lets see all your fixed gear bikes, finshed or not.

[xSWINDLERx]

i feel like if you learn to ride fixed w/ a brake it slows your learning curve, people rely on it too much and they end up loosing the point of learning how to control there speed w/ there body.

thats why i say as scary as it is to learn how to ride a bike that you cant stop pedaling on w/ out a brake its far worth the worrie. then once your comfertable and know what your doing if you still feel the need for a brake go for it.

[ohsnappe]

agreed.

but like all things...if it slows down your learning curve then you only have yourself to blame. have some self discipline its not going to kill you...and hit the brakes in an emergency or otherwise it might!

[Richago]

Quote, originally posted by xSWINDLERx »

i feel like if you learn to ride fixed w/ a brake it slows your learning curve, people rely on it too much and they end up loosing the point of learning how to control there speed w/ there body. thats why i say as scary as it is to learn how to ride a bike that you cant stop pedaling on w/ out a brake its far worth the worrie. then once your comfertable and know what your doing if you still feel the need for a brake go for it.

I hear what you're saying, but I disagree on the brake thing. Just because a brake is there doesn't mean you're obligated to use it. Especially if someone I care about is learning I would be more concerned with them staying alive than learning quickly. Brake vs. no brake is a cool/style thing and I like how it feels to know it's not available. I love how clean a ride looks without a brake, but no matter how skilled and confident you are you can't stop as fast using only the rear wheel. As one's skill progresses there will better be able to avoid those situations - reading traffic better, handling their bike well enough to swerve sharply and not need to brake, etc. - but for me it all comes down to that one (potential) time where having a brake keeps me out of the ER. Having a front brake lets me ride a little more aggressively while maintaining a better safety margin. I do not by any means fault people who run no brakes - I don't even have bumpers on my car. I think it's the same thing - trusting yourself enough to never have it come to that. For someone who is learning, though, I think it is a very bad idea not to have a brake.

[Richago]

Quote, originally posted by ohsnappe »

you have a better sense of control with no brake? no coasting ability?

It's like driving a manual vs. and automatic. I run a front brake, too.

[xSWINDLERx]

when i first started riding fixed i kept telling my self to get a brake, and thinking about how much smarter it would be if i did. but lazyness and a wanting to just go out a ride took over and it forced me to learn faster. and i wouldnt trade that for the world haha.

[thescirocco.com]

I finally got my fixed gear conversion done:

It's now down to 25 lbs...

[EuroVR6Mk3]

a couple more of my little bros from the last page

[9IN3TH1NG5]

my brass knuckle.

new wheels, chopped the bars a little more and my new work/school bag [both go on in DC haha]

I'm probably getting rid of it soon for something with better geometry. probably a bareknuckle or a vivalo special


Modified by 9IN3TH1NG5 at 8:23 PM 1-19-2008

[DeezUU]

Just picked up a new Moto to try singlespeed and fixed. Don't have the fixed cog on in the pic, but I installed it tonight. Don't think I'm gonna ride it on the fixed cog till I find some straps.

[Banned wagon]

Straps arn't absolute required. i have been riding platforms on a fixy for years.

[9IN3TH1NG5]

depends if youre going brakeless or not, also. platforms w.o brakes can get preeetty hairy.

[EuroVR6Mk3]

you fall more with straps meaning its harder to bail

[9IN3TH1NG5]

haha straps are SO easy to get out of.

and you wouldnt need to bail if you had straps which gave you enough control to keep out of bail-required situations

^winning

[huntenrabbit]

i like running the front brake... helps me do burn outs

[Muffler Bearing]

**** it, im just gonna stop running pedals all together.

-j

[DeezUU]

I'm just leary about running strapless. I'd like to maintain control with my legs when decelerating. That's part of the joys of riding fixed, eh! But since I have the option, I'm just riding the freewheel until I find some good straps. Moto Outcasts don't come with QR skewers, either so that's gotta be fixed (out back at least) .

[jaystone]

personally, I like clipless...very direct. all you need to do is make sure you can pop out easily.

[withnail]

Quote, originally posted by 9IN3TH1NG5 »

haha straps are SO easy to get out of. and you wouldnt need to bail if you had straps which gave you enough control to keep out of bail-required situations ^winning

If you were running your straps properly, you wouldn't be able to pull out without loosening them. A friend of mine who used clips and straps at the track (he was the only one) would have to lean against something or roll over in the infield to pull out. But then again your vans slip-ons would probably get messed up if you did that and that would be tragic. Platforms FTW.

[xSWINDLERx]

Quote, originally posted by withnail »

If you were running your straps properly, you wouldn't be able to pull out without loosening them. A friend of mine who used clips and straps at the track (he was the only one) would have to lean against something or roll over in the infield to pull out. But then again your vans slip-ons would probably get messed up if you did that and that would be tragic. Platforms FTW.

ummm....i donno about that.
that actually kinda sounds a little silly to me. thats less safe than riding clipless, at least w/ those you can pop out fairly quickly. generaly when im putting my feet in the toe clips im already riding, i dont find somewhere to lean against to get my feet in them.

[9IN3TH1NG5]

Quote, originally posted by withnail »

If you were running your straps properly, you wouldn't be able to pull out without loosening them. A friend of mine who used clips and straps at the track (he was the only one) would have to lean against something or roll over in the infield to pull out. But then again your vans slip-ons would probably get messed up if you did that and that would be tragic. Platforms FTW.

Whoa there buddy. Sorry we're not VeloStars like your buddy, but thats probably just as, if not more so, impractical than riding platforms for day to day use. Sure, that might be how they do it on the velodrome, but last time I checked 99% of people dont ride with foot clenching death grip straps. Dont get me wrong, it takes me a few pedal strokes to wiggle my foot all the way in the cage because of my straps tightness, but really calm down. Dont stereotype me. I dont wear vans on my bike, I know what I'm doing and I could give a **** less how "messed up" or "tragic" my shoes are.

[Muffler Bearing]

i dont want my vans to get messed up

-j

[withnail]

hahah I was just kidding around. I wasn't really being serious about that whole vans thing.

In fact, the only thing I was serious about was my friend. But on a more serious note, I think it has more to do with which pedal type you are used to. I can't get in or out of straps to save my life but I can get out of clipless pedals stupid fast. For other people it's the opposite. It looks like the guy's bike has two brakes... I say he just rides with platforms.

[travisorus rex]

Quote, originally posted by Kyle721 »

Are those wheels different sizes?

[Cptn. SenseofDirection]

to me, they look like 26 rear and 700cc/29 up front. that's what i run...but with a rear brake only

[slmdjetskipvr6]

this is now set up fixed, but kept the brakes. I need to save my knees.

Modified by slmdjetskipvr6 at 7:36 PM 1-22-2008

[DeezUU]

Regardless if I have 2 brakes or even a big brick on a rope tied to the seatstay... I'd still prefer to have straps since I have the option of fixed/freewheel with a flip-flop hub. After putting the fixed cog on and not being use to riding fixed... I could see instant shin death was in my future on straight plats. It's just a preference. I flipped my wheel back to the freewheel cog until I get something to secure my feets. I'm not a clipless fan either. I know they'd probably be the best option but I had a bad fall on them once and I'm a little 'scared' to go back to them. Probably had to do with the way I fell (straight forward with an uprooted tree in my hand) I can get out of straps rather quick but even in that fall... I think I'da been screwed.

BUT REGARDLESS it's gonna be fun trying out both singlespeed and fixed riding. It's a new encounter for me with both.

[Muffler Bearing]

Quote, originally posted by slmdjetskipvr6 »

this is now set up fixed, but kept the brakes. I need to save my knees.

do you still ride between felton and sc? thats a pretty long descent coming into town to not have brakes.

-j

[slmdjetskipvr6]

No I live in town now, but I do ride up there every once and a while on that. This bike is mainly my town bike, bar bike, everyday transportation.

[TonyHarmer]

A front brake is neat because it allows me to ride fast and not crack my skull on cabs. Im pretty happy with my skull.

[ECAhatch]

new look.

and a crappy pic with the nitto risers and matching wheels with gatorskin in front, before clips/straps were installed.

Modified by ECAhatch at 9:14 PM 1-24-2008

[Muffler Bearing]

Quote, originally posted by TonyHarmer »

A front brake is neat because it allows me to ride fast and not crack my skull on cabs. Im pretty happy with my skull.

i like my front brake and my helmet

-j

[huntenrabbit]

ok here we go phone pic cause im in between cameras right now...

yes! with the flower bean bag too!

its an old swine frame, one piece crank, and lots of lock tite on the rear wheel!

[ECAhatch]

that bike is too big for you.

[best_dude_ever]

ECAhatch, what ratio is that? looks bigger than 52 in the front. those major taylors?

[Muffler Bearing]

Quote, originally posted by huntenrabbit »

ok here we go phone pic cause im in between cameras right now... yes! with the flower bean bag too! its an old swine frame, one piece crank, and lots of lock tite on the rear wheel!

free prostate exam each time you ride?

-j