Re: [CR] fixie fad?

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:22:13 +0000
From: "K.R. Bennett" <kerriganbennett@comcast.net>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <364992946.3498561255482993306.JavaMail.root@sz0055a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] fixie fad?


Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 20:44:55, Dmitry Yaitskov wrote:

<snip>
>Could you please explain how using brakes on a fixed gear bike is more
>likely to cause one to go over the bars than using same brakes on a
>freewheeling bike?

Dmitry, that's easy. It's because when you're riding a fixie, you'll be required to attempt a no-handed track stand while hoisting a PBR with one hand and flipping the bird to real or imagined onlookers with the other. While wearing a white belt and trucker hat, naturally. Grabbing for a handful of brake in that situation is just plain foolish.

Kerrigan Bennett Pleasant Hill, CA USA Where I'm going home to finish putting together my fixed gear road trainer (track dropouts, brakes, and bottle braze-ons). I call it NJ-esque!

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendezvous.10910.0672.eml Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:44:55 -0400 From: Dmitry Yaitskov <dima(AT)rogers.com> Subject: Re: [CR] fixie fad?

Hi,

Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 6:49:04 PM, kevin mccaul wrote:

<snip>
> In my opinion, riding a track bike in traffic is something you need
> to take seriously to say the least. Many do's and don'ts.

Riding any kind of bike in traffic should be taken seriously, no?

<snip>
> Every once in a while I'm asked politely how the bike works without
> brakes. I can explain in less than 60 seconds and the individual
> usually comes away thinking it's hard, but not that it's dangerous.
> It's neither of course!
> My gear of choice is 49x16. I've tried lesser and quickly went back.
> As for brakes, well all I can say is if you feel the need for them, then you
> probably shouldn't be riding fixed. I've seen firsthand and heard numerous
> stories of guys flying over the handlebars using them.

Could you please explain how using brakes on a fixed gear bike is more likely to cause one to go over the bars than using same brakes on a freewheeling bike?
> Then again I'm sure there is a place for brakes in certain
> circumstances, but I can't think of one that applies to me. Let me
> know! You ride on the sidewalk only maybe?

A front brake can stop a bike faster than a rear brake (which is effectively what you have on a brakeless fixed), all other things being equal, I'm sure this may come useful not only when riding on a sidewalk.

<snip-snip-snip>

--
Cheers,
Dmitry Yaitskov,
Toronto, Canada.