Do you brakeless fixtards want to share the road with car drivers who think it's cool to take the brakes off their cars because they would rather use the engine and the clutch to slow down?
I don't, and I don't want to share the road with you irresponsible dumbasses either.
@chumpychumpychump you cant stop a car with the clutch, you need some other form of mechanism, and you also cannot control how fast a car's engine slows down, you can do both with your legs on a fixed gear bike
well of course it's hard to stop when you don't ride fixie. I mess in Chicago and i ride fixie and i prefer to ride it over freewheel or gears. the control comes with experience so you can't just jump on one and know what you're doing. but in the end more control goes to the fixie.
p.s-i've seen so many brake cables snap and then what do you do to stop?
@TheDerekAdam i'd take that risk. it all depends on where your from. there are pros and cons to both. i'm from san francisco and the one person i see that rides a fixed gear to school, takes the bus back home. reason being, once you hit a hill, you're fucked. and if your brake cable snaps, you aren't taking care of your bike enough and deserve to fall, BUT that's what helmets are for. i'm not hating on fixed gears, but i'd get them only to do tricks, not ride them as a normal bike.
@TheDerekAdam if you seen so many brake cables snap, the people riding the bikes with those cables don't know how to take care of a bike. besides you're messing up your tires and risking the chain like the other guy said. chicago flat compared to san francisco, and i don't want to be limited to where i go and i sure as hell aint walking up the hill if i have a road bike. fixed gears aren't bad but they have different uses and both gears and fixies have their pros and cons but i'll take gears.
@TheDerekAdam are you kidding me or what? "seen so many brake cable snap"? i've never heard such a bullsh*t statement in all my life. also, you don't know how to stop a bike without brakes? i've taught 10 year old girls how to stop their bikes if their brakes fail going fast down a hill and they learned to do it flawlessly in no time at all. you call yourself experienced? you can't even do what a ten year old girl can do on a bike....rookie.
I've been longboarding portland for years and guess what longboards/skateboards don't have... Brakes!! You stop in a similar way, with your legs and a skid. A LOT more dangerous than a fixie so everyone can accept that life is full of risks and move on.
@pdxktv when "other people" crash into people or their vehicles, or force them to suddenly jump/turn/brake to avoid a potential collision, I think it is normal to not accept it.
fixies are fun and amazing to ride
just like skateboarding, longboarding, etc
and just like all these vehicles, they can't be ride in the middle of a busy traffic including pedestrians. I'm riding my bike daily for 12 years now, and I can guarantee you'll _really_ need to do a real emergency braking one day.
@pdxktv and by "emergency braking" I'm not saying "oh, let's slow down on 5 meters".
I'm talking of braking for less than 1 second, literally diving on the side (that movement is often done on motorbike to avoid opening doors of parked cars), then countersteering again to avoid falling (if you managed to do it right or could do it in time to avoid falling on the ground).
@pdxktv If a bike only has a coaster brake (and no front brake), if it's circulating in the middle of other cars and pedestrians, it should be fined for not having a sufficient braking system.
Cars have roadworthiness tests and someone without adequate brakes on his car will be fined.
I don't see why bicycles shouldn't follow these basic security rules, like every other vehicles on the road.
@TubeofDestiny If it's all about safetly then cars should be outlawed outright. 40,000+ deaths and countless permanent injuries a year. Show me any relevant figures coaster brake deaths or fixie break deaths or skate board deaths and then maybe I'll listen. Pick your battles and stop being such an up-tight know it all.
@TubeofDestiny I am not too concerned about world war 1 land mines, stairs, or bicycles - but cars threaten my life everyday. I put my energy and concern into real problems, of course, you are fee to waste your time and concern on fixed gear bicycles (a threat less problematic than ww1 land mines.
@pdxktv Cars threaten my life everyday too, with the 4 "real" accidents I had so far (3 being hit'n'run) I almost lost my left eye (close shave, 3 cm closer and I was a pirate .-] ) and my two front teeth are still slightly misaligned because of some dangerous car drivers.
That doesn't mean other vehicles shouldn't behave correctly. You posted a video to denounce an unfair treatment of fixies, you get answers regarding fixies and why their braking system IS a problem. Dealwithit.bro
@pdxktv And there's no "know it all" when you're talking about very basic driving characteristics such as friction force, braking ratio or braking distance. That's basic knowledge.
If you don't know, or don't want to hear about these elements, you are a danger on the road and shouldn't be allowed to drive a vehicle on public roads.
I prefer to ride my bike next to cars and trucks drivers who know what they are doing, rather than riding next to a bicyclist refusing to admit reality.
@pdxktv Also, you're saying "Show me any relevant figures coaster brake deaths or fixie break deaths or skate board deaths and then maybe I'll listen", revealing the way you see road safety : yourself, yourself and yourself.
Who cares if a stupid bike is forcing a car to make a sudden avoidance maneuvers, which kills a pedestrians ?
Who cares if a fixie is forcing a pedestrian to jump out of the way to avoid a collision ?
@pdxktv Having an adequate braking system, slowing down/stopping the vehicle on the shortest distance possible while maintaining stability and direction control is one of these rules.
When you refuse to follow that rule, you're putting EVERYONE AT RISK.
For the simple reason that other vehicles do NOT want to hit your bike nor injure/kill you, because :
Fixies should get a front brake, even if it won't be perfect : it's going to be hard (and a little painful for the leg at first) to get that 30% of braking power on the rear wheel, while giving the 70% to the front wheel.
That way Fixies can still brake only with the rear wheel when the situation allows it (slow speed, long available distance, light traffic), but can have an efficient braking system (with front and rear brakes) when the situation requires it.
Or braking so hard that the rear wheel (finally) goes up in the air (bike is in vertical position), then you either grab the saddle (if you're lucky/trained) and stabilize (stoppie style), or fall forward.
Such emergency braking saved from a strong collision several pedestrians who suddenly crossed the road "by ear" (and since a bike doesn't make much sound...), while I avoided 5 or 6 collisions with cars thanks to my well-maintained fine-tuned standard V-brakes.
- only 1 slowed-down tire is touching the ground. That's already only 50% of possible friction force.
- braking ratio is 70% front, 30% rear for maximum stability while braking.
- to maintain control over the direction of the bike, you have to put your weight on the front wheel (to accelerate countersteering). On fixies, you must force your weight on the rear one to increase friction force.
When braking, your weight shifts to the front, providing more traction to the front tire and less to the rear. Ride whatever you like but at least equip it with a front brake!
I have two disc brakes and I can stop on a penny... you cannot stop as efficiently on a brakeless bike and that is a fact. It is nothing but a badge of honour among fashion conscious numpties, as adding a brake to a fixie would cause fixie riders no grief at all. Berlin actually banned brakeless bikes... Berlin... uber-liberal, uber-laid-back BERLIN!!! The place where brothels are legal but brakeless bikes are not. That speaks volumes.
@GhibliFan1 All those "brakeless" hipsters were truly a menace to Berlin. Not a day went by where you'd see the horror first hand, seriously! I feel much safer scoring heroin and prostitutes now that the law is in effect!!!!
@pdxktv Well at least sex with a prostitute (with protection) and smoking heroin (while being inadvisable) won't kill you. Hitting a car as your ineffective skid stop doesn't bring you to a halt quick enough can. It is not too much for the law to require at least one working brake, is it?
@GhibliFan1 (1of2) First, site an examples of this being an actual problem. Second, should other bikes with out friction brakes be outlawed as well? - eg, coasters, push bikes, stunt bikes. After all these years I still don't know why people get their panties in such a bunch over such an insignificant issue. Do we have to legislate every last fucking thing?
@GhibliFan1 (2of2) The truth of this story is that cops were hassling messengers, messengers followed the letter of the law and cops no longer ticket for this. If it's such a big problem in your town I suggest you get crackin'. I think happen there is better things to do than hassle cyclists. I think we should be thanking them. Don't you?
@pdxktv I'm a cyclist myself. I just don't think a brake is too much to ask for. This biased video comparing traditional brakes with a skid stop won't sway me on that point. I've tried fixies and skid stopping and the stopping power is incomparable to two brakes. Like I said in another post, I can stop on a penny. The other week a cat shot in front of me and I halted before I even thought about it. I even surprised myself. No way could I have contorted my body into a skid stop position in time.
@GhibliFan1 it's not a traditional brake it's a very common coaster brake and they have about the same efficacy. Should coaster brakes be outlawed, too? Yes or no?
@pdxktv Ah, a coaster brake. So you chose to compare the skid stop with the comparatively inefficient, least popular style of brake to prove that a fixie with no brakes has equal stopping power to a 'normal' bike? Crafty... I see what you did there. As for the comment "one of the most common brakes on childrens/adult bikes".... wtf? It's a while since I even saw one. Rim brakes are FAR more popular, and disc brakes increasingly so. I'd have no issue with the law requiring one rim or disc brake.
Further, if a chain brakes while a fixie is skid stopping the rider is more or less fucked, placing other road users in needless danger. Two brakes simultaneously failing just won't happen. You talk as though I'm asking for them to be banished from the road... I'm not. Just have at least one bloody brake... if only as a back up. Fucking with the fixie/messenger hipster mojo is the real problem here, truth be told. Well fuck that, fella... I have no qualms doing that in the interests of safety!
@GhibliFan1 So, based on what you are saying, coaster brake bikes should also be required to have a rim or disc brake? Certainly if the chain breaks on a coaster brake bike you are screwed.
BTW, I own two coaster brake bikes. Let me when is your busy-body brigade coming by to force me to put on hand brakes?
Oh, by the way, You still have not cited any examples of this being a real is issue.
If you want to ride with no brakes, well you're an idiot and should accept the consequences. It is illegal for a reason. Just pay the fucking ticket and shut up.
For what it's worth of my bikes has no brakes and I ride it all the time. But if I got a ticket on it I wouldn't be moaning on youtube like a little babby.
EVERYTHING is dangerous with morons in control. Here in Vegas I ride fixed gear and I have no problems whatsoever besides retards who think they OWN the road with their cars when it's the law that cars have to yield to cyclists. Just because they outnumber me 10,000 to 1 doesn't mean I don't have rights. People who can't fucking yield to cyclists should have their licenses revoked if I should have to use hand breaks against my will.
All it takes is a broken chain or cog slip to kill someone on a fixie. There's NO reason not to put at least an emergency front brake. If you feel confident skidding then good for you, but the rest of us don't trust you in that silly messenger hat.
That's also a potential problem with coaster brakes. Sure, a chain should last a very long time with proper cleaning and lubrication, and shouldn't slip off if it's kept correctly tightened and aligned, but all it takes is one weak link in the bunch and then you're screwed. But handbrakes would have to be pretty badly worn or loose before they fail, and you have plenty of advance notice to fix them.
My disc brakes stop me on a penny... as would a decent rim brake. Would it kill fixie riders to use one of either? I imagine they'd stop quicker employing both back force and a conventional brake? I mean at the end of the day, it is fashion and 'hipness' they're unwilling to sacrifice...let's face it. I get the thing about minimalism and being maintenance free, but a single rim brake isn't anything at all to maintain... is it?
I really wanna buy/make a fixie bike, but I'm a bit conserned about safety and the fact that I where I live I have a lot of hills. Would this make it difficult for me to ride a fixie?
You could use a gear that's low enough to get up a hill without too much effort. When descending a steep hill, however, the bike is likely to end up riding you. Fixed gear bikes (like regular single-speed bikes) are really best used on relatively flat roads.
While I think skilled fixie cyclists should be left alone, I often encounter fixie defenders ignoring or playing down the facts of physics.
A fixie without additional brakes comes to a stop way, way slower than a two braked bike. The difference is not even funny, fixie compared to a full set of brakes will look like a dangerous joke.
Hit the brakes on a car while driving on ice and you will slide usually until some obstacle stops you, following the letter of the law but NOT common sense.
"Hit the brakes on a car while driving on ice and you will slide usually until some obstacle stops you"
You're thinking about old fashioned standard disc/drum brakes. With modern anti-lock brakes, holding the brake pedal all the way down in an emergency stop is exactly the correct thing to do.
What a load of crap,you can only stop like that with a low gear,too low for serious riding,get a front brake saves flatting tyres too.Utterly pathetic what people will do to be "cool".
How is not having brakes safer when riding downtown? I can understand having a fixed gear bike, but you would think the ability to stop faster would be the safest thing.
acquiring as much attention as possible is thee ultimate pdx hipster goal...leave it to portland androgynous hipsters to come up with a new way to avoid common sense.........................................funniest three words i've heard together in a while: professional bike messenger
did the coaster break rider use both breaks or just one?
thats a pretty important part of the comparison, i dont see why you wouldnt have a front break on a fixed gear, its not like your going to be handlebar spinning on the job.
C'mon, the law already mandates helmets for motorcyclists, and seatbelts for the cage jockeys. When it comes to road safety, our nanny state has been punishing people for their own good for at least 20 years now. Nothing really new about a rule which would require bike brakes.
@logik316 Right, bike brake rules have been around since the 19th century. The messengers claim they meet the letter of the law. Just to update - this case never went anywhere and the cops don't ticket for it anymore. In fact, the Portland Police have really changed their stance against cyclists in the last few years (thank goodness).
Man , I don't have anything with fixed bikes , but from my point of view you can brake in a shorter distance with a rim brake or a disk brake . Your fixed bike breaks with your rear tire not with both of them and if it's wet you can lose grip . Also if you are hited by a mirror and you lean on a side , it's very hard to stop .What do you think ?
Here in Finland the usual sight to behold is a bike with a coaster brake. These 20 - 40 year old bikes that are so simple that they refuse to die (as long as you just inflate the tires) are good enough for many people. Rest are cheap horrible Scott's or other crappy "MTB"'s.
In theory, fixed gear should be the worst possible braking system. In most situations, sure, it will stop you, but skidding is not as effective as a proper non-skidding braking.
Surely as she can skid the bike, a mechanism exists? If, under Oregon law, it doesn't matter how, she could use an freaking anchor if she wants. An interesting test would be a stop from 30mph versus a car. If she can stop faster than that then surely no-one can argue.
I compared my dura-ace front-break's breaking power with my friends fixie and when i was already standing he was still skidding away for a couple of seconds lol
Great great demonstration of fixie versus coaster bike. But why not have a hand break on that there fixie to (besides) make it legal and protect you when the chain breaks?
i didnt follow your whole discussion but i read this comment and just wanted to point out that a significant proportion (if not majority) of bicyclyes in the netherlands use coasterbrakes. which would mean hundreds of thousands, if not millions of adult bicycles with coaster brakes
assuming he is reading the law correctly it says you must have a mechanism that allows you to come to a skidding stop on dry pavement. The simple fact that she can come to a skidding stop means she follows the law. the mechanism? the fixed drivetrain plus her legs. "but the drivetrain isnt going to stop the bike on its own you need legs" every braking mechanism needs some sort of human interaction and most bikes will stop around the same time if they come o a skidding stop
Coaster brakes are NOT common on adult bicycles and haven't been for over 30 or 40 years. They are adequate for children's bicycles going low speed, not for riding in traffic. You're comparing the fixed gear bicycle with an out of date and inadequate braking mechanism. Lets see how they perform with what IS a common braking system for adult's bicycles - the rim brake.
@pdxktv A coaster break is less prone to failure than fixed cog threads and chains incorrectly stressed. This video states that coaster brakes are "probably one of the most common types of brakes you will see on children's bikes, adult's bikes, one speeds" which is factually incorrect. If you had stopped at "children's bikes" it would be true, and naturally all coaster equipped bicycles are by the very nature of the mechanism 'one speed' bicycles. I'll need to split my reply...
@standinwater Secondly you state the law requires a mechanism for bringing the bicycle to a skid. There is no such device here, only reversing the drive train. A coaster break requires merely a short back pedal to engage the mechanism, a rim brake a hand squeeze. A fixie requires fighting the forward momentum of the wheel's movement and significant force.
@standinwater I will actually stick with my original statement. I worked for Huffy and I can tell you that coaster brakes are still used common in adult bikes, eg, beach cruisers.
Is this set up optimum? Does not matter.. It meets the letter of the law. The drive chain is the mechanism.
Failure is rare and would merit the same result to a coaster.
But really, what's the fuss? A handful of messengers riding on 20 MPH streets and some stunt riders. I just don't see the menace.
@pdxktv Huffy? Beach cruiser? As an aside, thanks the for Walmart toys that look like bicycles. She's riding neither and a bike courier would be out of work by going 20mph. The drive chain is drive chain. On a coaster it is activating a mechanism by back pedaling, on a fixie it does not activate a mechanism. I don't drive, but I suppose throwing a car in reverse is using the drive shaft as a braking mechanism by that logic. I suppose we don't need brake drums on those anymore either.
@pdxktv I will mention that my statement about Huffy is irrelevant to the "is this a braking mechanism" discussion, nor am I personally deriding you. I will point out that Huffy is a low-end bicycle manufacturer selling only to casual riders and thus is not common. I also happen to agree with the judge in this case that the drive train is not in itself a braking mechanism. Not the point I was originally making, but you asked me if they should outlaw coaster brakes as well, so my answer is no.
@standinwater living in the netherlands, I can tell you, most people still ride with coaster brakes since its less to worry about breaking or having your cables cut. I can stop much faster using a coaster brake than any other, and I ride quite fast, but that may just be me! I like to skid :)
assuming he is reading the law correctly it says you must have a mechanism that allows you to come to a skidding stop on dry pavement. The simple fact that she can come to a skidding stop means she follows the law. the mechanism? the fixed drivetrain plus her legs. "but the drivetrain isnt going to stop the bike on its own you need legs" every braking mechanism needs some sort of human interaction and most bikes will stop around the same time if they come o a skidding stop
@ripousse well when your on a piece of wood going down a hill, its pretty fast. and some extreme longboarders go to the mountains and go down hills and go up to 90 easy
@Devin032 which is why a longboard is not considered a vehicle in most areas - eg you cant operate it in traffic. i dont see how you can consider a skateboard to a bicycle that is used much more often. do you ride that thing 10-20k a year? how often are you going hella fast? the increased mass of a bike, plus cargo, plus rider is more than a skateboard, so the energy needed to stop it is much more than your board.
Track bikes are great, but you are nuts if you ride on the street without at least 1 rim, disc, spoon, drum, or coaster brake. Sticking your shoe on the tire or using your ass for a brake pad doesn't count.
Yes I know how fixed wheel bikes work. I ride them sometimes. I still think its nuts to ride without rim brakes.
A front brake works great in combination with the fixed gear. If you pull the brake too hard, causing the rear wheel to lift off the ground, you will notice immediately because of the fixed gear. It's almost like you turn into an organic ABS brake system.
Even though I think Ayla complies with the law with her bike (the point of the video)-- from the arguments I've seen here I'd probably recommend getting a front brake, especially if you are inexperienced with a fixie.
you probably want to leave a brake on while youre getting used to it. most people keep it on forever just in case, you dont have to use it, but its good to have.
the coaster brake is way more efficient than the skidding. as you can easliy see "ayla" started skidding about 6 feet earlier. in addition coaster brakes are the worst of all the brake systems. i dont understand why people dont put brakes on their front wheel. you can brake more efficiently and you can still skid when you want to...
Its efficient if you don't have the muscle to stop on a fixed gear. Thats why some people including me, ride with a front brake, even though I rarely use it since the brake shoes will wear out faster than my tire. The reason coaster brakes are actually unpreferable is because the cause a lot of internal friction and will do a lot more damage in the long run than a fixed gear.
@eteokles3 its not a coaster break dumbass. its a FIXED GEAR which means you are always pedaling. with conventional breaks you cannot control your skid. fixies have complete feel throughout the bike. as a bike messenger in denver for 4 years, i always rode breakless because i could depend on my legs to stop me.
didnt mean the track bike, idiot! learn to read, you wouldve notice that i meant the other bike which indeed has a coaster break and stops faster than the fixed gear mr. super messenger!!!!
i'm an avid mt/road/fixie rider in utah, and there is NO way that you can effectively stop a fixed gear bike by skidding, like you can a braked fixed gear. put ayla on even a minor hill, and she'll be paper-boying back and forth into traffic...either that, or lying in the grass after crashing into the curb. no disrespect, but you're argument is ridiculous, and has no merit. pay the fine!
Ayla only skids in this video in order to show that she meets the letter of the Oregon law.
There are several messengers who ride these type of fixies in Portland. There has been only one significant messenger accident in the last 5-years and it had nothing to do with brakes.
I care because two motorcycle cops decided to hassle the messengers and others by writing tickets for any infraction they could. That was 2006 -now they are not.
You wanna side with the dicks? Please stay in Utah.
@pdxktv how about a comparison with rim brakes with good pads. i can guarantee that you can't stop as fast. the law needs to be changed, but i guess they assumed people would have some degree of commonsense.
if i wanted to remove the rear brakes on my car should i be allowed? no, even though i can still stop almost as quickly. if bikes want to be taken seriously, they should try to pick their arguments better.
i just got a fixie today, and i was practicing skidding and i know what to do i just dont knkow HOW to do it. lean foward and lock up legs. i dont get it. someone explain
Fuck what the law says. Use some common sense. The front brake does most of the stopping so slap a brake on. Your hands react faster than your feet and your feet must be at a certain position to initiate the skid. Therefore skid stopping is retarded and so are coaster brakes. Coaster bikes should have a front brake too. I hate when ppl say "I have complete control over my bike when I ride fixie" wtf? Is she on pills? If I have brakes that can stop on a dime I have less control over my bike?
Note: With the addition of a front brake you also get 70% more braking power than a rear brake (even a mechanical, disc, or coaster brake) by itself.
When a rear brake is locked by itself it has a tendency to want to swing around towards the front and during that time you have to counter steer the bike while coming to a halt. That's why when you engage a car's brakes the front ones come into play, not the rear - unless you want to do a bootlegger with your e-brake.
although im sure it looks hip to not have brakes, i've seen a lot of these pinheads crash, not to mention that slowing your pedaling without breaks puts a great deal of stress on your knees and you will pay the price years later. Just throw the front brake... doesn't mean you have to use it, unless of course you like to be defiant to the police and get expensive tickets just to prove a point.
My front brake has saved my life on more than one occasion. city streets are not velodromes.
Something I just thought of... a front hand brake would NOT fill the letter of the law, as your bike will flip before you could make it skip on clean, dry pavement. Food for thought.
Apearently I did a craptastic job on this video becuase no one ever gets the point. The point is that a fixed gear bike meets the letter of the Oregon law for a brake mechanism and can skid on dry pavement. The fact and it can stop as efficiently as a coaster brake just helps illustrate effectiveness against another common single brake bike that would never be selectively ticketed.
In the Summer off 2006 two Portland officers were out to ticket as many messengers as possible.
ive just started riding a fixie and really you don't use your brake too much. I just find it easier to slow down my pedaling using strength you stop at about the same time as a hand break. (you get really tired though)
i mean not even skidding but most of us were i ride tred shred (putting ur back foot on the tire) for basic stops to save our tires, maybe he should show that.
weak, i have ridden no brake for 12 years, bmx and fixie, i can stop on a dime, but i have the skill, if you dont brakes are for you! give up the bitching and trying to be cool do what feels right
I don't care how you look at it, it's still more dangerous, and there's no good reason to not have a brake. STYLE is not a good reason to risk life and limb. - Oh, and there's 500 hundred bikes in my shop right now and three of them have coaster brakes. Do your 'scientific test' compared to a side pull caliper brake like the one I have on my fixed gear.
You're right. I would then say they're both dangerous. Let's be glad they've only figured that out about fixed gears so they don't start outlawing bikes all together. I understand it's super hip to roll up to the coffee shop on a fixed gear right now, and you have to do what you have to do, but be safe and don't ruin it for the rest of us.
But why not ride with brakes? I'm a fixie rider and i don't see the benefit of commuting brakeless, especially in wet or hilly places. I tried riding brakeless and I sprained my wrist and cut up my face terribly.
No, I was merely making a point about the braking comparison being intentionally biased. A large majority of bicycles these days use caliper/V-/U-brakes which will consistently stop a bike+rider in a much shorter distance than coaster brakes or a fixed skid when traveling at speed. They are also much easier to modulate than a skid or coaster. Thank you for at least having a proper brake though, please enjoy your bike(s) and your rides on it (them).
The point of the video is not that fixed gear braking is the safest, most efficient way to brake. It's not.
The point is that messengers are being busted even though they follow the letter of law and that they can brake as good many other bikes that still use the roads these days.
It surprises me how many times people miss this point. Is in not clear?
What's more, is why do people get SO bent out of shape about it. It amazing how many hall monitors we have running around here.
It is not a U.S. law, but it is essentially the same law in every state; just as there is no U.S. law requiring a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle, but every state has one.
It shouldn't be illegal, because a fixed gear bike DOES have a brake (look up the meaning of the word); however, the problem lies in a)many people do not understand fixed gears and b)even fewer are able to operate the brake within the requirements of the law.
All of those are bullshit reasons to make her look rational, the real reason is that FIXIES ARE FUCKIN SEXY
Oolliwan14 2 months ago 2
Do you brakeless fixtards want to share the road with car drivers who think it's cool to take the brakes off their cars because they would rather use the engine and the clutch to slow down?
I don't, and I don't want to share the road with you irresponsible dumbasses either.
chumpychumpychump 2 months ago
@chumpychumpychump I don't think anybody is advocating for that nor is there any similarity.
pdxktv 2 months ago 3
@chumpychumpychump you cant stop a car with the clutch, you need some other form of mechanism, and you also cannot control how fast a car's engine slows down, you can do both with your legs on a fixed gear bike
Doodlebugyro 2 months ago
well of course it's hard to stop when you don't ride fixie. I mess in Chicago and i ride fixie and i prefer to ride it over freewheel or gears. the control comes with experience so you can't just jump on one and know what you're doing. but in the end more control goes to the fixie.
p.s-i've seen so many brake cables snap and then what do you do to stop?
FIX GEAR ALL THE WAY!!
TheDerekAdam 3 months ago
@TheDerekAdam chains snap too. your argument is invalid
rapelpecho 3 months ago
@TheDerekAdam answer: the other brake
rapelpecho 3 months ago
@TheDerekAdam i'd take that risk. it all depends on where your from. there are pros and cons to both. i'm from san francisco and the one person i see that rides a fixed gear to school, takes the bus back home. reason being, once you hit a hill, you're fucked. and if your brake cable snaps, you aren't taking care of your bike enough and deserve to fall, BUT that's what helmets are for. i'm not hating on fixed gears, but i'd get them only to do tricks, not ride them as a normal bike.
brandeezy108 1 month ago
@TheDerekAdam if you seen so many brake cables snap, the people riding the bikes with those cables don't know how to take care of a bike. besides you're messing up your tires and risking the chain like the other guy said. chicago flat compared to san francisco, and i don't want to be limited to where i go and i sure as hell aint walking up the hill if i have a road bike. fixed gears aren't bad but they have different uses and both gears and fixies have their pros and cons but i'll take gears.
brandeezy108 1 month ago
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BUSTRCHERRY 1 week ago
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BUSTRCHERRY 1 week ago
@TheDerekAdam are you kidding me or what? "seen so many brake cable snap"? i've never heard such a bullsh*t statement in all my life. also, you don't know how to stop a bike without brakes? i've taught 10 year old girls how to stop their bikes if their brakes fail going fast down a hill and they learned to do it flawlessly in no time at all. you call yourself experienced? you can't even do what a ten year old girl can do on a bike....rookie.
BUSTRCHERRY 1 week ago
I've been longboarding portland for years and guess what longboards/skateboards don't have... Brakes!! You stop in a similar way, with your legs and a skid. A LOT more dangerous than a fixie so everyone can accept that life is full of risks and move on.
bmathers21 4 months ago 3
@bmathers21 Sadly, some people just can't accept that - especially when it comes to "other people".
pdxktv 4 months ago
@pdxktv when "other people" crash into people or their vehicles, or force them to suddenly jump/turn/brake to avoid a potential collision, I think it is normal to not accept it.
fixies are fun and amazing to ride
just like skateboarding, longboarding, etc
and just like all these vehicles, they can't be ride in the middle of a busy traffic including pedestrians. I'm riding my bike daily for 12 years now, and I can guarantee you'll _really_ need to do a real emergency braking one day.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv and by "emergency braking" I'm not saying "oh, let's slow down on 5 meters".
I'm talking of braking for less than 1 second, literally diving on the side (that movement is often done on motorbike to avoid opening doors of parked cars), then countersteering again to avoid falling (if you managed to do it right or could do it in time to avoid falling on the ground).
[part 3 next]
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@TubeofDestiny Do you think fixed gear braking only should be outllawed? Would you say that bikes that only have a coaster brake be outlawed?
pdxktv 6 days ago
@pdxktv If a bike only has a coaster brake (and no front brake), if it's circulating in the middle of other cars and pedestrians, it should be fined for not having a sufficient braking system.
Cars have roadworthiness tests and someone without adequate brakes on his car will be fined.
I don't see why bicycles shouldn't follow these basic security rules, like every other vehicles on the road.
[part B =>]
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@TubeofDestiny If it's all about safetly then cars should be outlawed outright. 40,000+ deaths and countless permanent injuries a year. Show me any relevant figures coaster brake deaths or fixie break deaths or skate board deaths and then maybe I'll listen. Pick your battles and stop being such an up-tight know it all.
pdxktv 6 days ago
@pdxktv Ha, Youtube comments.
Doesn't it occured to you that there is 240 millions of cars in the US ?
That cars are used much more often to cover distances than bikes ?
That cars cover much more distance and carry more weight ?
In the US:
> More than 1 000 people die each year because of stairs
> No death by a WW1 landmine have been reported for years.
= Therefore, stairs are more dangerous and should be banned, while WW1 landmine are not dangerous and shouldn't be regulated at all.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@TubeofDestiny I am not too concerned about world war 1 land mines, stairs, or bicycles - but cars threaten my life everyday. I put my energy and concern into real problems, of course, you are fee to waste your time and concern on fixed gear bicycles (a threat less problematic than ww1 land mines.
pdxktv 5 days ago
Comment removed
TubeofDestiny 5 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@pdxktv Cars threaten my life everyday too, with the 4 "real" accidents I had so far (3 being hit'n'run) I almost lost my left eye (close shave, 3 cm closer and I was a pirate .-] ) and my two front teeth are still slightly misaligned because of some dangerous car drivers.
That doesn't mean other vehicles shouldn't behave correctly. You posted a video to denounce an unfair treatment of fixies, you get answers regarding fixies and why their braking system IS a problem. Dealwithit.bro
TubeofDestiny 5 days ago
@pdxktv And there's no "know it all" when you're talking about very basic driving characteristics such as friction force, braking ratio or braking distance. That's basic knowledge.
If you don't know, or don't want to hear about these elements, you are a danger on the road and shouldn't be allowed to drive a vehicle on public roads.
I prefer to ride my bike next to cars and trucks drivers who know what they are doing, rather than riding next to a bicyclist refusing to admit reality.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv Also, you're saying "Show me any relevant figures coaster brake deaths or fixie break deaths or skate board deaths and then maybe I'll listen", revealing the way you see road safety : yourself, yourself and yourself.
Who cares if a stupid bike is forcing a car to make a sudden avoidance maneuvers, which kills a pedestrians ?
Who cares if a fixie is forcing a pedestrian to jump out of the way to avoid a collision ?
Road have to be shared, that's why there's rules.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv Having an adequate braking system, slowing down/stopping the vehicle on the shortest distance possible while maintaining stability and direction control is one of these rules.
When you refuse to follow that rule, you're putting EVERYONE AT RISK.
For the simple reason that other vehicles do NOT want to hit your bike nor injure/kill you, because :
1) They want to share the road
2) They don't want to harm other humans
3) They can be jailed for that
Don't be a danger please.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv [part B =>]
Fixies should get a front brake, even if it won't be perfect : it's going to be hard (and a little painful for the leg at first) to get that 30% of braking power on the rear wheel, while giving the 70% to the front wheel.
That way Fixies can still brake only with the rear wheel when the situation allows it (slow speed, long available distance, light traffic), but can have an efficient braking system (with front and rear brakes) when the situation requires it.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv [part 3]
Or braking so hard that the rear wheel (finally) goes up in the air (bike is in vertical position), then you either grab the saddle (if you're lucky/trained) and stabilize (stoppie style), or fall forward.
Such emergency braking saved from a strong collision several pedestrians who suddenly crossed the road "by ear" (and since a bike doesn't make much sound...), while I avoided 5 or 6 collisions with cars thanks to my well-maintained fine-tuned standard V-brakes.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
@pdxktv Fixies can't do such emergency braking :
- only 1 slowed-down tire is touching the ground. That's already only 50% of possible friction force.
- braking ratio is 70% front, 30% rear for maximum stability while braking.
- to maintain control over the direction of the bike, you have to put your weight on the front wheel (to accelerate countersteering). On fixies, you must force your weight on the rear one to increase friction force.
Fixies braking : less efficient, less stable.
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
Comment removed
TubeofDestiny 6 days ago
is that a girl?
smartz1234 4 months ago
need to have a strong leg men???
TheSupoh 4 months ago
When braking, your weight shifts to the front, providing more traction to the front tire and less to the rear. Ride whatever you like but at least equip it with a front brake!
lefebureniels 5 months ago
She deserves hard time. Public health threat.
LEV1ATHYN 5 months ago
I have two disc brakes and I can stop on a penny... you cannot stop as efficiently on a brakeless bike and that is a fact. It is nothing but a badge of honour among fashion conscious numpties, as adding a brake to a fixie would cause fixie riders no grief at all. Berlin actually banned brakeless bikes... Berlin... uber-liberal, uber-laid-back BERLIN!!! The place where brothels are legal but brakeless bikes are not. That speaks volumes.
GhibliFan1 5 months ago
@GhibliFan1 All those "brakeless" hipsters were truly a menace to Berlin. Not a day went by where you'd see the horror first hand, seriously! I feel much safer scoring heroin and prostitutes now that the law is in effect!!!!
pdxktv 5 months ago
@pdxktv Well at least sex with a prostitute (with protection) and smoking heroin (while being inadvisable) won't kill you. Hitting a car as your ineffective skid stop doesn't bring you to a halt quick enough can. It is not too much for the law to require at least one working brake, is it?
GhibliFan1 5 months ago
@GhibliFan1 (1of2) First, site an examples of this being an actual problem. Second, should other bikes with out friction brakes be outlawed as well? - eg, coasters, push bikes, stunt bikes. After all these years I still don't know why people get their panties in such a bunch over such an insignificant issue. Do we have to legislate every last fucking thing?
pdxktv 5 months ago
@GhibliFan1 (2of2) The truth of this story is that cops were hassling messengers, messengers followed the letter of the law and cops no longer ticket for this. If it's such a big problem in your town I suggest you get crackin'. I think happen there is better things to do than hassle cyclists. I think we should be thanking them. Don't you?
pdxktv 5 months ago
@pdxktv I'm a cyclist myself. I just don't think a brake is too much to ask for. This biased video comparing traditional brakes with a skid stop won't sway me on that point. I've tried fixies and skid stopping and the stopping power is incomparable to two brakes. Like I said in another post, I can stop on a penny. The other week a cat shot in front of me and I halted before I even thought about it. I even surprised myself. No way could I have contorted my body into a skid stop position in time.
GhibliFan1 5 months ago
@GhibliFan1 it's not a traditional brake it's a very common coaster brake and they have about the same efficacy. Should coaster brakes be outlawed, too? Yes or no?
pdxktv 5 months ago
@pdxktv Ah, a coaster brake. So you chose to compare the skid stop with the comparatively inefficient, least popular style of brake to prove that a fixie with no brakes has equal stopping power to a 'normal' bike? Crafty... I see what you did there. As for the comment "one of the most common brakes on childrens/adult bikes".... wtf? It's a while since I even saw one. Rim brakes are FAR more popular, and disc brakes increasingly so. I'd have no issue with the law requiring one rim or disc brake.
GhibliFan1 5 months ago
Further, if a chain brakes while a fixie is skid stopping the rider is more or less fucked, placing other road users in needless danger. Two brakes simultaneously failing just won't happen. You talk as though I'm asking for them to be banished from the road... I'm not. Just have at least one bloody brake... if only as a back up. Fucking with the fixie/messenger hipster mojo is the real problem here, truth be told. Well fuck that, fella... I have no qualms doing that in the interests of safety!
GhibliFan1 5 months ago
@GhibliFan1 So, based on what you are saying, coaster brake bikes should also be required to have a rim or disc brake? Certainly if the chain breaks on a coaster brake bike you are screwed.
BTW, I own two coaster brake bikes. Let me when is your busy-body brigade coming by to force me to put on hand brakes?
Oh, by the way, You still have not cited any examples of this being a real is issue.
pdxktv 5 months ago
If you want to ride with no brakes, well you're an idiot and should accept the consequences. It is illegal for a reason. Just pay the fucking ticket and shut up.
For what it's worth of my bikes has no brakes and I ride it all the time. But if I got a ticket on it I wouldn't be moaning on youtube like a little babby.
devilselbow 5 months ago
@devilselbow For what it's worth Portland Police don't ticket for this anymore. Good thing we're not all pussy-cats like you.
pdxktv 5 months ago
EVERYTHING is dangerous with morons in control. Here in Vegas I ride fixed gear and I have no problems whatsoever besides retards who think they OWN the road with their cars when it's the law that cars have to yield to cyclists. Just because they outnumber me 10,000 to 1 doesn't mean I don't have rights. People who can't fucking yield to cyclists should have their licenses revoked if I should have to use hand breaks against my will.
thegr8pulido 5 months ago
control over wet things, thats wat she said
TheChazinator101 6 months ago
Why not just go back to the old penny farthing? No chain needed, now that was a minimalist bike.
Oh, and even that had brakes.
logik316 6 months ago
@logik316 Actually, many riders use their shoes against the wheel for braking on hi-wheel bikes. I guess those should be outlawed too.
pdxktv 6 months ago
All it takes is a broken chain or cog slip to kill someone on a fixie. There's NO reason not to put at least an emergency front brake. If you feel confident skidding then good for you, but the rest of us don't trust you in that silly messenger hat.
w00tkid 6 months ago
Till your chain pops off at 35mph approaching a busy intersection on a down hill grade.
40DegreeShoulder 6 months ago
@40DegreeShoulder
That's also a potential problem with coaster brakes. Sure, a chain should last a very long time with proper cleaning and lubrication, and shouldn't slip off if it's kept correctly tightened and aligned, but all it takes is one weak link in the bunch and then you're screwed. But handbrakes would have to be pretty badly worn or loose before they fail, and you have plenty of advance notice to fix them.
logik316 6 months ago
soo wt about wet assfault
MrSHUFFLEKIDD 7 months ago
My disc brakes stop me on a penny... as would a decent rim brake. Would it kill fixie riders to use one of either? I imagine they'd stop quicker employing both back force and a conventional brake? I mean at the end of the day, it is fashion and 'hipness' they're unwilling to sacrifice...let's face it. I get the thing about minimalism and being maintenance free, but a single rim brake isn't anything at all to maintain... is it?
GhibliFan1 7 months ago 2
If she can break so well, why does she lean forward to take all the weight off the rear wheel and thus making skidding totally useless?
Come on dude, that 20 meter stopping distance is pathetic.
SatanSucks 7 months ago
now let me try stopping on my dual disc mountainbike..
BleedingSunday 8 months ago
I really wanna buy/make a fixie bike, but I'm a bit conserned about safety and the fact that I where I live I have a lot of hills. Would this make it difficult for me to ride a fixie?
Mewfan 9 months ago
@Mewfan not if you have brakes. But remember, even people with brakes get into accidents.
ajrico3230 9 months ago
@Mewfan
You could use a gear that's low enough to get up a hill without too much effort. When descending a steep hill, however, the bike is likely to end up riding you. Fixed gear bikes (like regular single-speed bikes) are really best used on relatively flat roads.
logik316 6 months ago
While I think skilled fixie cyclists should be left alone, I often encounter fixie defenders ignoring or playing down the facts of physics.
A fixie without additional brakes comes to a stop way, way slower than a two braked bike. The difference is not even funny, fixie compared to a full set of brakes will look like a dangerous joke.
Hit the brakes on a car while driving on ice and you will slide usually until some obstacle stops you, following the letter of the law but NOT common sense.
latuman 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@latuman
"Hit the brakes on a car while driving on ice and you will slide usually until some obstacle stops you"
You're thinking about old fashioned standard disc/drum brakes. With modern anti-lock brakes, holding the brake pedal all the way down in an emergency stop is exactly the correct thing to do.
logik316 6 months ago
What a load of crap,you can only stop like that with a low gear,too low for serious riding,get a front brake saves flatting tyres too.Utterly pathetic what people will do to be "cool".
trant711 10 months ago
How is not having brakes safer when riding downtown? I can understand having a fixed gear bike, but you would think the ability to stop faster would be the safest thing.
ChevyDerald 10 months ago
acquiring as much attention as possible is thee ultimate pdx hipster goal...leave it to portland androgynous hipsters to come up with a new way to avoid common sense.........................................funniest three words i've heard together in a while: professional bike messenger
KIPWINGER17 1 year ago
got a question, how long a tyre need to be changed? cos i guess skidding everytime for brake just spoil up the tyre, isn,it?
alesydney 1 year ago
@alesydney the skidding was just for the video to prove that the fixed gear meets the letter of the law (skidding on dry pavement).
pdxktv 1 year ago
@twostepsteezy LOL okay thanks!
pnoiBOT 1 year ago
Fixies are a bunch of idiots.
shockey957 1 year ago
Got a fu manchu for sale. $80 in NE portland oregon. call me 503-422-3906
TheLeightonh 1 year ago
did the coaster break rider use both breaks or just one?
thats a pretty important part of the comparison, i dont see why you wouldnt have a front break on a fixed gear, its not like your going to be handlebar spinning on the job.
TehShadower 1 year ago
@TehShadower only the coaster brake was used.
I tend to agree but I also don't think it should be mandated by law.
pdxktv 1 year ago
@pdxktv
C'mon, the law already mandates helmets for motorcyclists, and seatbelts for the cage jockeys. When it comes to road safety, our nanny state has been punishing people for their own good for at least 20 years now. Nothing really new about a rule which would require bike brakes.
logik316 6 months ago
@logik316 Right, bike brake rules have been around since the 19th century. The messengers claim they meet the letter of the law. Just to update - this case never went anywhere and the cops don't ticket for it anymore. In fact, the Portland Police have really changed their stance against cyclists in the last few years (thank goodness).
pdxktv 6 months ago
@pdxktv
I'm glad she wasn't fined and that the coppers are are easing up over there. I do think the law on bicycle brakes needs to change a bit, however.
logik316 6 months ago
is it gay to have handbrakes? i wanna take it off
pnoiBOT 1 year ago
@pnoiBOT Take it off, take it all off!
pdxktv 1 year ago
do you need toe clips to break on a fixie?
spartin215 1 year ago
@spartin215 no
pdxktv 1 year ago
Man , I don't have anything with fixed bikes , but from my point of view you can brake in a shorter distance with a rim brake or a disk brake . Your fixed bike breaks with your rear tire not with both of them and if it's wet you can lose grip . Also if you are hited by a mirror and you lean on a side , it's very hard to stop .What do you think ?
bog1dan 1 year ago
Oh sad face.. I hope I dont get pulled over. D: I live in portland and soforth.
SwipaXNoXSwipen 1 year ago
@SmoothSkating HAHAHA i no im like shitting my self
paintsaint10 1 year ago
Here in Finland the usual sight to behold is a bike with a coaster brake. These 20 - 40 year old bikes that are so simple that they refuse to die (as long as you just inflate the tires) are good enough for many people. Rest are cheap horrible Scott's or other crappy "MTB"'s.
In theory, fixed gear should be the worst possible braking system. In most situations, sure, it will stop you, but skidding is not as effective as a proper non-skidding braking.
latuman 1 year ago
Surely as she can skid the bike, a mechanism exists? If, under Oregon law, it doesn't matter how, she could use an freaking anchor if she wants. An interesting test would be a stop from 30mph versus a car. If she can stop faster than that then surely no-one can argue.
tjsr21 1 year ago
Not using a proper break in the town is reckless.
I compared my dura-ace front-break's breaking power with my friends fixie and when i was already standing he was still skidding away for a couple of seconds lol
Fr4nkWh1te 1 year ago
It's against the law to ride a fixed gear without a brake . Read up on it
akublademan 1 year ago
Great great demonstration of fixie versus coaster bike. But why not have a hand break on that there fixie to (besides) make it legal and protect you when the chain breaks?
TOMATNOSCE 1 year ago
i didnt follow your whole discussion but i read this comment and just wanted to point out that a significant proportion (if not majority) of bicyclyes in the netherlands use coasterbrakes. which would mean hundreds of thousands, if not millions of adult bicycles with coaster brakes
xekbixsi 1 year ago
assuming he is reading the law correctly it says you must have a mechanism that allows you to come to a skidding stop on dry pavement. The simple fact that she can come to a skidding stop means she follows the law. the mechanism? the fixed drivetrain plus her legs. "but the drivetrain isnt going to stop the bike on its own you need legs" every braking mechanism needs some sort of human interaction and most bikes will stop around the same time if they come o a skidding stop
SteVeYG215 1 year ago
Coaster brakes are NOT common on adult bicycles and haven't been for over 30 or 40 years. They are adequate for children's bicycles going low speed, not for riding in traffic. You're comparing the fixed gear bicycle with an out of date and inadequate braking mechanism. Lets see how they perform with what IS a common braking system for adult's bicycles - the rim brake.
standinwater 1 year ago
@standinwater coaster brake bikes may not be common but there are plenty out there being used. Are you advocating that we outlaw them, too?
pdxktv 1 year ago
@pdxktv A coaster break is less prone to failure than fixed cog threads and chains incorrectly stressed. This video states that coaster brakes are "probably one of the most common types of brakes you will see on children's bikes, adult's bikes, one speeds" which is factually incorrect. If you had stopped at "children's bikes" it would be true, and naturally all coaster equipped bicycles are by the very nature of the mechanism 'one speed' bicycles. I'll need to split my reply...
standinwater 1 year ago
@standinwater Secondly you state the law requires a mechanism for bringing the bicycle to a skid. There is no such device here, only reversing the drive train. A coaster break requires merely a short back pedal to engage the mechanism, a rim brake a hand squeeze. A fixie requires fighting the forward momentum of the wheel's movement and significant force.
standinwater 1 year ago
@standinwater I will actually stick with my original statement. I worked for Huffy and I can tell you that coaster brakes are still used common in adult bikes, eg, beach cruisers.
Is this set up optimum? Does not matter.. It meets the letter of the law. The drive chain is the mechanism.
Failure is rare and would merit the same result to a coaster.
But really, what's the fuss? A handful of messengers riding on 20 MPH streets and some stunt riders. I just don't see the menace.
pdxktv 1 year ago
@pdxktv Huffy? Beach cruiser? As an aside, thanks the for Walmart toys that look like bicycles. She's riding neither and a bike courier would be out of work by going 20mph. The drive chain is drive chain. On a coaster it is activating a mechanism by back pedaling, on a fixie it does not activate a mechanism. I don't drive, but I suppose throwing a car in reverse is using the drive shaft as a braking mechanism by that logic. I suppose we don't need brake drums on those anymore either.
standinwater 1 year ago
@pdxktv I will mention that my statement about Huffy is irrelevant to the "is this a braking mechanism" discussion, nor am I personally deriding you. I will point out that Huffy is a low-end bicycle manufacturer selling only to casual riders and thus is not common. I also happen to agree with the judge in this case that the drive train is not in itself a braking mechanism. Not the point I was originally making, but you asked me if they should outlaw coaster brakes as well, so my answer is no.
standinwater 1 year ago
@standinwater There is no reason why a coaster bike couldnt have more than one gear. I've seen bikes with 3 to 7 gears.
latuman 1 year ago
@standinwater living in the netherlands, I can tell you, most people still ride with coaster brakes since its less to worry about breaking or having your cables cut. I can stop much faster using a coaster brake than any other, and I ride quite fast, but that may just be me! I like to skid :)
banihex 1 year ago
@standinwater Beach cruisers have coasters brakes.
I think 95% of them do.
sexpantherize 1 year ago
assuming he is reading the law correctly it says you must have a mechanism that allows you to come to a skidding stop on dry pavement. The simple fact that she can come to a skidding stop means she follows the law. the mechanism? the fixed drivetrain plus her legs. "but the drivetrain isnt going to stop the bike on its own you need legs" every braking mechanism needs some sort of human interaction and most bikes will stop around the same time if they come o a skidding stop
xhappyxscreamingx 1 year ago
I understand looking cool is important to some people...
I also understand riding brakeless makes its harder for thiefs to f_off with your bike...
But please, dont ride brakeless, its stupid.
And unsafe..
70 % of your braking power comes from the front wheel
ripousse 1 year ago
i dont have a brake on my longboard and that shit goes hella fast. and i have no way of stopping so im just as much of a hazard
Devin032 1 year ago
@Devin032 by hella fast you mean 20 mph ?
i can go 35 miles an hour on my bike in TOTAL control and stopping in under 5 seconds... with a front brake, of course
ripousse 1 year ago
@ripousse well when your on a piece of wood going down a hill, its pretty fast. and some extreme longboarders go to the mountains and go down hills and go up to 90 easy
Devin032 1 year ago
@Devin032 which is why a longboard is not considered a vehicle in most areas - eg you cant operate it in traffic. i dont see how you can consider a skateboard to a bicycle that is used much more often. do you ride that thing 10-20k a year? how often are you going hella fast? the increased mass of a bike, plus cargo, plus rider is more than a skateboard, so the energy needed to stop it is much more than your board.
comparison fail.
klohiq 1 year ago
@klohiq i was just saying i was a hazard like a bike would be without a brake. so you fail
Devin032 1 year ago
Track bikes are great, but you are nuts if you ride on the street without at least 1 rim, disc, spoon, drum, or coaster brake. Sticking your shoe on the tire or using your ass for a brake pad doesn't count.
Yes I know how fixed wheel bikes work. I ride them sometimes. I still think its nuts to ride without rim brakes.
stopglobalswarming 1 year ago
How would front brakes work on a fixie?
Would the back wheel still be spinning? causing a somewhat front flip?
greencartridges 2 years ago
A front brake works great in combination with the fixed gear. If you pull the brake too hard, causing the rear wheel to lift off the ground, you will notice immediately because of the fixed gear. It's almost like you turn into an organic ABS brake system.
nilo2209 1 year ago
@greencartridges A front brake on a fixed wheel bicycle would work the same as on a freewheel bicycle.
stopglobalswarming 1 year ago
@greencartridges
what do you mean
ripousse 1 year ago
i miss ayla. does she still live there?
moistknife 2 years ago
I saw her summer '08. I'm guessing yes.
pdxktv 2 years ago
How do you skid on a fixed gear? I can't do it
Meneks 2 years ago
thats a bit slow to stop when an accident happens..... :|
drvids 2 years ago 20
@drvids He's skiding, you can brake faster if you skip...
Moreover, if you don't want to kill yourself, you have a front brake for accidents...
ro1ri 1 year ago
i'm looking at a fixie but idk if iwant it to have break or not. what do u think?
punkdude1668 2 years ago
Even though I think Ayla complies with the law with her bike (the point of the video)-- from the arguments I've seen here I'd probably recommend getting a front brake, especially if you are inexperienced with a fixie.
pdxktv 2 years ago
you probably want to leave a brake on while youre getting used to it. most people keep it on forever just in case, you dont have to use it, but its good to have.
lexxoutlive 2 years ago 3
haha i know what you mean, i road a fixie for the first time yesterday haha hella hard to stop
punkdude1668 2 years ago 5
the coaster brake is way more efficient than the skidding. as you can easliy see "ayla" started skidding about 6 feet earlier. in addition coaster brakes are the worst of all the brake systems. i dont understand why people dont put brakes on their front wheel. you can brake more efficiently and you can still skid when you want to...
eteokles3 2 years ago 2
Ayla as most messengers typically does not skid her bike.
Skidding on dry pavement is the standard for Oregon law- the point of the video.
pdxktv 2 years ago
Its efficient if you don't have the muscle to stop on a fixed gear. Thats why some people including me, ride with a front brake, even though I rarely use it since the brake shoes will wear out faster than my tire. The reason coaster brakes are actually unpreferable is because the cause a lot of internal friction and will do a lot more damage in the long run than a fixed gear.
tootsie400 2 years ago
@eteokles3 its not a coaster break dumbass. its a FIXED GEAR which means you are always pedaling. with conventional breaks you cannot control your skid. fixies have complete feel throughout the bike. as a bike messenger in denver for 4 years, i always rode breakless because i could depend on my legs to stop me.
shredfortyler2 1 year ago
didnt mean the track bike, idiot! learn to read, you wouldve notice that i meant the other bike which indeed has a coaster break and stops faster than the fixed gear mr. super messenger!!!!
eteokles3 1 year ago
@eteokles3 true
ripousse 1 year ago
@eteokles3 how u skid with the front wheel brake? just wondering am new to this bike any videos u suggest?
spidy05 1 year ago
in order to stop o a fixed gear its more than just locking your legs
you have to push down with one leg and pull up with the other . (up equals forward)
mitchellcbridge 2 years ago
A gentleman would never say ;)
pdxktv 2 years ago
i'm an avid mt/road/fixie rider in utah, and there is NO way that you can effectively stop a fixed gear bike by skidding, like you can a braked fixed gear. put ayla on even a minor hill, and she'll be paper-boying back and forth into traffic...either that, or lying in the grass after crashing into the curb. no disrespect, but you're argument is ridiculous, and has no merit. pay the fine!
kainrobe 2 years ago
Ayla only skids in this video in order to show that she meets the letter of the Oregon law.
There are several messengers who ride these type of fixies in Portland. There has been only one significant messenger accident in the last 5-years and it had nothing to do with brakes.
I care because two motorcycle cops decided to hassle the messengers and others by writing tickets for any infraction they could. That was 2006 -now they are not.
You wanna side with the dicks? Please stay in Utah.
pdxktv 2 years ago
@pdxktv how about a comparison with rim brakes with good pads. i can guarantee that you can't stop as fast. the law needs to be changed, but i guess they assumed people would have some degree of commonsense.
if i wanted to remove the rear brakes on my car should i be allowed? no, even though i can still stop almost as quickly. if bikes want to be taken seriously, they should try to pick their arguments better.
klohiq 1 year ago
@klohiq so you think all coaster brakes bikes should be outlawed?
pdxktv 1 year ago
not to be rude but the person interviewed in the cap is that Ayla the girl?
friendlypete10 2 years ago
Yep, that's why I call her a she. Not to be rude, but why do you care?
pdxktv 2 years ago
i just got a fixie today, and i was practicing skidding and i know what to do i just dont knkow HOW to do it. lean foward and lock up legs. i dont get it. someone explain
narsinabox 2 years ago
do u happen 2 no were i can buy one /= ???
insane15mky 2 years ago
2nd hand is probably best. Start with Craigslist.
pdxktv 2 years ago
Fuck what the law says. Use some common sense. The front brake does most of the stopping so slap a brake on. Your hands react faster than your feet and your feet must be at a certain position to initiate the skid. Therefore skid stopping is retarded and so are coaster brakes. Coaster bikes should have a front brake too. I hate when ppl say "I have complete control over my bike when I ride fixie" wtf? Is she on pills? If I have brakes that can stop on a dime I have less control over my bike?
Diamondbac 2 years ago 3
Note: With the addition of a front brake you also get 70% more braking power than a rear brake (even a mechanical, disc, or coaster brake) by itself.
When a rear brake is locked by itself it has a tendency to want to swing around towards the front and during that time you have to counter steer the bike while coming to a halt. That's why when you engage a car's brakes the front ones come into play, not the rear - unless you want to do a bootlegger with your e-brake.
Play it safe don't be dumb.
eatsandsleeps 2 years ago
wat kind of bike is at 1:50[not the fixie]
ive been lookin for a bike like that but dont no tha name
someone please help
insane15mky 2 years ago
As I recall it was a Huffy but it's basically a copy of a std English Raleigh commuter bicycle Typically found in one to three speeds.
pdxktv 2 years ago
although im sure it looks hip to not have brakes, i've seen a lot of these pinheads crash, not to mention that slowing your pedaling without breaks puts a great deal of stress on your knees and you will pay the price years later. Just throw the front brake... doesn't mean you have to use it, unless of course you like to be defiant to the police and get expensive tickets just to prove a point.
My front brake has saved my life on more than one occasion. city streets are not velodromes.
mfurstenau88 2 years ago 2
Just have brake in case, I skid but down a huge hill, I dont want to wear out my tires that fast lol.
PianoComposition 2 years ago
Something I just thought of... a front hand brake would NOT fill the letter of the law, as your bike will flip before you could make it skip on clean, dry pavement. Food for thought.
Plex42 2 years ago 2
Good point!
pdxktv 2 years ago
Comment removed
ddicato 2 years ago
diese Art zu bremsen ist sicher gut für die Reifen;o))))
BrotherIncocnito 2 years ago
Translates to "this kind of brake is good for the tires"--
This done for demonstration purposes only to show that a fixie can meet the letter of the law.
pdxktv 2 years ago
Hmmm - in the braking "contest",
- the fixie starts braking slightly sooner than the coaster-brake bike and
- the fixie is a full bike-length behind the coaster-brake bike when it starts braking
yet, it ends up slightly past the coaster-brake bike when it stops.
looks to me like the coaster-brake bike stopped in a significantly shorter distance, despite his claim to the contrary.
ruftytufty11 3 years ago
Hmm, you might be right. They're close, though, and it doesn't really change the premise.
pdxktv 3 years ago
What exactly is the "premise" you're trying to prove?
And - to be clear - I have nothing against fixies.
ruftytufty11 3 years ago
Apearently I did a craptastic job on this video becuase no one ever gets the point. The point is that a fixed gear bike meets the letter of the Oregon law for a brake mechanism and can skid on dry pavement. The fact and it can stop as efficiently as a coaster brake just helps illustrate effectiveness against another common single brake bike that would never be selectively ticketed.
In the Summer off 2006 two Portland officers were out to ticket as many messengers as possible.
pdxktv 3 years ago
ive just started riding a fixie and really you don't use your brake too much. I just find it easier to slow down my pedaling using strength you stop at about the same time as a hand break. (you get really tired though)
robotvex 3 years ago
is the fixie brake hard to do for beginners?
mattfire552 3 years ago
i mean not even skidding but most of us were i ride tred shred (putting ur back foot on the tire) for basic stops to save our tires, maybe he should show that.
BTBinLA 3 years ago
weak, i have ridden no brake for 12 years, bmx and fixie, i can stop on a dime, but i have the skill, if you dont brakes are for you! give up the bitching and trying to be cool do what feels right
manandwolf 3 years ago
I don't care how you look at it, it's still more dangerous, and there's no good reason to not have a brake. STYLE is not a good reason to risk life and limb. - Oh, and there's 500 hundred bikes in my shop right now and three of them have coaster brakes. Do your 'scientific test' compared to a side pull caliper brake like the one I have on my fixed gear.
bikemasterscycling 3 years ago
You sir, are correct! But that's not the point of the video.
pdxktv 3 years ago
but the point is that coaster breaks DO count under the law. Them not being common on new bikes is completely irrelevant.
mrblonde373 2 years ago
You're right. I would then say they're both dangerous. Let's be glad they've only figured that out about fixed gears so they don't start outlawing bikes all together. I understand it's super hip to roll up to the coffee shop on a fixed gear right now, and you have to do what you have to do, but be safe and don't ruin it for the rest of us.
bikemasterscycling 2 years ago
does he say "ayla is on HER fixie?" thats a girl?
mikaspyder 3 years ago 4
You heard right. Deal wid it.
pdxktv 3 years ago
But why not ride with brakes? I'm a fixie rider and i don't see the benefit of commuting brakeless, especially in wet or hilly places. I tried riding brakeless and I sprained my wrist and cut up my face terribly.
Ubermensch18 3 years ago 3
thats bull shit! fixies are ligit there is no reason a fixie rider should be introuble thats so gay
innout4L 3 years ago
comparing a fixed skid to now-outdated coaster brakes is also rather loaded
BMPizzle 3 years ago
I use out dated coaster brakes. Should I be arrested, too.
pdxktv 3 years ago
No, I was merely making a point about the braking comparison being intentionally biased. A large majority of bicycles these days use caliper/V-/U-brakes which will consistently stop a bike+rider in a much shorter distance than coaster brakes or a fixed skid when traveling at speed. They are also much easier to modulate than a skid or coaster. Thank you for at least having a proper brake though, please enjoy your bike(s) and your rides on it (them).
BMPizzle 3 years ago
Otay, Mr. Safety.
pdxktv 3 years ago
The point of the video is not that fixed gear braking is the safest, most efficient way to brake. It's not.
The point is that messengers are being busted even though they follow the letter of law and that they can brake as good many other bikes that still use the roads these days.
It surprises me how many times people miss this point. Is in not clear?
What's more, is why do people get SO bent out of shape about it. It amazing how many hall monitors we have running around here.
pdxktv 3 years ago
is this law for the U.S. or just in certain states and i ride fixie sometimes and see that many people do and why should it be illegal
fairfannie 3 years ago
It is not a U.S. law, but it is essentially the same law in every state; just as there is no U.S. law requiring a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle, but every state has one.
It shouldn't be illegal, because a fixed gear bike DOES have a brake (look up the meaning of the word); however, the problem lies in a)many people do not understand fixed gears and b)even fewer are able to operate the brake within the requirements of the law.
And the law dislikes case by case issues.
IsaacBickerstaffEsq 3 years ago
i do ride a fixie and were i live lots of people ride fixie but i think most people have a front brake like me
fairfannie 3 years ago