pedal backwards to help skid the bike to a halt.
Lack-of-brakes do not a fixed gear make.
All bicycles should have at least two ways to stop. Fixed gear bicycles are no exception.
- tlear 15y agoI guess you can skid and you can use your foot to break the back wheel. If you see messenger races those guys go downhill at 50kmh with pedals spinning free then use foot to break the back wheel, complete insanity if you ask me.
- pavel_lishin 15y agoOr you could, you know, use handbrakes. You can still get them on fixies.
- georgieporgie 15y agoIt's simply astounding, the number of people who do not understand that most of your braking potential comes from the front wheel.
- msellout 15y agoBut it's harder to put your foot on the front wheel at high speed and not fall.
- bjcy 15y agoIn fact, it's illegal to not have a front brake in cities like Austin. Not to mention that it's downright insane. Ever try skid stopping in the rain?
- jordan0day 15y agoBut I think most people familiar with any number of fixed-gear advocates will tell you: it's mostly about fashion (in this case, part of the fashion arises from the overall simplicity of the machine). And if there's one thing that isn't fashionable on a fixed-gear bike, it's a gross cable-pull handbrake. But yeah, I agree, it's stupid not to have brakes.
- aplusbi 15y agoI think track racers would disagree with your last point there but otherwise yes.