Although it's not the best solution to the problem of adding a brake to a track-bike that was really never intended to have one, I know of another way to accomplish this task. In fact, I did it myself once. All you need is two, about 4" lengths of 1/4" thick by 3/4" wide aluminum bar stock, a drill press and a bit, and probably a front brake for the long bolt. Drill a matching hole (just big enough for the brake mounting bolt to pass through) through the center of both pieces of alum. Place one plate on either side of the seat-stays (protect any paint with tape), just above the bridge, and mount the brake through the matching holes which should be lined up with each other. Tightening the brake's mounting nut will hold the plates tight against the frame. Take care not to tighten the nut so tight as to squash the stays. A spacer, slightly thinner than the stay diameter, placed between the plates, will help prevent this. I did this once on my chrome Bob Jackson track frame right after I bought it 28-years ago. I think I saw it in a bicycle book back then. I know it's not the best method, and it's not very pretty, but it works OK with the right combination of brake parts, without modification of the frame or fork. And if you want, you can spend a little time and make the plates look nice by rounding the corners with a file and/or belt sander, and polish them on a buffer or by hand.
My Bob Jackson still has no provision for a brake, and as long as I have anything to say about it, it will remain un-drilled. The rear bridge is too small for a hole anyway, and don't touch my fork crown, drilling will only cause the chrome to crack and flake off, we found that out while facing the head-tube with the proper cutting tool.
If a person has proper fixed-gear experience, and really knows how to ride a fixed-gear, he/she shouldn't need a brake at all. I get mine down from it's hooks for a couple of weeks or months every year, and I'll ride it all over town and even into the country, and with no brake. I have no worries of not being able to stop when I need to. I learned years ago, that it isn't difficult to lock-up a rear wheel, albeit at the expense of a good tire, if I ever need to stop in a hurry. I also watch way ahead for any possible hazard, so that I can allow myself enough time to react if I need to. Paying attention is the key to riding a track bike on the street.
For those less experienced, use an already drilled road fork, or the method I describe above, but please don't drill the frame.
"Bicycle Mark" Perkins
On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 01:13:05 EST Jnlnjack@aol.com writes:
> I had the same bike with the GPM cranks from around 83.
> would never have dreamed of drilling a brake hole in the fork crown.
> track bikes designed without brakes are just that, track bikes.
> any old bike can be transformed into a fixed gear. you know, with a
> flip
> flop rear hub.
> there are some nice fixed gear bikes out there right now.
>
> that bianchi is for the track. the track bikes i saw drilled for a
> front
> brake were always the ones that had buckled due to being endoed.
>
> ride it safe,
> jason in snowy NYC
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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