Rear Brake on a Fixed?

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Comments

  • moreearsthangears
    moreearsthangears Posts: 40
    I love my fixed gear bike for its aesthetic simplicity. I have no brake hoods yet I like climbing on it.

    I have no rear brake because it's not necessary once you've mastered the technique. I rarely use the front and don't need the back...

    I really appreciate the minimalist look and minimal maintenance. The only thing that wears out is the tyres. It's awesome.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    Another good reason for a back brake- ice. Using the front brake on ice is not a good idea, as the tarmac firmly imprinted on me a couple of weekends ago. Six down, two broken limbs, I was lucky to come out of it with just ripped tights and a sore hip for a week. Practising my rear skidding now, I do think it is easier to keep control on ice with the rear brake to assist, you have more modulation than with a straight skid stop :D
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,741
    no rear brake blocks - your rim doesn't get worn
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    edhornby wrote:
    no rear brake blocks - your rim doesn't get worn
    That is really a bit of a silly reason not to have a brake; if you have a rear brake block that you only used in emergencies your rim wouldn't get worn either and you might stay out of hospital as a bonus :D On (geared) bikes with both brakes I have only ever worn the front rim as I don't tend to use the back much.
  • BUICK
    BUICK Posts: 362
    Good point about front wheel braking at this time of year in particular
    '07 Langster (dropped one tooth from standard gearing)
    '07 Tricross Sport with rack and guards
    STUNNING custom 953 Bob Jackson *sigh*
  • GarethPJ
    GarethPJ Posts: 295
    If you ride both fixed wheel and free wheel a rear brake is a good idea simply because you get used to having one on your freewheel bike. Instinctively reaching for a brake lever that isn't there could waste precious fractions of a second. In some situations this could be critical.

    In the final analysis none of the reasons for omitting a rear brake are particularly compelling, so you may as well have one.
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    "In the final analysis none of the reasons for omitting a rear brake are particularly compelling, so you may as well have one."

    That about sums it up I reckon!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    blorg wrote:
    Practising my rear skidding now, I do think it is easier to keep control on ice with the rear brake to assist, you have more modulation than with a straight skid stop :D

    Hi there.

    I think it's the other way round - I find it much easier to control the rear wheel skidding through the pedals. Also easier to find grip while trying to get moving again on ice - sorta like having traction control.

    There's no rear brake on my fiixed, simply because there's one only one brake lever and one bolt to remove when I want to go racing. I have other bikes to ride in the hills!

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • 4candles
    4candles Posts: 240
    speedy641 wrote:
    Ok, this may have been discussed already, but at the risk of getting burnt.....


    I am taking my old, chipped, much loved Holdsworth frame to be renovated tomorrow, with the intention of building it up into a fixed wheel. I had intended to have various braze-on's removed from the frame, (keeping it clean and simple looking). These included the rear brake cable guides along the crossbar. I have now read that some fixed wheel riders do ride with both front and rear brakes, apparently it does cut your legs a little slack on fast descents...............

    ...so, what do I do, keep the braze on's, so I have the option of fitting a rear brake, or commit myself, get rid of them and ride a 'pure' fixed wheel?


    I'd leave all the brazeons on the frame, as you might want to restore it to all its glory one day.

    As for brakes i'd ride with two and then decide what to do with the rear.. at least with two you could ride with a freewheel if you wish.
  • moreearsthangears
    moreearsthangears Posts: 40
    I was in the same position as Speedy. I cut off all unnecessary braze-ons and went for a really beautiful fixed wheel bike. You can always get them put on if you go for yet another re-finish job. And you don't need a rear brake FFS!
  • GarethPJ
    GarethPJ Posts: 295
    Always be careful when removing braze ons. Remember the tubing on your bike has thin and delicate walls in places. Cut or file too deep and you could be putting scratches in the frame that are quite significant compared with the thickness of the steel. If the braze ons are indeed brazed on it would be better to remove them with a torch. This would be safer for the tubing although it would cause more damage to the paintwork.

    I once saw a frame destroyed by somebody filing down the remains of a cable stop. The file slipped and it's edge cut a nasty groove into the frame.

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