Brake-less fixed gear in the snow?
11-05-09, 12:41 PM
#26
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Tires make more of a difference in snow than brakes. Rode my work bike all year long, no brakes/breaks. couldn't fit anything bigger than a 25 tire in the front, but I managed to stuff a knobby cross tire on the back and that was great in blizzards. You can rely on your back wheel (a bit at least) it makes all the difference and used the front wheel as sort of a ski. Front and rear knobbys might be ideal, but fixed with just a knobby rear is still a good time.
heh, knobby rear.
heh, knobby rear.
11-05-09, 12:42 PM
#27
dig dig dig
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I ride my fixed brakeless regardless of weather, and have never had a problem with stopping/crashing. The only time I've crashed in the winter was over a metal grated bridge, and it would've happened whether running no brakes or 15 brakes.
11-05-09, 01:53 PM
#28
Bicyclerider4life
Yes. I did count them! I went with the no-mor-flats tubes for a couple flat free years after that.
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11-05-09, 03:33 PM
#29
:)
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I run studded tires + front brake. Would never run brakeless in the winter. Even before I ran studs, there were many, many times when the front brake saved my arse. Granted I live in a very hilly area, but being able to stop when you need to is kind of a no-brainer for me. For those claiming you will crash if you run a front brake, you are fooling yourself, or horrible riders.
11-05-09, 03:45 PM
#30
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with racism to boot
Last year, if it would snow at night while i was still awake and not many cars had gone by i'd go and just do skids for like 10 feet and just **** around(i have a brake i just didn't use it then). Its fun, but i wouldn't do it on main streets in traffic.
Last year, if it would snow at night while i was still awake and not many cars had gone by i'd go and just do skids for like 10 feet and just **** around(i have a brake i just didn't use it then). Its fun, but i wouldn't do it on main streets in traffic.
11-05-09, 04:46 PM
#31
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
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That said, fixed in the snow is great because of the direct feedback from the back wheel about how much traction I'm getting. As for braking, I haven't had a brake to compare but I ride within my ability to control myself and stop so I've never had a problem. Going slow in the snow is fun. Don't get too much of that out here, but once in a while. I remember one year back home we got like 18" overnight and we rode from my place (Kimball & Montrose) down to Harold's Chicken on S. Halsted. That was sooooo fun. I think we bounced of the sides of 4 or 5 parked cars while trying to do donut skids.
11-05-09, 05:30 PM
#32
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I would vote yes for brakes in the winter for one major reason: more potholes, ice patches and other such crap on the roads. Winding between cars leads to a major chance of being surprised by a massive hole in the road and not being able to stop in time.
Also here in Toronto, at least, giant mounds of ice sometimes grow at the side of the road, which plows just skip over. These mounds are usually grimy dark and sneak up on you. Last year there was a nasty one at the very bottom of the Yonge St hill, coming down from St Clair. Anyone who lives in Toronto will know the high wipe-out possibility of such placement.
Also here in Toronto, at least, giant mounds of ice sometimes grow at the side of the road, which plows just skip over. These mounds are usually grimy dark and sneak up on you. Last year there was a nasty one at the very bottom of the Yonge St hill, coming down from St Clair. Anyone who lives in Toronto will know the high wipe-out possibility of such placement.
