I feel that many people who ride fixed-gear bikes without brakes do so simply because they want to convey to others that they ride 'pure' fixed-gear bikes and want to appear cool in the eyes of others. Brakes should be present even if they're not used, there are several advantages to using brakes, one of which you didn't mention, for example, is weight. The heavier your bike is, the harder it is to brake without brakes. I use a front rack and sometimes i'm heavily loaded coming back from shopping, brakes play an essential role, especially on descents when I'm loaded. The excuse of adding maintenance leaves me skeptical, caliper brakes are super easy to maintain, they're a fantastic piece created by humans, so use them. Good video!

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting! Yeah, transporting goods will make backpedalling much much harder.

@ayyansea2138

3 ай бұрын

I did want to look "cool" at first but at this point I'm so used to not having any brakes I'd probably do myself more harm than good by having them. As someone in the comments pointed out, when there's a real emergency situation I would most likely just resort to skidding because of muscle memory, or, less likely, I'd slam my front brake and fly over the handlebars. Whenever I'm transporting pizza or something heavier to my place, though, the front brake is always there, mainly because it makes the ride a lot easier since I don't have to put any effort into backpedaling all the time.

@flipfonte4069

3 ай бұрын

@@ayyansea2138 It remains an excuse the fact that people say the front brake is dangerous, perhaps because they haven't really had an accident. I would prefer a thousand times to go headfirst into the ground by pressing the front brake than to be under a car, for example. In my case, living in a region full of ups and downs, I also use the rear brake, it helps me a lot to reduce speed on descents. Using brakes on a fixed gear bike doesn't mean we don't use our legs to brake, in fact, when I use the brakes, I also use my legs, which results in three brakes, making the fixed gear bike super safe, especially in the rain.

@Chrismaxon-kt1ds

3 ай бұрын

You should be riding a commuter,eh? You've got "cool"disease sounds like.

@at706145

3 ай бұрын

It has nothing to do with maintenance. It’s a mental thing. Knowing that your life depends on a single chain link, makes you ride differently. You don’t have to skid to control your speed. I don’t use brakes because if I do, my ride becomes more reckless, I risk more riding closer to cars. Brakeless is a cool ride. Just because you need the brakes , don’t impose them to everyone else. I ride Brakeless now, have already had one and even two brakes in other circumstances. *Edit "live" for "life"

I rather ride with brakes than with a helmet.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Fair enough! My new helmet is so comfy that I kinda want to wear it all day now

@danielrolenc6893

3 ай бұрын

Xd

@twintyara6330

3 ай бұрын

Just don't use neither of them, you're free to do what you love 😊

@Dolritto

3 ай бұрын

Dude is riding fixed without brakes AND without foot retention, so he'll better stay with helmet. This whole video should never been recorded, cause this settup is not acceptable. At all.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

@@Dolritto Yes I do have foot retention. I'm using SPD pedals and velosambas. Didn't you see my sick skid?

It teaches me discipline... No breaks means i need to be super careful

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

and are you super careful?

@KU-mg9el

2 ай бұрын

it teaches you shit, you little kid

@klimentbassev8866

Ай бұрын

The thing about accidents, is that they often happen outside of your control. Therefore they’re called accidents.

@hearthshinemusic2941

24 күн бұрын

​@klimentbassev8866 The first accident I had while riding fixed was like that, completely out of my control. I was riding in the bike lane, crossed an intersection while a car crossed, not even bothering to look if something was coming (if he had just looked he would've seen me), crashed into me as I was crossing the intersection where I was supposed to, and the bike and I ended up on the hood for about 2-3 seconds, about 10 meters. I was riding brakeless. Had I had brakes or not, it would've been the same. Thankfully, nothing happened to me, miraculously. Had my helmet on, thank God. The bike was OK too, just had to replace the saddle.

I actually run both brakeless and with a front brake. Riding brakeless makes me ride completely different than when I do have brakes, and it overall has made me ride better. However, I still agree that brakes are a good idea, even though I only run fronts

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Fair, sounds like you are able to stay within your limits. btw, how is that NOFX tickets+flight+hotel booking coming along? :D

@MarchuxProductions

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes Doesn't seem like I'll be able to get the days off I need, but I'm still trying haha

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

quit your job, shave your head and get a tattoo!

@MarchuxProductions

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes Know what, my head is already shaved, so I'm closer than I expected :DD

@mamamobakla2456

2 ай бұрын

the fact i ride more recklessly because i know i have breaks is weird for me, maybe because im used to being cautious everytime i ride my fixed 😅

When I build my first fixie I started riding without brakes.. Slowly carefully and its been 10 years xd

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

here’s to 10 more! 🍻

The thing about "emergency handbrakes" is that you need the muscle memory to use them in emergency situations, where you don't have time to think about your method of stopping. Now, if you never actually use them, like a lot of "I run a front brake for emergency situations only" people claim, then how do you imagine actually using it in such a moment? If 1000/1000 stops, you use your feet, how do you imagine remembering to use your hands for the 1001st stop when you have a split second to react because a car just pulled out in front of you? I'm absolutely not saying don't run brakes if they make you feel safer. They just don't make me feel any safer on my track bike.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

You are right. Emergency handbrakes won't cover everything, and the reaction time to use them is lower when you normally don't. The scenario that I visualise the most is the sudden need to slow down very quickly on a descent for some reason, but you are correct that I won't be able to use them in a split second.

@bofud

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes Yeah, that's a very valid reason. Clipping out/slipping out of your straps, while on a decent for example. A technical failure is another one. I double check everything before I ride, but a tire can blow out, a chain can rip, a cog can slip. I can make sure they almost certainly won't but it's never gonna be 100%. I definitely agree with your video, it's not for everyone. You need to be willing to take some amount of risk, and you need to ride very responsibly and cautiously. Riding brakeless defies all logic but so does love

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

oh wow that last bit is a great quote to have in your back pocket ❤️

@jepulis6674

3 ай бұрын

Well you are just weird then. Front brake stops you so much faster.

@markkubsch1257

3 ай бұрын

@@jepulis6674 I skid stop faster going 25 km/h than a roadie going 45 km/h using his two independent brakes.

I've been planning to add a front brake on my fixie as emergency brake, I've been riding brakeless for 2 years sometimes I wish I had a front brake cause a lot of drivers drive recklessly o rather they don't care about cyclist at all. Never gotten into an accident involving cars for 2 years riding brakeless. As of now I've been riding my fixie to commute to work and I really need a front brake incase I had a flat tire going downhill or else I wouldn't be able to stop.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Reasonable. I have not thought much about flat tires. Never had one in high speed. Sounds scary

@wexelo

3 ай бұрын

Don't worry go flat downhill. 8 000 000 000 other people on the planet....

@alexvith

3 ай бұрын

My man, without a brake on your bike you are among the reckless drivers (or riders in this case). There is no planning needed, get yourself a brake asap and save your relatives the pain of losing you over an easily avoidable accident.

After maturing from the “fixie craze” from like a decade ago, coming back to it a lot older I’ve been riding brakeless since I’ve gotten my Pake Rum Runner. However, I’m using SPD SL shoes and pedals so a bit more responsive feeling. I’ve learned that my style of riding is “reasonably dangerous” (Zach Gallardo) where I will 100% go real slow if there is a sliver of chance that trouble could happen. But I will never knock anyone riding with brakes with fixed gear. I’ll only goof on someone when their seat height is WAAAYY too high which the fixed gear community is guilty of 😂

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I missed out on the fixie craze days. I just went straight into my fixie dad era. How are you liking the Rum Runner?

@newoldsteel

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes it’s so good I never want to get rid of it. Geometry is nice and aggressive but great for the street and not 100% track geometry. It’s apparently treated for rust prevention too. Seriously a high recommendation from me 👍

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

that sounds nice. I’m not sure what the future holds but I don’t think I have built my last fixie yet. steel is probably still my favourite material, so at some point I might be looking for something just like what you described there.

I have a front brake on mine too many traffic stops on hills I can stop without a brake some hills on my route is a little too steep

@addvurtbikes

5 күн бұрын

Yeah, you can always choose to use or not use it :) have a great day!

Haha first case is me, none of the front brakes that I had fit on my aero parts and I was like 🤷

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

haha yeah same here. the Skream Anodiz fork was much thicker than my other fork so I couldn’t attach it . I just need to visit a bike shop but they work the same hours as me soo….

Before I started riding fixed gear, the idea of riding without a hand brake seemed pretty wild to me but I think under the right conditions its perfectly fine. I have a front brake on my bike, but if I keep my speeds low enough I don't even need to use it honestly. So I think if it's done reasonably /safely/ (not barreling down hills, not flying through red lights, not cutting through groups of people) it's perfectly okay. Just my thoughts.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

What bike do you ride? :)

@bearclaw10

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes I got a State bicycle co. 4130. I got it stock and swapped out some of the stuff it as I got more confident on it. Best purchase I ever made. I love it!

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

that’s awesome! I’ve been keeping an eye on State for a while now. I often feel like recommending them as a solid choice for a good price to Americans, but since I don’t have any personal experience it feel weird to do it. now I’ve heard at least one person say that they are happy with their state :)

I have a front brake on my bike because where I'm from, they'll confiscated it if I don't have it, I've never used them before

@addvurtbikes

19 күн бұрын

Where do you live?

@sonymicronin

13 күн бұрын

@@addvurtbikesJapan probably

I don’t mind if others want to go breakless but it’s funny that those same smooth brains are losing it over others who decide to be normal

@addvurtbikes

2 күн бұрын

There is quite a lot of anti-brake mentality out there, yep... it's the same with helmets in skateboarding.

I used to ride Bmx without brakes. No biggie. But it was one of the factors when I was hit by a car. (My fault beyond the brake issue) I plan to try fixed gear in the near future. It will likely be a conversion using a flip-flop hub. Since I often ride in areas that are highly populated with pedestrians and other people occasionally ride my bikes, it would be irresponsible of me to ride without brakes. Risking my own well-being is one thing, but I can’t expect others to endure the results of no brakes. While I applaud many fixed gear riders that have skills beyond mine, there is no justification for them to slam into the side of vehicles or pedestrians.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I hope you enjoy fixed gear! remember to find a safe place to practice :) let me know when you are riding!

PREMIUM RUSH!😆

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

can’t stop, don’t want to either

Sweden must be a very flat country. I can't imagine having no rear brake here in Ontario, Canada.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I live in a fairly flat area, yes. But it would probably be a very different story if I lived up north, and close to the Norwegian border :) btw, the first time I ever saw a fixed gear bike was in Ottawa, it was a bike polo game in 2013 :D

Why I have a front brake on mine. Also, the Time iClic pedals.

@addvurtbikes

Ай бұрын

those pedals look like spd-sl. do you like them?

@monkmchorning

29 күн бұрын

It's a road pedal that uses a 3-bolt cleat, that is no longer made. The pedal, that is. the cleats will be around for a few more years. The design was updated by a series called Xpresso--same idea but with different springs, cleats, and lugs. The Xpresso is easier to engage, but the cleats are slightly less durable. I like Time because of the float mechanics, low stack height, and solid platform underfoot.

Don't you need straps to improve your braking? Is the strength of the back foot alone enough?

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

you need foot retention. straps are great, but I’m using spd pedals here, which also works well. back foot alone is not enough :) There was a recent GCN video where the presenter rides fixie without foot retention and only a front brake. crazy

@alastairwright77

3 ай бұрын

​@@addvurtbikesdon't agree here. I always ride with flat pedals and front brake only, and have no problem stopping. Front brake is quite efficient for heavy stops and back pressure is good enough for most of the time. Depends how strong your legs are, but you only need to lock the rear wheel if you're riding brakeless..

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

okay, if it works it works I guess. what’s the reason that you ride fixed without foot retention?

@alastairwright77

3 ай бұрын

Just find it more pleasant and relaxing not being fastened to the bike. I use spds on road bikes but I like to be more chilled on fixed gear.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

@@alastairwright77 Interesting! For me, it's all about being able to control the speed with only my legs :)

It's like bluetooth headphones, no wires, ahhh

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

The lack of wires is hella nice, yeah. I would like to dig deeper into internal cable routing. My Ribble tracklocross has internal in the top tube, which is nice.

@suspiciousstew1169

3 ай бұрын

Fixed gear and bluetooth are pretty cool, but with bluetooth I don’t want to have to charge it after using it for 4 hours, fiddle with the manufacturer’s crappy phone app whenever something goes wrong, or compress my audio to temu quality trying to get on a call with it connected to a computer that doesn’t have a mic. My experiences with fixies were much better tho, idk if it’s right to compare both especially with how finicky bluetooth can get

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I think the comparison stopped at the lack of wires. Fixed gear bike are the opposite of over-engingeering, whereas Bluetooth headphones are space age solutions for something that was working well 50 years ago. With that said, I use bluetooth headphones because I hate untangling the wires :D :D :D

Beauty scenery😍

@addvurtbikes

27 күн бұрын

Thanks! I enjoy trying to get nice shots when I can :)

imo the front brakes are the most important but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ whatever i guess

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

it certainly has the most stopping power

I like to play my guitar with no strings as well 👍

@addvurtbikes

Ай бұрын

That's a weak analogy, but I understand you.

Just don't go faster than you can stop.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

that is certainly a good idea

@phantasma9391

3 ай бұрын

Then I guess you can't ride downhill?

@kentwithaperiod

Ай бұрын

​@phantasma9391 you can if you're good at controlling your speed downhill. skidding and ted shreds are necessary skills to have when going brakeless.

@mh_dot_fm

8 күн бұрын

Naturaly implying brakes make you faster since stopping is a limit and that limit gets increased 😊

If you like to go fast put a brake on. Dont test your luck.

@addvurtbikes

Ай бұрын

Yeah, hand brakes are a good idea after all

It’s easier to mount a bike without brakes than to remove the brakes from an existing one 🤙 (I ride Brakeless…again, started with one brake, then none, then one, then two and now…none)

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

What are you riding at the moment? :)

@at706145

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes brakeless

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Sorry I was unclear, I meant... what bike are you riding? Like, what brand? :)

@at706145

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes ALTIS , a vintage Portuguese race bikes brand that no longer exists.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Sounds very nice!

its not, and that what I try to tell people as well. If you have brakes no problem you do you

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

do people not want to listen?

it's not really a brake less ,the brake is on the pedal and on god's hand probably

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

yeah, brakeless fixed gear just refers to not having handbrakes so you can only brake with the power of your legs.

how are you skidding with out straps

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

SPD pedals. The shoes are Adidas Velosamba with cleats.

Plus first bike wasnt drilled for brakes...so no hole to put a brake even !!!!

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

🚲

@MyDemon32

3 ай бұрын

nowadays there are adaptors where you can put brakes on track drames.

Are the police in sweden likely to pull you up on it? What's the fixed scene like there? I am visiting next month and planning on riding fixed to Stockholm from a city around 200km away

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Oh wow that sounds awesome! I think it's very unlikely to happen anywhere else than in like the very city centers. I've talked to people who got pulled over in central Stockholm. I think they can give you a 50 euro ticket. I personally don't know much about the fixed scene. I've sort of created my own with 2 friends where I live. But I am a member of the Facebook group "FixedGear Stockholm", which has over 1000 members in it. Where are you riding from? 200 km could be... Linköping? Örebro? Falun? Gävle? :D

what gear ratio do you use?

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

currently 44-15 on the Skream Anodiz, 46-16 on the Ribble tracklocross, and 48-16😭 on the conversion

@JuvinileConcha

3 ай бұрын

Question. When your bike originally have 44-15 and u wanna change to a higher Ratio like 49-15, Do you need to change the Butom bracket?

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

No. Changing gear ratio doesn't affect the bottom bracket at all. But I would maybe need a new chain that is one link longer.

REEEE BLACK SOCKS REEEE

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

OH SHIT THE FASHION POLICE IS AFTER ME

Riding brakeless is stupid and no one should do it. Only people who ride brakeless are idiots with a death wish. That said, all my four bikes are brakeless.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

had me in the first half, ngl

Are you record with GoPro?

@addvurtbikes

2 ай бұрын

Nope, just my iPhone 13 mini with a DJI mobile gimbal :) You can see it in my video "Fixed gear snow skidding" if you are interested in the thing. Or just google it :D

@nicksyahrilstorror5183

Ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes alright tq for lmk. 🙌🏼

"for emergency situations" - getting into that kind of situation means you weren't careful enough in the first place, weren't anticipating, weren't concentrating and letting your mind slip when you shouldn't have. What people don't get is when riding brakeless you run through a metamorphosis of becoming a much safer rider. No problem with going slow if the situation asks for it with any kind of potential danger. It's a fixie and it's great fun at any speed.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

guess I’m not on your level yet. my mind slips sometimes, and I can’t anticipate a puncture

What brand on your bartape?

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

BBB, it was very cheap on sale, and the adhesive was bad, but I might as well just use it

No brakes + no straps is dumb, in my humble opinion.

@addvurtbikes

2 ай бұрын

I think you mean no brakes + no foot retention. And I agree, that would be dumb as hell. I’m using SPD pedals.

@alricmarchand2877

2 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes Exactly. Sorry mate, I did not notice the SPDs.

@addvurtbikes

2 ай бұрын

All good! I wish I had mentioned it. I left a couple of things out of the video that I should have said. Instead I made another video about foot retention :)

@alricmarchand2877

2 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes Nice one! Yes I think it makes a huge difference. Foot retention - and appropriate skills and fitness - make it not brakeless actually :) Most people in Holland ride with a torpeedo brake only, which is as or even a little less efficient than a skid.

@addvurtbikes

2 ай бұрын

That’s interesting. I would love to ask people what they think about that. Fixed vs coaster brake.

I have never used a brake.Have rode for26 yrs. In Seattle SanFransicko NYNY and a dozen other big cities. I ride in dense traffic in these downtown and industrial hectic paced cities. Never. Neverhad to lock upwheel to emergecy stop... Why? Because i see the whole landscape and react extremely smart plus i dont follow traffic laws ...and was a phenomenal player of arcade game Frogger....really though if you use a brake ...you should ...either way a brake a helmet Or locking up wheel will not help in a real collision .the guy who uses no foot retention or uses spd pedal is an idiot and doesnt ride fixed .only double strap metal cage toe clips for non brake bike. Again personally pure bike is all i ride like in pre derailleur tour de France days ...they rode no brake no gears no masters!

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I'm happy for you and your success!

@Chrismaxon-kt1ds

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes no success. That implies an aim or objective ...premeditation. Man its like this..I'm from the street ...not a cyclist !!! Riding fixed wasn't a fad , trend , or something that looked cool ...it was bare bones , cheap ..less craps to buy , little maintenance and not many people could ride if they stole it ! So my bikes are overlooked ! Trust me I spend every second anticipating every possible thing that could go wrong while riding and I guarantee brakeless makes me a better rider because you can't relax or zone out ...this ain't for the faint of heart or the meek. I mean if a brake is required probably should be riding a geared road bike or such not a track bike.

How much is that kind of shoe?

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

I bought my Adidas Velosambas for something like 120 euros, but in Swedish currency, about a year ago

@yourguytaku-6735

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes DANG So if i convert that in PH peso that cost alot :{

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

yeah it’s like a pretty good pair of football shoes

Breakless = i dont care if i crash into you... but if I'm in the right, I'll get pissed off at you

@addvurtbikes

2 ай бұрын

I don’t think anybody wants to crash

I've never understood why anyone would ride brakeless. A well trained rider can stop much much shorter with a front brake than a rear brake, so if you go brakeless in my mind you just only have a very weak rear brake which just sounds like suicide to me.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

front brake is the goat of stopping power, yeah

@Chrismaxon-kt1ds

3 ай бұрын

A well trained rider doesn't need to stop period, so brakes aren't even considered.wanna race?

@Flashback_Jack

2 ай бұрын

Stopping? What's that?

Brakes are ugly. If youre skilled enough and ride defensively they arent necessary.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

ride defensively…

@ZebraLemur

3 ай бұрын

Some people live in the mountains with 1000 foot 5% grade descents at 40mph with sharp turns and cliffs. Brakes are a necessity

@Chrismaxon-kt1ds

3 ай бұрын

​@@ZebraLemuryou should be on a road bike then not a track bike

Look at that tiny chainwheel. Not hard to ride brakeless when your going that slow.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

44/15 in this video. Imagine riding brakeless at a ratio too high for you, now that would be silly

@Chrismaxon-kt1ds

3 ай бұрын

49/14 no brake live in Seattle ....wanna race ill come to your town or you come here either way you will change your opinion

This is illegal in the UK.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

Brakeless is illegal in most of Europe, I would assume, more or less.

@MyDemon32

3 ай бұрын

@@addvurtbikes not in the netherlands.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

@@MyDemon32 oh really? interesting, considering that it's such a bike oriented country!

Anyone who rides without brakes has a death wish, it's as simple as that.

@addvurtbikes

3 ай бұрын

okay

Damn that front chainring looks like a 44 or 46t. Im on a 53x16. Way better than the 49x13.

@addvurtbikes

11 күн бұрын

It’s 44t :) on the lower side but I think it’s really fun

@ChicoRodriguez-k8l

11 күн бұрын

@addvurtbikes I like 44. Quick with the stride. But for me to keep up with traffic I have to have at least a 49t. I had a 44x13 and the bandwidth was amazing. 16mph on cadence and around 22mph top out. But on my 53x16 I'll be doing 19-21mph on cadence and 26-30mph on top out. Sure im starting to stop half a block down the street but i love the asthetic of seeing a giant chainring. Im really fond of seeing people drill holes in the chainring or adding their name to it. I love charting out ratios. Good video love your track bike. I'm on a 1992 serotta colorado 2 with a track fork. I saw it before I went on a ride this afternoon. Liked and subscribed. Be safe out there