Tony, et al.
I can't say I'm with you on this one. While some do outfit their fixed gear with rear brakes (Keirin riders in training immediately come to mind) it's quite a common practice to equip a fixed wheel with a front brake. Consider that your legs are your rear brake as they control your speed- and the front, is well, your front. Ultimately, it tends to be a matter of preference, but I can confidently say the majority of fixed wheel cyclists currently use a front brake over a rear.
As for the Japanese, it's a matter of convention as most Keirin forks do not have the clearance to handle the reach of a front brake- a rear, clamp on style brake is commonly used.
Sean Flores San Francisco, CA
On Jan 17, 2009, at 12:58 PM, Tony Colegrave wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> '...front brakes became mandatory (except...' (Jan)
>
> '...fixed gear bicycles equipped with a front brake...' (Sean)
>
> As a very frequent 'fixed-wheeler', I'd never DREAM of fitting/
> using a front brake, and, AFAIK, I'm committing no offence in the
> U.K. by braking on my rear wheel (legislation requires only that
> there are two independant methods of stopping?), and, when riding
> 'free', I always use the rear brake in priority to the front -
> indeed I only ever use a front brake in cases of extreme need.
> Giving priority to rear-wheel braking means that my rear brake
> lever is always at my left hand - cycling 'on the left' (as we do in
> this country), I feel that it is important that I should be able to
> have the use of my rear brake at the same time as I indicate a right-
> hand turn (i.e. across the path of any following motor traffic) when
> descending any of the many steep hills in this part of the world.
> I'm sure that this is an attitude shared by most 'serious'
> cyclists in this country.
> Regards, Tony Colegrave. (surviving more or less unscathed as a
> cyclist, into my 69th. year).
>
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