Brakes are death?

@ejquintana5572

3 жыл бұрын

In some conditions. Yes

@evacureno8426

3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@DGSherlock

3 жыл бұрын

nah crashing is bro 🤙🏻

@jaycee9657

3 жыл бұрын

Zach would you recommend pedal straps if going brake less??? Not that I can really, I'm in the UK, and after the death of a pedestrian due to brake less rider its a hot topic checked on by the feds regularly

@robest334

3 жыл бұрын

Last two days ago, the sole of my clipless shoes completely tore off while doing a skip stop. Thats why I ride with a brake. Just ride safe and dont die.

Brakes are like helmets; you can get away with not using them most of the time, but in moments when having them matters most, you'll be glad you have them.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

I ride brakeless and helmetless for 3 years now. 2 years on a road bike and year on brakeless fixed gear.

@kristyy420

3 жыл бұрын

lots of peple ride brakeless and with helmets on fixies

@event4216

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab Had I no helmet my head wouldn't be in such a great shape after kid suddenly crossed my path. I better wear stupid helmet than look cool and splashy.

@shuttzi9878

3 жыл бұрын

U guys have no chill huh Always ride with a helmet if u have one

@shuttzi9878

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab wow. The delusions u have in your head worries me at this point. I wont state the obvious facts because they're just that, obvious.

My big take away: riding with brakes hurts old ladies

@marianneoelund2940

Ай бұрын

I'm an old lady, but I never ride without brakes unless I'm on the track, where everyone else is also riding without brakes.

63 years old, riding brakeless since around 1996. Yeah, it's hard to explain. Zen works as well as anything else. I have had far fewer accidents brakeless than on my road bike. Go figure. . .

@knarf_on_a_bike

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab nah, my hands are all old and gnarly from getting out and actually riding my bike every day, 12 months a year. Pretty weak though, from not squeezing those needless brake levers. It's more than made up by my massive, Robert Förstemann-like thighs. I could send pictures. . .

@knarf_on_a_bike

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab you're more of a man than me. LOL! Have a great one. Ride safe.

@knarf_on_a_bike

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab no hills. LOL. But seriously, I manage to do it without locking up much. That's what kills my knees. So I never lock up. My knees are a bit "tender" still, especially after a long ride - which for me on my fixed gear is around 70 - 100km. I'm not a kid anymore. 😉

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@@knarf_on_a_bike I switched to fixed gear a little more than a year ago. Was a road biker for 5 years, got bored with gears and all gizmos. Good to hear from 64 year old rider, I want to be like you when I grow up. Stay young and never stop riding your bike. )

@rubo1964

3 жыл бұрын

wow how are your knees

I ride with 2 brakes. The two reasons for the front brake are: 1. I need the security since I'm a beginner and 2 because the law says I have to have at least one brake on my bicycle The reason for the 2nd brake is: I think drop bars look ugly with only one brake on one side

@leduch

3 жыл бұрын

wrong! njoylife

@vianna1331

3 жыл бұрын

I have both levers on the bars, however I only have the front brake installed, I just like the feeling of riding on the hoods

@Frostyfunta

3 жыл бұрын

@@vianna1331 that's another good option

@davidburgess741

3 жыл бұрын

Just need lever next to stem for group rides. No hoods needed on drop bars if it's flat terrain. Like to ride with hands next to stem so brakeless makes sense solo in nowhere.

@rizen3467

3 жыл бұрын

Thats more like 3 reasons btw

I wanted to switch to brakeless for a long time. I rode with a front brake for five months and didn't touch it once and then I got into a hairy situation and drifted around the obstacle instead of using my always neglected front brake. I figured if I wasn't going to use it instinctively in an emergency then I might as well just get rid of it. I have been riding brakeless ever since (about two years).

Having a break from brakes again

I ride both. I like both. Brakeless is more defensive and stimulating. Riding with brakes you can be more aggressive.

I ride brakeless purely because hospitals accept fixie points, swag and snobbery! Also because being a brakeless proactive cyclist the world and traffic part like the red sea when I roll on by to create the utmost predictable riding experience. Brakeless or brakes, what prevents accidents is perception, prediction, reactions, bike handling. Sometimes we do get ourselves into situations where there is no time for any reaction or prediction and regardless of being brakeless or brakes wont get you out of a shitty situation. You crashed into that old bird not because of brakes but the lack of perception and prediction that she will 90% stop for a changing light.

Not long started riding fixed again after a 3 year break, rode with a front brake in the past but built this bike without one and it feels so much more connected to ride. You really have to be smart and plan ahead and it makes you a better rider, plus it looks cooler without a brake!

Im sure if I had a car with no brakes I would drive more carefully.

@RE-vl8ii

3 жыл бұрын

But can you stop your car with your legs?

@roldiniamadeo7163

3 жыл бұрын

@@RE-vl8ii no, but you can just go into your lowest gear to make stopping that much easier. (Not much but its something)

@noonehere4332

3 жыл бұрын

I drive a fixed gear car brakeless to feel more connected to the road.

@leduch

3 жыл бұрын

sure engine break!

@RE-vl8ii

3 жыл бұрын

@@noonehere4332 yea but what ratio?

Why I rode a brakeless bike in the past: it was fun, I was zen and, mostly, I was dumb AF. My knees and smashed balls and some near death experiences had made me install breaks and later change to single speed with coaster brake.

@justineaves1977

3 жыл бұрын

Coaster brake forever👍

@leduch

3 жыл бұрын

yes you are dumb, that your answer

@marcol7847

3 жыл бұрын

BeboSaab I don’t get it? Is that slow of fast?

@event4216

3 жыл бұрын

@@justineaves1977 Coaster brake sounds like a plan to use chain for what it weren't designed. And you can't backpedal which is most enjoying aspect of freewheel.

Just subbed, got gifted a surly cross check and was gonna convert it to fixed. Thanks for all the solid pointers.

personally i ride in a hectic city, and not having my front brake would be darn near suicidal. I've also had my chain come off on fast descents before, and if I didn't have a brake I would be in some deep trouble there. That said I do like to try and use the brake as little as possible, and if I ever need the feeling of not having a brake I just ride up on my bullhorns, with the brake lever down by my stem.

@leduch

3 жыл бұрын

free your brain learn to ride njoylife

@ashleighmason4982

3 жыл бұрын

I also had my chain off on a descent recently, but brakeless. Fortunately I practiced footjam before 😸

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@@ashleighmason4982 Get chain tensioner.

@ashleighmason4982

3 жыл бұрын

Chain tensioner on a fixed gear? How do you imagine that? And I have a proper chainline, less than 0,5mm error. Just to much chain slack plus cobbles equals trouble.

Im just scared of the rear tire popping or chain breaking

@ashhill308

3 жыл бұрын

Don't be, chill out

@davidszyszka5188

3 жыл бұрын

If your chain were to snap, you could just jam your foot on top of the back tire, and you'll stop

I ride a steel road bike with disc brakes. That hasn’t stopped me from being hyperaware of my surroundings when I commute around Manila.

@ejquintana5572

3 жыл бұрын

Riding fixed(no coasting available) is way different from a road bike(coasting available) bro.

@jonathangapay1724

3 жыл бұрын

@@ejquintana5572 still not an excuse to not be aware of your surroundings when cycling.

@ejquintana5572

3 жыл бұрын

I know I'm not making a excuse. I'm just pointing out that riding fixed is ways different from riding a conventional bike with the capability of coasting. This matter is for mostly fixed gear riders which think they ride more proactively Brakeless than with brakes. Also brakes on a fixed gear has a Different feeling than coasting then braking.

@ejquintana5572

3 жыл бұрын

Just sayin that not all riders(on any bike) are proactive. Riding fixed brakeless for us makes it more so reason to be more proactive than normal is all I'm pointing out. Its not to offend anyone. I'm sorry if my comment was offending to you.

@jonathangapay1724

3 жыл бұрын

Elijohn David Matthew Quintana nah it’s cool. It just irks me to see other cyclists (fixed or geared or whatever) be reckless on the road. Like here some cyclists seem to think that the red light doesn’t apply to them. They just go on, crossing a big ass intersection with trucks and cars crossing.

I agree with most of your points. The one thing that I don’t like about riding brakeless is that you have to make decisions about stopping much further in advance. For instance, you might be going down a hill with a red light at the bottom that will likely turn green by the time you get there, but you don’t know for sure. Riding brakeless, you’d have to start back peddling pretty early on to have your speed under control in case you can’t get through the red and actually need to stop. If you had brakes, you could go much faster down the hill.

@eknib

3 жыл бұрын

good points!

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

I cared about speed when I was riding my road bike. Started riding fixed gear last year, and never had brakes on it. I feel safe on it and always aware of the world around me. Not listening to music and I don't have a cellphone, when I'm riding my bike all I think about is pedaling, and nothing else matters. Riding brakeless makes you safer, I know it sounds dumb, but if you ride brakeless all the time, you know what I'm talking about.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab I have no fear. Fear makes you weaker.

I bought my fixed gear bike brakeless last year. And never had brakes on it since day one. Started thinking about fixed gear bikes many years ago, when I was a road biker. And I knew back then that my fixed gear bike is going to be brakeless, and I had to learn how to brake. It took me few months to feel comfortable on fixed gear, and it took me a year to feel one with a bike. When you are in control of every move, it is a great feeling. I found a perfect bike for life.

I made the transitions to brakeless during quarantine in chicago while traffic was low, it took a bit of adjustment to my pedal stroke but now it feels totally natural. learning to backpedal/skid from both sides is key!

@Zachsnotboard

3 жыл бұрын

I'm in Chicago and just got into fixed but I'm having a hard time not getting loose lockring. Can't imagine not having a front break

If it's not on this channel. It's not a topic in the biking realm. This channel is so underrated I hate it. U upload great videos for people to learn from. You rock Zach! 🤙🤙🤙

Looking cool and Zen vs. Having a backup and being practical.

I gotta say after a few gnarly crashes on my first fixed gear (midnight blue wabi classic, thanks to you Zach) -- i just can't stop without brakes yet very well. Working my way down from 2 brakes to 1 brake to eventually.. 0! Great video man

@franciss2529

3 жыл бұрын

Yep, take your time and you can still ride 'brakeless' with a front brake (just try not to use it). Only go brakeless if you're confident in yourself.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab Fixed gear brakeless is the best. And I travel more than 25mph. Weak legs make you a slow rider.

My trick is that I have a front brake but it is so unmaintained it is a 1 time use emergency brake cause it does not spring back. I rely on my legs and reaction time to keep me alive out there.

hey zach, what do you use to film your riding view of the handlebars looking forward? a chest mount of some type?

Zach, you look really healthy in this video! Must be Taiwan and going full zen brakeless. Keep up the great videos, I'd particularly love to see a big all day fixed gear mountain ride.

@leduch

3 жыл бұрын

come to chamonix brakeless!!!!!!

this is a beatiful video lol. love your bike too, those wabis are really nice

Hey Zack, are you selling those brakes? I'm in the process of buying the exact same model but I'd rather get used ones than buying new...

Usually about a pound less for no front brake. Really flat around here but there is an aero benefit. Riding in the middle of nowhere can't imagine how he does it in Taipei! Once removed 1/2 of 28 spokes front wheel! No trueing needed afterwards! Added them back after covid struck and started carrying a new spare tire. Solo rides only. Old time steel rider on aluminum fixed track bike. Old school early season training involved spinning 67 inch gear at high rpm. 70 good and 76 when going really well. So I picked a 74. Difference is not keeping constant speed regardless but more rolling with the punches. Sometimes people don't realize I'm riding fixed at all.

Even though I never used the brakes on my bike, when I took one of my brakes off it felt way different in a good way

Front brake only here ! I have contemplated the idea of taking it off but my commute is 45 minutes long (I have to cross Paris from west to east) and my job is quite hard on my body already so I like to rely on something else than the energy that’s left inside my legs when I get back home completely exhausted or carrying loads of stuff. I will try it someday tho, just to make sure I’m not missing on something by wanting to feel safe enough that I can enjoy a podcast while riding in a big city.

Those bars look gigantic!

Can I get some help? I just purchased a leader fixie with no brakes and want to add rear brakes. The rim In the back says sun ringle mtx 33 and online says disk rim. So that means if I want to add rear brakes I have to look in disk applications? Thank you!! And thanks for all your useful videos !

That flow state reference tho. Super on point

Hey Zach, great vid. Don't have a comment on cycling as I haven't tried fixed yet, but I was wondering what the music is in this video. Can you post it?

I ride brakeless because that's how my brother rode his, and when he passed his bike down to me I decided to as well. I do think it's makes you more engaged but I still find myself having trouble slowing down around blind spots. I'm going to install a front brake as an emergency because I'd personally rather be safe than sorry. Will see how it goes but I don't think I'll bike any more aggressive than I am now.

I knew a guy who told me to go brakeless because "it's the best thing ever". Then he hit a car, went OTB and fell on the driveway. Where he was overrun by a car. He ended up with 17 broken bones, including both shoulders, pelvis bone and skull fractures. After one year in hospital he was able to ride again. He also lost his job due to the long recovery time. Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab B.S.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab I have the best bike in the world and I'm happy with it. Sorry, I'm not gay, go talk to other guys.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab Who are you? Troll with no life?

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab Go find other partner, who is gay and likes your stupid humor.

Great video my friend. Riding brakeless is really the only way to go. and you're right, it's something that you get a taste for and once you get that tastes and learn what it is "to be one with the wheel", you just don't want to ride any other way. Great video.

Aside from the whole theme here, those are some sweet brake levers! Do you know the make and model?

What brand of handlebars are you using here?

What a fun surprise seeing the name Csíkszentmihályi Mihály in this video as a random hungarian subscriber

Respect all original push bikers. Fixed breakless, you’re not on the bike - you are the bike. ...It’s my favorite therapy.

I've been using coaster breaks, yes ik... But I've come to realize that my riding even with just those feels better than with actual levers

Zach what gear ratio are you running?

It's a young man's game i played it... all fun until your riding partner or you can't stop when a car door opens not his fault and not avoidable never walked normal again. Fun fun fun don't what to be a downer been around the block a few. Love your enthusiasm and channel have a great day thumbs up stay awesome.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab Fixed gear bikes were and still are popular since 1900s. You are jealous that your legs are weaker than those who ride fixed.

@ashleighmason4982

3 жыл бұрын

Please continue, I'll just grab my popcorn 🤣

That’s why I ride fixed gear, one with the bike and nothing else matters in the world just the surrounding and my fixed gear bike 🚲 and the sunsets while riding 🌅

"Running the red, killing the peds" Gives us a shirt @zach!

Where did you buy your silver cockpit?

What is the type of drop bars does Zach has?

Zack.... plz do a Q&A while your in Taiwan. The Q&A videos def hit differently

I rode a freewheel BMX without brakes for years as a kid. Most of my riding was done on dirt roads, however. I just built my first fixie and wrapped the old bars without levers. I rode it for 2 or 3 rides before I took the neck off and put a set of flat bars and a front brake on. Maybe one day I'll be confident enough to ride around my busy town with no brakes, but now is not that time

@OGxBUCCWEET

Жыл бұрын

Why would u even want to? No other machine known to man is there a conversation about "should I remove the brakes or not".

It’s all flatland where I live so brakeless isn’t a problem. I’ve developed a great foresight when riding and resonate with that flow state mentioned where you’re not thinking, you’re doing.

Bro, I liked this! Riding with Patrick Fixie King and the Phixed Kings crew definitely influenced me to ride brskeless. I dont know what it was, but riding brskeless fixed was way more fun. I'm not going to lie at first I was scared to death riding in public, but after watching your video as well as others on how to ride fixed, I'm much more confident. Long story short I switched back to the freewheel with brakes because I did not want to develop bad knees but all in all it was a fun experience. Btw check out the video I did on "How To Wheelie A Bike" where I actually did this on a fixed gear bike and that was my first time doing a wheelie on a fixed gear, LOL.

Fixie with breaks is like cow with the 5th leg in the front. The part about the flow and zen very accurate regarding riding fixie. 😊 Take care. 😊

FUCKIN YES ZACH YOU ARE NOW CONNECTED TO US BRAKELESS RIDERS ♥️

I have a front brake on my fixed gear, and I mostly use it at traffic lights to lock the front wheel, and then use my left leg (which is connected to my clipless pedals) to raise the rear of my bike, and set the pedals in my preferred starting position (left foot forward when I start). I also have it for emergencies, but for the most part (easily 90% of the time) I just backpedal to slow down.

@davidburgess741

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I do miss that when riding brakeless. Stop mostly under shade trees in this unbearable heat and track stand at intersections. Track stands easier with toe clearance.

Oh how we love Zach

I ride brakeless. Been riding fixed for about 9 years now. I am 22 with my cutter V5 on velocity rims. Not spectacular but a gem in my eyes. I agree, I do feel one with the bike!

i have more near accidents when im riding slowly because i zone out and dont pay attention as well. similar kinda thing

I ride with a front brake and am considering going brakeless when I move to a flatter city, I remember commuting and barely using it at all but now I'm using my front brake almost all the time, not sure why but I loved commuting and trying not to brake on long descents. I feel that sometimes brakeless is fun, but only in small doses. It's like a weird drug in a way.

Hey Zach, do any Fixes at all have disk breaks?

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

You can always install a fork from other bike with disk brakes and get a 700c rim with disk brakes. I know that some people have them.

@Brantastic07

3 жыл бұрын

Ninja Cyclist Thanks

I seldomly use my brakes. I ditched my rear brake 'cause it's redundant. Instead of having an idle aero lever, I just connected it to my bells in order to trigger it. It's fun and unusual. Use your brakes incase of sudden emergency.

I can totally relate. Added a brake, and depended on the brake all the time. After some time I had to re-learn how to skid. After that have never put the brake back on... One of your best videos, keep the good work up man.

I want advice: I bought a Genesis Flyer 2021 in aluminum... the seller was really quick and gave me a 120 dollar off and then they rebuilt it to a fixie with raiser bars directly in the store... I bought it the day before Christmas as a gift to myself... but when I tried it crossing some pedestrian edges between street and pedestrian pavement it felt really harsh crushing into the edges/stones... is the Genesis Flyer 2021 in aluminum a real horrible buy!? Have I thrown my money in the garbage!? I payed 7450 sek which is about 750 Euro... and then a good lock, raisers, grips, cog, front brake etc and ended up at 1040 sek 1040 euro or somewhere around those number!? Should I return it!? I was looking for a Cinelli Tipo Pista but they had none... Then I sae this to me totally unknown brand Genesis and the size was pretty good for me when I tested it... But after having tested it at home I started to have second thoughts... actually the first thing that happened at Christmas when I tested it is that I got hit by a taxi and got stuck in the straps and hurt my elbow and hip as I smacked right down in the ice beneath the taxi! 🥶🤕... so got kind of complex feelings if I will learn fixie now at all... any advice is good! the owner said he will take 70 dollar / euro to re-ensemble the bike to the single gear with drop bars as it was sold if I turn it back and I of course need to keep the raisers, grips, straps and lock... so is a loss but maybe is a loss worth to take to find a better choice down the road!? what you guys think!? Thanks a lot from a beginner! 🙏🏻

Hi anyone know a steel frame that have 40mm tire clearance? I want to build my first single speed, Thank you

@AegisShroud

3 жыл бұрын

Surly steamroller has 38mm clearance, it's a fantastic frameset

@MrTheop18

3 жыл бұрын

@@AegisShroud Yeah i heard about it too, thankyou for your recommendation.

@MrTheop18

3 жыл бұрын

@BeboSaab I'll look into it, thank you

I have 2 fixed gears, one with brakes and one without,I enjoy riding brakeless a lot more, because it makes me pay so much more attention to what I'm doing, with brakes I can just mash the pedals e don't have to concentrate quite as much

I don’t get the old lady story no brakes you could’ve swerved and made the intersection with brakes the same could’ve been achieved instead of coming to a stop.

I’d really love to go brakeless one of these days, but my area is just so damn hilly.

IMO, brakes are safer for my style of riding. I know I can rely on them in an emergency and not to rely on them too much so that I don't enjoy the ride as much/keep myself riding as carefully if I didnt have them. I started out from a MTB background though so being prepared to use my breaks is second nature to me. HOWEVER, I also ride brakeless on 2 out my 3 fixed gear bikes because its honestly just more fun. you have to ride so differently and be more prepared all the time. I'm not gonna say that it's more dangerous with a brake but you have to make a conscious effort to alter the way you ride if you have no brakes compared to when you do. This takes practice and effort.

I've got a front brake that I still hadn't the need to use...luckily.

I don't feel the Zen in the traffic I have to deal with ... if I want to stay legal.😔

I have fixed gear that has brake on the rear wheel because I ride mostly on the hills (before Covid).

Joy can be found in all bikes. Just know that brakeless is meant for the track. But I like the hand positions they offer Go Zach! Did u do the KOM fixed before you have to leave Taiwan???

The gearing has a lot to do with it also. The taller of a gear you run, to more leverage that rear wheel has over the cranks. Going brakeless becomes a no go.

Handlebar width?

30x30 vid coming soon?

Top bling cockpit components?

The dream for me is a fixed gear with a massive disc brake in the front lol.

@ashhill308

3 жыл бұрын

Disc brakes are 2x death

@Max-xl3ml

3 жыл бұрын

@@ashhill308 stopies tho 🤘lol. Plus I do a lot of steep offroad riding and just back pedaling is sketch.

what size are those barzzzz

I ride an old steel road bike, the break levers don't work so they act more as speed control than actual stopping power. so I can understand the appeal of that awareness but actually having control

I can have perfect flow on a bike with gears and brakes. To feel the different cogs how the chain flows from one to another. Being part of a more complex machine. I understand it is easier to flow on a fixi but it is possible on any bike

Riding Reynolds 531 1978 Team Record Raleigh upgraded breaks wheels bottom bracket.Tiagra derailleur rear only one large 52 chain 8speed. Its ZEN best experience on a bike for me better then my Specialized Allez Carbon. I think you must find the bike you get connected and chances are old Steel bike might do!

Been riding no breaks for 2 years, rode all over LA

It's illegal most places for a reason. By the way guys, does this comment section sound like it has a lot of echo?

I got given a single speed bike recently (The first bike i have really owned in years) and i'm not a fan of the style of handle bars it has on them so I want to switch them to drop bars, the only problem being, I don't have the money to buy brake levers for drop bars aswell as a new stem and bars. So now i'm tempted to switch my bike to fixie and go brake-less, at least until i can afford levers too. This video is making it slightly more tempting!

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

I started riding brakeless since day one. Not going to have brakes on my bike ever. I trust myself more than brakes.

@SubparSkill

3 жыл бұрын

@@silentcyclist Just curious, what type of pedals do you use? I'm new to bikes in general really and I'm assuming it's pretty difficult to stop on a brakeless fixie without clipless pedals or something similar?

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@@SubparSkill I bought nice, wide mountain bike pedals. I was riding clipless pedals for 5 years on road bike. And now I like to wear any shoes I want, sometimes I ride without shoes at all and feel safe and comfortable. Thought about installing my clipless pedals from road bike, but changed my mind. But it's just my opinion.

@SubparSkill

3 жыл бұрын

@@silentcyclist Thanks for the help, I was a bit worried the stopping power would be too bad with regular pedals considering you can't pull up to stop aswell as pushing down. Good to hear you can make it work without clipless :)

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@@SubparSkill I was really careful when I started riding fixed. You can pull with straps and I would recommend everyone who rides brakeless to get clipless pedals or some kind of straps.

I like riding my fixed gear bike with the fixed cog on the non-drive side, i.e., with the freewheel side in the drivetrain :-). Needless to say, I have both front and rear brakes.

Great vid. Brakes that are ill maintained and don't stop well are death.

I feel the same way! That feeling that you think your connected to the bike lol.

Damn Zach finally fixed his hair lookin 👌🏻

Bikes look so much cooler brakeless IMO, but in the UK it's illegal to cycle in public without at least 2 methods of effective braking (back pedalling counts as one!), I'm still pretty new to fixed gear but I want to get to the point where I'm fine with taking off the rear brake, and I'm making more and more journeys where I don't even touch the brake levers.

I also am sometimes really close to crashes with breaks.... I actually don't know if I should remove them because I am so used to them. Also I feel like the bike I am riding is not rigit enough to skitt all the time.... I just don't have the mula to buy a better one tho xD

I have front brakes cause sometimes my leg is tired of braking.

Hi Zak. I like your videos (except for the fact that you speak very fast -my English is poor-) and I am very interested in trying a fixie. Let me tell you my story. I am nearly 60 years old, live in Argentina. When I was a child (12 or 13 years old) me and my friends like to ride bikes all day. They were regular bikes, nothing special. We loved to take out all extra gear, at that time all bikes we can afford were single speed, but we ride them without brakes. We used to put our shoes right on the wheel to stop the bike. The front wheel usually, buy also the rear wheel . At that time in Argentina th traffic was not o heavy like now. Oh man, those were funny days!

You do feel more connected with breakless, but it's also very limiting on how you ride your bike, especially riding along with other people that don't run breakless fixed. Also, riding a stiff aggressive track geo while being ultra proactive and less reactive is kinda losing the entire point of the bike and it's not fun for me.

Good respectable brake calipers and pads are great

I prefer mine with a front brake simply because I live on the hills. Like every time I decide to even take a stroll or just a chill ride in my town I find myself going up and down steep ass hills lmao.

Do not have brakes on my fixed gear road bikes. However, I do have a front disc brake on my fixed gear cyclocross bike and I have disc brakes front and rear on my fixed gear mountain bike.

@jamesmitchell6209

3 жыл бұрын

fixed gear mountain bikes are a thing??? wouldnt they not handle jumps very well?

@theonlyalan731

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamesmitchell6209 yes, it's no good for jumping. But if I plan to jump, I'll use my other mountain bike.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, fixed gear cyclocross. Never seen those. I bet you need disk brake when you go on crazy trails. Does your mountain bike have suspension?

@theonlyalan731

3 жыл бұрын

@@silentcyclist yeah, fixed gear cross is fun. But not terribly practical. The disc brake really helps. My fixed gear mountain bike does not have suspension. My regular mountain bike (kona big hanzo st) has 150 mm suspension fork but no rear suspension.

@silentcyclist

3 жыл бұрын

@@theonlyalan731 I started my cycling life with mountain bikes, then switched to road bike for few years. And switched to fixed gear year ago, and I never had so much fun on other kind of bikes. Every ride on fixed gear is adventure.

What if your chain drops or breaks...

@davidburgess741

3 жыл бұрын

Done right this won't happen. Good chain tension, carefully shimmed spider to chainring, and carefully installed master link. Trust Wipperman 108 connex 1/8".

I studied psychology and the "flow experience" is much more than that. It is a sense of pure involvement in an activity caused by a perfect balance of personal skills and challenge. By the way I totally agree with you. Stay safe

Well done video. Sorry I don't support your arguments for not having brakes. Brakeless is probably related to a higher need for taking risks. The brain gets a shot of dopamine. The same argument is heard from people who don't want to wear seatbelts. Now, breakless is fine as long as you don't put other people at risk. That is the issue.

Fixed gears were introduced to me as a kid with no brakes so the idea of breaks on my bike is so foreign and kinda disgusts me. Not saying that concededly just how I feel. When you get used to maneuvering the bike with no breaks it feels odd to ride a bike with breaks