Just bought a bike a few months ago at a used sports store for $80. Just for fun. It’s a single speed which I have made into a fixed gear. The guys at my University bike shop told me I’m now part of a strange cult but I gotta get rid of my brakes. I love my POS bike with all my heart and I want to be cool (just like you guys;)), but it scares me having no brakes on my morning commute to class.
So my questions are (btw I’m new here):
Am I a poser if I keep the brakes on?
And how difficult is it to learn to ride without the brakes? I’m 22 and quite athletic so I figure if it’s not too hard then I should be able to get the hang of it. Still… scary!
(The picture attached may be from before I swapped it to a fixed gear idk)
Thank you
by wallsbp
11 Comments
Then you should get 9 more gears 😋
I’m new to fix I rode one in high school but didn’t know what it was and thought it was broken, I got a kilo stripper last weekend I took of the rear brake and have been only back pedaling to brake. I have the front break as an emergency I have yet to use it. So I would just say back pedal or skid if you can then eventually take the front brake off
Take the back brake off, you don’t need it. Leave the front though, even if you never use it it’s good for emergencies. Just don’t grab a fat handful and go over the bars
You don’t need to take both brakes off. Plenty of people in the scene ride with a front brake. But definitely take the rear one off. No need for that unless your legs are extremely weak. I’ve never had a brake on my bike so that’s all I know, but I don’t think it’s the end all for being “cool”.
Do what’s right for you my friend! The only true posers are the ones who put down others
There’s no need for you to take your brakes off. You can ride fixed with brakes.
I would recommend moving those brake levers down the bars a little. And some nicer pedals.
You’re only a poser if you care what other people think
Nothing’s cooler than a rider knowing their limits and riding with brakes if they want to.
That said, realistically you don’t need a rear brake since the front brake does the majority of the work between the two, plus you have your feet to help slow down the back. Heck, I’ve ridden single speed with front brake only. You will want foot retention, though. Helps with speed control and also prevents a situation where your foot slips off the pedal and then you can’t get it back on because the pedals won’t stop spinning.
Who gives a fuck what other people think? Just fucking ride!
Ignore all the break advice, fixie is a strange cult. Be safe and enjoy.
The only thing that makes someone a poser is if they don’t ride their bike. If you actually ride ur bike you’ll be cooler than half the mfers on this sub.