There is NO reason for a fixed gear bike to not have brakes, unless you are primarliy using the bike for tricks, in which case you're probably not gonna be using it for transportation much.

Front brakes are much more effective than rear brakes on any bike, and would be totally unaffected by the fact that the bike has a fixed gear. The only reason the majority of fixed gear riders these days don't have brakes is because that's the "cool" trend.

is it the trend or the tradition that makes a fad?

see: irony involving nostalgia

except it's not really much of a "tradition" is it? there's no long history of prestige for eshcewing brakes.

it's actually illegal in a some places for a bike to not have hand brakes.

I'm sure it must be a regional thing. In Charleston (where I'm from) it's practically a cardinal sin to not have brakes or absurdly large plugs for some reason.

Out here in Tucson, it's the same but it's all the fucking hipsters riding fixies.

I know the sensible thing to do is get handbrakes, people are just stubborn and egotistical. In my experience, anyway.

I understand if you have a TRACK BIKE and ride it on the TRACK not having a brake....they are not drilled for brakes because they are not meant to be used anywhere but for track racing. Fixed gear conversions are drilled for brakes. If you don't have one on your conversion, you're a fucking asshole.

Some kid on an IRO (drilled for front AND rear brakes I believe) made fun of me for having a brake as he mashed up a hill with his platform pedals. First of all, if you know anything about riding a fixed gear, you know it's much more efficient to stop with clips/straps/clipless. You can stop a fixed gear without a brake, easily. But if you're one of the jackasses darting in and out of traffic recklessly, you have no way to stop quickly enough if you were to be in a situation out of your control. I don't give a shit how much you practice your sweet skids down third ave, fucker.

until someone figures out a way for me to ride my bike while carrying a camera/tripod/light kit/boom stick/cables
then cars rule

it really sounds like you get angry easily and like to yell at douchbags

we need to hang out!

getting angry and yelling at couchebags sounds great. Fixed gear bikes without brakes aren't nearly as much of an issue fo rme as it may seem in this thread, but that's just because my exposure to them is pretty limited, I'm sure if I saw them all the time, i'd be raging.

The other day when I filled up my gas tank, I really wanted to yell at the douchenozzle in the SUV who pulled up to the pump, left his door open, engine idling, and kid playing in the parking lot, for like 10 minutes while he wandered away. Then he finally came back, put about 2 gallons in the thing, and pulled it into a parking spot, where it continued to idle, while he went into the store.

it's what i do. sometimes i'm passive aggressive and complain on message boards.

see you at the Fest!


p.s. i added you on fb

I plan on giving Hanbear FestAIDS.

I FUCKING HATE DOUCHEBAGS

this is fucking hilarious. it's just a bike.

it's not just a bike.
it's an unnecessarily dangerous bike.
and hip to boot.
bad combination. like watching a hot girl eat meatloaf with her bare hands. while drinking warm milk.

it's nothing like that. that would be amazing.

fixed gear, lol. way to totally buy into some lame trend.

i love meatloaf.