Fixed Gear
The Fixed Gear Bike Brake Issue
As some of you riders know, there’s a big to do going on about riding fixed gears without brakes. And there are people on both sides of the fence with valid arguments. But when you boil down the arguments, strip away to faux reasoning and BS responses, you’ll find that the debate is this:
STYLE vs. SAFETY
STYLE
Believe it or not, but in the fixed gear bike community, a brake is basically a biker no no. If you have a brake on your bike, you’re basically saying:
“I have a fixed gear bike but don’t know how to control it. So I need a brake because I’m lame and a poser.”
This comment, in a way, holds true. The mere fact that common, everyday trendy kids are riding bikes made for racing (but NOT racing them in formal competition) is kind of ironic is, at its core, ironic. True, a fixed gear is more efficient from a physics standpoint; however, how efficient does your transportation need to be to ride 3 blocks down to the liquor store to pick up a handy case of PBR? That argument aside, adding a brake into the irony of riding a fixie just muddies the purity of riding and owning a fixed gear. That’s because if you’re going to go fixed, you better know how to ride fixed. This means knowing how to use the technology of a fixed bike to its full advantage. A brake is basically a training wheel – a crutch. When you have a fixed gear bike, the mere technology allows you to stop without one. A non-fixed bike doesn’t have this luxury. It NEEDS a brake to stop in any manner. But we’re not talking about non fixies.
So a brake, since it’s basically a training wheel, is in no way fashionable. It’s a sign of weakness – and who wants to look weak? There are safety advantages to having a brake on fixed gear bikes, but it’s not a necessity to stop. However, combining a fixed gear bike with a brake does make it much easier to stop
SAFETY
The style of brakeless fixed gear bikes is one that should be simple to understand. But, the safety argument for HAVING A BRAKE is also a simple one to comprehend. Although you don’t need a brake with a fixed gear to stop, a brake does make stopping that much easier. And since with fixies, you tend to go faster than with a heavy beach cruiser or multi-speed bike, additional braking assistance is a plus. As was mentioned previously, you don’t need a brake to stop a fixed gear, but you do need to know how to use the fixie to stop properly. The one thing that is very difficult to do is stop quickly with a fixed gear. Typically if you’re riding at a moderate speed and plan your stopping, you can stop easily without a brake. However, if you’re hauling some butt and a car pulls out in front of you a few feet away (i.e. you have time to stop, but not that much time), having a brake can definitely help you from ending up rolling over a hood.
CONCLUSION
So as you can see, both arguments have their points. There are some innate style factors that come with not having a brake, and there are definitely some added safety features to having one. So what’s the answer? Do we hand out fixed gear bike licenses and test riders before they are allowed to ride one around town? We all know that as more people find out about fixed gears, the more uninformed riders are flooding the streets, meaning they probably don’t know how to properly ride one but they want to be stylish as possible – which means they won’t have brakes and will probably plow into you, your car, or a wall as they rocket down a hill. So unless licensing becomes a reality (or some sort of fixed gear testing), the style vs. safety argument will rage on (and both sides will have valid points).
For random stories on bikes, as well as videos, go to http://www.thefixedgeargallery.com/
|
|
Waring SB10 Professional Immersion Blender, Black $89.99 This immersion blender features 2 speeds and a multipurpose blade to blend, whip and mix a variety of food. The compact design and contoured grip provide easy and comfortable use…. |
|
|
Victorinox Swiss Army Money Clip $40.00 From the renowned company that created the Swiss Army Knife more than a century ago comes the Swiss Army money clip, a handy multi-tool for folks who don’t like to carry wallets. Measuring 3 inches long, the money clip is stylishly cased in a red, black, or silver housing with the familiar Victorinox logo on one side. On the other side, however, sits a handy money clip, which is designed to keep y… |
|
|
DMT ADELUXE Aligner Deluxe Knife Sharpening Kit $43.20 Features a 3 stone kit coarse fine & extra fine with a fine serrated sharpener accessory and fabric pouch.ATTRIBUTES Includes: Interchangeable Stone Holder Blade Guide And 3 4 in. Whetstones Special Features: Easy-to-follow instructions Storage: Fabric Storage Pouch… |
|
|
Manitou Marvel Pro 26 Fork 100mm White QR Tapered $411.87 Manitou Marvel Suspension ForksAll 2012 Manitou forks are convertible to MILO remote lockout lever by using FK5510Item SpecificationsColorWhiteBrake Usage F/RFrontCrown Race30.0Steerer Tube Length265mmBrake TypeDiscWheel Size26″Fork Travel100mmFront Hub Spacing100mmFront Axle Type9x1SpringAirWheel Mount Center Offset0mmLockoutCrown MountedDefined ColorWhiteS.H.I.S. Clamp Diameter28.6Item NameMarve… |
|
|
Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, Serrated Edge $79.99 From Gerber, the 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife is designed to help you endure in the toughest environments. It features an ergonomic grip for comfortable handling and a dependable stainless steel blade with a versatile serrated edge. Additionally, the knife and military-grade nylon sheath are packed with innovative survival tools, including a fire starter, a diamond blade sh… |
|
|
Master Cutlery HK-106320 Outdoor Fixed Blade Knife, 7.5-Inch Overall $4.95 This is the Mini Full Tang Survival Knife Magnesium Fire Starter. The Blade of the knife has been constructed from 440 Stainless Steel with a tanto point. The sheath is tough green nylon with a belt loop. The knife includes a magnesium rod fire starter…. |
|
|
Gerber 31-000698 Bear Grylls Survival Series Parang, With Nylon Sheath $55.00 The product of collaboration between Gerber and survival expert Bear Grylls, the Parang Machete is a modern version of the traditional tribesman machete. Its angled blade is ideal for clearing brush, branches, or tree limbs, and full tang construction boosts durability. This Parang comes with a lanyard cord to enhance grip security, and a military-grade nylon sheath.Parang MacheteAt a Glance:Angle… |
|
|
Quicksilver $8.90 A hotshot stockbroker bets it all–and loses it all–in one day, effectively ruining all his customers while ending his career. So, naturally, he turns to that old stockbroker standby: he becomes a bicycle messenger. Kevin Bacon may have made this film simply to extend the strands of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game; it’s hard to imagine any other reason. Otherwise, this mid-’80s film stands as… |
|
|
2011 Tour De France 12 Hour Collector’s Edition $64.95 This DVD provides an inside version of the 2011 Tour with exciting racing footage, including coverage of each mountain stage.3-Disc SetItem SpecificationsGenreRoad… |
|
|
2011 Tour De France 4 Hour Version $32.39 This DVD provides an inside version of the 2011 Tour with exciting racing footage, including coverage of each mountain stage.3-Disc SetItem SpecificationsGenreRoad… |