Steven,
I can't believe I'm allowing myself to get dragged into this issue yet again.
"All the talk of fixed gear bikes on the road reminds me of a series of training articles written in the 1970's by Audrey McElmory (1969 woman's world road champion). Audrey was a strong proponent of useing a fixed gear bike for off season training. She did however strongly recommend equiping the bike with a front brake. She said that if you didn't think you needed a brake, put one on anyway, then ride toward a brick wall at 20 MPH and stop within the last 100 feet. If after this ypu still didn't think you needed the brake, repeat the experment without the brake. I think she was trying to remove the idiots from the gene pool."
I'm compelled to point out that racers are designed (trained) to go forward VERY FAST, not stop or slow down, with the exception of certain types of events.
My guess is she meant 10 feet, not 100 as that is not a problem. Not that I'm in the habit of doing this sort of nonsense. Should never put yourself in that position to begin with.
Not a lecture, just a valid point.
In the future, please refrain from using words like "idiots", it can be taken as an insult as I'm sure that's how it was intended?
Best,
Kevin McCaul
Silver Spring MD USA