Bicycle vs red light vs bus
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
According to the comments, he was using back pressure to slow down with the fixie (broken front brake, and no rear brake). The pedals would still turn unless skidding.
#27
For The Fun of It
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,852
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2135 Post(s)
Liked 1,647 Times
in
829 Posts
Offered without comment, opinion or agenda. Feel free to use this as an example to make any point you wish.
https://www.highwaysindustry.com/video-cyclist-ignores-red-light-but-cant-ignore-bus/ .
https://www.highwaysindustry.com/video-cyclist-ignores-red-light-but-cant-ignore-bus/ .
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind people that it's best to make sure no busses (or other things they don't want to hit or be hit by) are coming before they haul tail trough an intersection, no matter what color the traffic light is.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Kent Wa.
Posts: 5,332
Bikes: 2005 Gazelle Golfo, 1935 Raleigh Sport, 1970 Robin Hood sport, 1974 Schwinn Continental, 1984 Ross MTB/porteur, 2013 Flying Piegon path racer, 2014 Gazelle Toer Populair T8
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 396 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
On a track, one can set the gearing to best match one's maximum effort.
Many cities are relatively flat with a few overpasses, so within the city, one may never truly need to change gears. A few overpasses for a bit of effort.
The idea of decreasing effort, but never truly stopping pedaling may be a good idea.
I'm not a fixie rider, but one should be able to backpedal to the point of skidding, so a rear brake should be unnecessary (you can't brake beyond a skid), but I wonder if one's braking power is as uneven as one's pedaling power strokes, and thus one doesn't get maximum braking with backpedaling. Undoubtedly they prefer to use the pedals to adjust the speed.
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Ouch.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#33
For The Fun of It
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,852
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2135 Post(s)
Liked 1,647 Times
in
829 Posts
Those of us that ride geared bikes may never truly understand the fixies.
On a track, one can set the gearing to best match one's maximum effort.
Many cities are relatively flat with a few overpasses, so within the city, one may never truly need to change gears. A few overpasses for a bit of effort.
The idea of decreasing effort, but never truly stopping pedaling may be a good idea.
One saves a few grams.
I'm not a fixie rider, but one should be able to backpedal to the point of skidding, so a rear brake should be unnecessary (you can't brake beyond a skid), but I wonder if one's braking power is as uneven as one's pedaling power strokes, and thus one doesn't get maximum braking with backpedaling. Undoubtedly they prefer to use the pedals to adjust the speed.
On a track, one can set the gearing to best match one's maximum effort.
Many cities are relatively flat with a few overpasses, so within the city, one may never truly need to change gears. A few overpasses for a bit of effort.
The idea of decreasing effort, but never truly stopping pedaling may be a good idea.
One saves a few grams.
I'm not a fixie rider, but one should be able to backpedal to the point of skidding, so a rear brake should be unnecessary (you can't brake beyond a skid), but I wonder if one's braking power is as uneven as one's pedaling power strokes, and thus one doesn't get maximum braking with backpedaling. Undoubtedly they prefer to use the pedals to adjust the speed.
I live in one of those flat cities. There's no way I would ride in the city on a bike without front and rear brakes and the ability to coast. There's certainly no real advantage to it and there re plenty disadvantages. But I am old, have bad knees and am somewhat risk averse, so take that for what it's worth.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Georgia
Posts: 654
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 196 Times
in
130 Posts
I'm not a fixie rider, but one should be able to backpedal to the point of skidding, so a rear brake should be unnecessary (you can't brake beyond a skid), but I wonder if one's braking power is as uneven as one's pedaling power strokes, and thus one doesn't get maximum braking with backpedaling. Undoubtedly they prefer to use the pedals to adjust the speed.
#35
24-Speed Machine
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Wash. Grove, MD
Posts: 6,058
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
At the same website. There is this link: New Study Says Driverless Cars Will Consume More Fuel Highways Industry
Hmmmmm........
Hmmmmm........
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Interesting. I wonder how much backpedal torque would be needed to approach locking the rear wheel. I suppose effectively the same as the forward torque to accelerate to the same degree -- at first thought I'd guess that without extensive practice most wouldn't be able to brake nearly as effectively as with a rim brake? Could be wrong though.
I can break my rear wheel loose on a hill climb on wet pavement, and obviously it is easy to do on gravel, so assuming the same back pedal force, one is probably close to skidding without a weight shift, especially on wet pavement, but maximum stopping force would assume uniform braking power which it probably isn't.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
At the same website. There is this link: New Study Says Driverless Cars Will Consume More Fuel Highways Industry
Hmmmmm........
Hmmmmm........
A 10 yr old should be able to jump into the car and be driven to school.
It is an interesting point though... will we reach a point where half the driving is with EMPTY cars? ZERO passengers?
#38
Senior Member
Interesting. I wonder how much backpedal torque would be needed to approach locking the rear wheel. I suppose effectively the same as the forward torque to accelerate to the same degree -- at first thought I'd guess that without extensive practice most wouldn't be able to brake nearly as effectively as with a rim brake? Could be wrong though.
*Rode fixed in a city for a year, about a decade ago; gave it up because I am old.
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not really an advantage, just no need. Even when I had a rear brake I rarely used it. Isnt it like something of your breaking is 70% front brake? A lot of people go to fixies because of simplicity and that would be one less thing. Though I cant get the no brake thing, especially in San Fran. That seems just down right ********.
#40
Senior Member
I once slipped through a local red light while my mind was occupied with something and I became absent-minded for just a minute. I was wondering why a car next to me had stopped. After I passed and looked at the mirror I realized the light had turned red. Fortunately I rode slow (virtually "walked" through to many of you roadies) and it was a small street with no car crossing, no consequence. But I learned my lesson never to be absent-minded on the road.
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,278
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4260 Post(s)
Liked 1,364 Times
in
945 Posts
He's well ahead of the intersection when the light turned yellow. And fairly well-ahead of the intersection when the light turned red.
It seems he delayed braking too late.
If he had started braking when the light turned yellow, there's a good chance he would have stopped before the intersection (even with a broken front cable).
It appears that the conditions were wet (which means braking is less effective).
Apparently, it's a fixie/whatever with only a front brake. The problem with a broken front cable might point to not having a rear brake as being not a very good idea.
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
I assume the locals know not to go down (or up) some streets of San Francisco.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 05-27-15 at 04:55 PM.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,509
Bikes: 3 good used ones
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I once slipped through a local red light while my mind was occupied with something and I became absent-minded for just a minute. I was wondering why a car next to me had stopped. After I passed and looked at the mirror I realized the light had turned red. Fortunately I rode slow (virtually "walked" through to many of you roadies) and it was a small street with no car crossing, no consequence. But I learned my lesson never to be absent-minded on the road.
I use stopped cars and pedestrians as a signal for me to stop or at least slow way down. Once, at a MUP intersection, a walker stopped dead. I did too, even though I did not see anything--at first. Low and behold, there came a fast-moving little sports car out of the gleam of a distant mirage.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oahu, HI
Posts: 1,396
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 285 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 74 Times
in
54 Posts
I might jump a green, but never if there is cross traffic.
scott s.
.
scott s.
.
#47
Junior Member
I'm glad everyone is relatively unharmed.
I've had a front brake cable snap. I immediately dropped both my feet onto the street and used the soles of my shoes as brake pads. Doing that was still much shorter stopping distance than using the rear brake alone.
I've had a front brake cable snap. I immediately dropped both my feet onto the street and used the soles of my shoes as brake pads. Doing that was still much shorter stopping distance than using the rear brake alone.
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,509
Bikes: 3 good used ones
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Wow. Never had a cable snap. Had a few pads wear down in a single ride while decending down long steep hills and noticed the cable was too long to work properly though.
#50
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,399
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,699 Times
in
2,519 Posts
I had a brake cable snap one time, I was on the way to the shop while pushing my tandem. So I had three working brakes, just none of them available to use. That was exciting, but it didn’t end up being a problem.