Hand brakes for a fixie?
#26
Senior Member
I've never gone without, but for years I ran with only one on the front.
I've gone the last 8 years with two. Cane Creek SCR-5 brake levers (bought cheaply) controlling Paul's Components Racer centerpull brakes ($$$). If only for the symmetry and the hand positions, I highly recommend two brakes.
I've gone the last 8 years with two. Cane Creek SCR-5 brake levers (bought cheaply) controlling Paul's Components Racer centerpull brakes ($$$). If only for the symmetry and the hand positions, I highly recommend two brakes.
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#27
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#28
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Having a brake opens up more territory for you too. Living in the mountains I would never be able to go some places without a brake. Or maybe I should say it would not be fun doing so. A seven mile decent controlling a rear wheel is just too much.
#29
Bike Ethically
I like to have a front brake just in case. That is just for your own safety and the safety of others. If you crash with someone without any breaks, you will get into trouble here in the USA. I would not like to face any legal consequences. But that is just my opinion. Someone else may think something else.
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I just had a few days off work, rode over 200 miles in a wide range of conditions and never touched the brakes. Then this week, commuting only 2–3 miles each way, I've needed them twice because of the actions of other road users.
#31
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The fun I've had in Portland more than a few times is flying past brakeless riders downhill. I ride downhill at close to geared bike speeds knowing that making the next corner or stopping at the light at the bottom is no big deal. And on Cycle Oregon, where I've brought multiple cogs, chainwhip and spanner, I've cruised very fast down glorious descents on gears like 42-12. Ear to ear grin fun.
#32
Senior Member
Ursula,
If you're new to single/fixed gear bikes I'd recommend brakes. There's a lot to learn right out of the gate just getting used to your feet being fixed to the wheel. Dealing with no brakes on top of that is no bueno if you ask me. If you're self conscious about putting brakes on your bike, don't. Heck, do what I did, I searched for some Shimano Dura Ace brakes and put hose on my first fixed gear. Not only do they brake well, they look cool too and are also a conversation piece.
If you're new to single/fixed gear bikes I'd recommend brakes. There's a lot to learn right out of the gate just getting used to your feet being fixed to the wheel. Dealing with no brakes on top of that is no bueno if you ask me. If you're self conscious about putting brakes on your bike, don't. Heck, do what I did, I searched for some Shimano Dura Ace brakes and put hose on my first fixed gear. Not only do they brake well, they look cool too and are also a conversation piece.
#33
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Riding fixie on the road without brakes is beautifully simple in components and stimulatingly complex in how you manage your speed, direction and “alternates” should something unexpected happen. I keep one bike built up like this and ride it on occasion for the uniqueness of it...but every other post on this thread is correct...too many unexpected things happen to not have (at minimum) a really solid front brake for any kind of daily riding.
#34
Bike Ethically
Ursula,
If you're new to single/fixed gear bikes I'd recommend brakes. There's a lot to learn right out of the gate just getting used to your feet being fixed to the wheel. Dealing with no brakes on top of that is no bueno if you ask me. If you're self conscious about putting brakes on your bike, don't. Heck, do what I did, I searched for some Shimano Dura Ace brakes and put hose on my first fixed gear. Not only do they brake well, they look cool too and are also a conversation piece.
If you're new to single/fixed gear bikes I'd recommend brakes. There's a lot to learn right out of the gate just getting used to your feet being fixed to the wheel. Dealing with no brakes on top of that is no bueno if you ask me. If you're self conscious about putting brakes on your bike, don't. Heck, do what I did, I searched for some Shimano Dura Ace brakes and put hose on my first fixed gear. Not only do they brake well, they look cool too and are also a conversation piece.
#36
Senior Member
BikeEthics,
That's a challenging question to answer. Are they materially better than Ultegra's? Maybe not in braking performance, but the workmanship is better for sure. I love these brakes and they just make me smile when I look at them, so for me, they are worth every penny. I'm still looking for a pair of levers that are worthy of the calipers......
Do you think the Dura Aces are worth the money?
Last edited by drlogik; 04-03-21 at 04:01 PM.
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#37
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BikeEthics,
That's a challenging question to answer. Are they materially better than Ultegra's? Maybe not in braking performance, but the workmanship is better for sure. I love these brakes and they just make me smile when I look at them, so for me, they are worth every penny.
That's a challenging question to answer. Are they materially better than Ultegra's? Maybe not in braking performance, but the workmanship is better for sure. I love these brakes and they just make me smile when I look at them, so for me, they are worth every penny.
A fellow on a forum I used to attend described his bike with interrupters only and drop bars. Came on later to tell us he'd had a run-in at an intersection at the bottom of a hill with a heavy truck. He lived and would ride again, but it was not minor. I refrained from asking if he was in the drops when this happened.
#38
Senior Member
79pmooney,
They're bullhorns. I would never ride top-bar levers with drop bars. Ain't no way. Truth be told, as far as safety is concerned, this setup isn't all that "safe" either. In a true emergency stop situation, that extra split second to find the lever and apply the brake might be the difference between hitting something or being able to stop in time. I ride very cautiously on this bike. It's more my "neighborhood cruiser". My hands are usually on the rounded end of the bullhorn with the index finger on the brake lever.
I have a second Wabi (a Special) with drop bars and that bike has standard levers with Ultegra brakes. That's my go-to workout bike.
--
I get the chills thinking you might have dropped handlebars.
I have a second Wabi (a Special) with drop bars and that bike has standard levers with Ultegra brakes. That's my go-to workout bike.
--
Last edited by drlogik; 04-03-21 at 07:26 PM.
#39
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79pmooney,
They're bullhorns. I would never ride top-bar levers with drop bars. Ain't no way. Truth be told, as far as safety is concerned, this setup isn't all that "safe" either. In a true emergency stop situation, that extra split second to find the lever and apply the brake might be the difference between hitting something or being able to stop in time. I ride very cautiously on this bike. It's more my "neighborhood cruiser". My hands are usually on the rounded end of the bullhorn with the index finger on the brake lever.
I have a second Wabi (a Special) with drop bars and that bike has standard levers with Ultegra brakes. That's my go-to workout bike.
--
They're bullhorns. I would never ride top-bar levers with drop bars. Ain't no way. Truth be told, as far as safety is concerned, this setup isn't all that "safe" either. In a true emergency stop situation, that extra split second to find the lever and apply the brake might be the difference between hitting something or being able to stop in time. I ride very cautiously on this bike. It's more my "neighborhood cruiser". My hands are usually on the rounded end of the bullhorn with the index finger on the brake lever.
I have a second Wabi (a Special) with drop bars and that bike has standard levers with Ultegra brakes. That's my go-to workout bike.
--
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#41
Junior Member
No brakes = velodrome or circus.
Roads, streets, hills, trails with people (especially children) = must have at least one on the front.
If you go with the drop bars, two brake hoods do give another place to rest your hands, as someone has pointed out.
Roads, streets, hills, trails with people (especially children) = must have at least one on the front.
If you go with the drop bars, two brake hoods do give another place to rest your hands, as someone has pointed out.
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#42
Member
BikeEthics I run Dura-Ace on one Wabi and 6800 Ultegra on the other Wabi. I need 2mm extra of reach on the Ultegra bike which they're perfect for. The 9000 DA are prettier than the 6800 Ultegra IMO. They both function the exact same though.
OP: always good to run two brakes of some kind on the street. You might trust your abilities. Don't trust other people.
Last edited by sdimattia; 04-21-21 at 07:51 PM.
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#43
Bike Ethically
drlogik nice Wabi, I run mine with Dura Ace brakes as well.
BikeEthics I run Dura-Ace on one Wabi and 6800 Ultegra on the other Wabi. I need 2mm extra of reach on the Ultegra bike which they're perfect for. The 9000 DA are prettier than the 6800 Ultegra IMO. They both function the exact same though.
OP: always good to run two brakes of some kind on the street. You might trust your abilities. Don't trust other people.
BikeEthics I run Dura-Ace on one Wabi and 6800 Ultegra on the other Wabi. I need 2mm extra of reach on the Ultegra bike which they're perfect for. The 9000 DA are prettier than the 6800 Ultegra IMO. They both function the exact same though.
OP: always good to run two brakes of some kind on the street. You might trust your abilities. Don't trust other people.
#45
Bike Ethically
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I was heading down a hill on a country road the other day when my chain came off. I was grateful to have brakes.
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#47
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Anyone still remember when the chain would come off when we were kids with only a coaster brake and all you could do was grit your teeth, hop onto the top tube and drag your feet? A lot more gravel roads back then, I guess. Still....an experience like that once in awhile did us good....prepared us for married life...
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Here's another argument in favour of brakes. I was out on a ride this afternoon when I spotted a wild hare on the edge of a field right next to the road: a splendid specimen , almost the size of a fox. Although I try never to use the brakes on a leisure ride, I instinctively braked hard and was rewarded by coming almost silently to a halt so close to the hare I could see every whisker. It locked eyes with me for a moment then turned and zig-zagged across a dusty field, with little puffs of dust coming up from its feet.
It's a bit niche, perhaps, but it made me glad I had brakes. It was the only time I used them in just over an hour's brisk and enjoyable ride on a mixture of roads, lanes, bridle paths, single track, and restricted byways.
It's a bit niche, perhaps, but it made me glad I had brakes. It was the only time I used them in just over an hour's brisk and enjoyable ride on a mixture of roads, lanes, bridle paths, single track, and restricted byways.
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Well, I guess it depends on everyone's knees, but even though I wasn't really using my brakes since I got into Fixed, if I was riding a lot on the streets with traffic my knees were killing me at night. I got my the same weak knees as my father, so it was expected.
If you're going to ride where there's no traffic, like the countryside or a bike path you should be fine