Ayla Brakes (Fixed Gear Braking)

Ayla Holland a professional bike messenger in Portland, Oregon was recently cited and convicted of riding a bicycle without a brake. She is appealing the decision and shows us why in this video exclusive for our new web TV show, CrankMyChain!

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bicycle
• bike
• messenger
• cycle
• brake
• braking
• skid
• skidding
• Ayla
• Holland
• portland
• fixed
• gear
• fixie

[pdxktv]

@chumpychumpychump I don't think anybody is advocating for that nor is there any similarity.

[bmathers21]

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]

@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.

[TubeofDestiny]

@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]

@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]

@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]

@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.

[pdxktv]

@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]

@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]

@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 =>]