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Just got back from a quick spin on mine. Legs of jelly after a long downhill leading onto the busiest road in town. I was considering jumping off the bike quite seriously at many a point.
Seems my 50kms return commute should be easy once the brakes are fitted. The only slight problem is there are plenty of hills and no flat bits. Oh, and the lorries.
This should give you some tips on how it's done...
😉
no brakes -> you are going to (1) ride very very slow (2) die
Were you wearing your sister's jeans rolled up?
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No, I didn't. I had baggy shorts as I'd expected a few sketchy moments and didn't want the brown stuff to stay on me.
I have a bike that is fixed. It is fun I must admit. I try to stay off the brakes, but I just don't see how it is possible to do so. Unless you are on track, not in traffic, or in east anglia.
I'm in Ireland where most drivers seem oblivious to cyclists. The idea was to try the bike on the pavements of Drogheda but the tarmac was smoother. Uphill was fun, downhill was scary. Front brake will be fitted tomorrow, rear as soon as I have made a bracket for it, probably within a week.
coincidentally watched that video today! it would have been very weird to be there, armstrong does not seem relaxed at any point, but it was great to see him explode off down that hill, amazing
Hairychested
You are a very brave man. No way on this planet would I attempt to ride my fixie without a front brake.
I'm also don't know how that bit at the end of the vid at 4:34 works as he stops pedalling but the back wheel appears to still go round. Is this some strange fixie zen type skill? Seriously impressive video but I think I'll keep the front brake as these guys must go through a rear tyre a day!
This should give you some tips on how it's done...
Imagine the chain breaking when they're putting the power down at those speeds 0_0
[i]Imagine the chain breaking when they're putting the power down at those speeds 0_0 [/i]
They use thicker chains, 1/8" which are pretty bombproof. I wrecked 2 chain tools the last time I split mine.
Imagine the chain breaking when they're putting the power down at those speeds 0_0
There's a t-shirt for that
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RAOTFLMFAO
Where did that piece of hilarious art work go?
[i]Where did that piece of hilarious art work go? [/i]
I posted it then thought better of it but what the hell...
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They use thicker chains, 1/8" which are pretty bombproof. I wrecked 2 chain tools the last time I split mine.
Yep I know, but I've broken bmx chains (same size/strength) before whilst just pedalling around at a slowish pace, and that was bad enough! Knee to square-edged stem is not enjoyable.
btw I recommend the Park Tools CT1 for 'ard chains, mine has been flawless for years.
😆 Brilliant, ever thought of a carrer creating the newspaper comic strips. 8)
@Hairychested, I thought you promised me you were going to put at least one brake on it!
Fixed gear cycling is fun. I occasionally miss mine.
I will! Have you ever heard of curiosity? Seriously though, I thought I wasn't even going to make it to the traffic lights up the hill so never considered it being silly. And just to annoy TJ I wore a helmet! With a peak. And I didn't get a whiplash 😉
BTW I've found the coil Fox.
Mailed ya HC 🙂
And, I'm pretty sure I rode my fixie around the block before I put a break on it. Fupping terrifying though. Especially when the crank fell off (not my fault - I wasn't the mechanic that time)
Crank falling off and no breaks == not fun
(luckily I was going sloooowly)
A lot of couriers ride fixed without a front brake. Don't know how they do it. I ride with discs front and rear and I've needed to stop very quickly a few times. A friend snapped his downtube throught the lug next to the bottom bracket while braking. Think he rode with a really big gear.
My legs sill hurt and when I close my eyes I can still feel the spinning pedals (alcohol might be at work here, mind).
It's addictive. Must be the endomorphine 8)
I've had to convert my commuting fixie to a single speed as overtime i couldnt fit into jeans or trousers. Not skinny by any means (32" waist) but anything i bought at that size i couldn't get above my thighs due to using my fixie so much 😀
My cute butt is definitely down to my fixie 😀
Lots of couriers do ride fixies without brakes. I remember hearing that a friend clipped a pushchair because they were unable to stop in time (and then they still didn't get a brake, ffs)
Stopping with no brakes = skid
lock the pedals and lean forward a little.
One skid in Fingal = One new tyre needed