11 responses so far ↓

• 1 Moe // Jan 9, 2008 at 3:36 pm

  Man, if you are going to be silly enough to ride brake-less, at least put a lid on…

• 2 Mike Myers // Jan 9, 2008 at 4:13 pm

  Riding a brakeless fixed gear anywhere except a velodrome is crazy enough, but even trackies wear helmets. Crazy.

• 3 Dominic Dougherty // Jan 9, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  Not to mention illegal
  CVC 21202 and 21204

• 4 Mike Myers // Jan 9, 2008 at 8:49 pm

  There was an incident in Portland, Oregon in which a rider on a brakeless fixed gear was given a ticket for not having a brake. I believe the case went to court and the rider’s defense was that a fixed could skid to stop as well as a brake. Nuts. Skidding isn’t braking.

• 5 Ghost Rider // Jan 9, 2008 at 9:14 pm

  Mike, the wording of that particular Oregon (or Portland) law states something to the effect that a brake must be able to lock up and skid the rear tire on clean, dry pavement…or maybe that’s just how I remember reading it.

  Either way, that rider lost the case. The courts ruled that the brake must be a separate mechanical device other than pedaling force.

• 6 ryan // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:50 am

  “It’s kind of the new, cool thing,” Long said. “I like to say it’s become the new Ugg boot in town.”

  Note to self, never ride a fixie, it’s become the new Ugg boot.

• 7 Moe // Jan 10, 2008 at 8:15 am

  There’s nothing wrong with riding a fixed gear bicycle. They are fun, they are great for training/exercise. Just because they are a few punks giving fixies a bad name, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give them a try.

• 8 Quinn // Jan 10, 2008 at 9:52 am

  Fixies are all to common here in Reno, my best friend rides his every where. I think 1 more think just as crazy is not only riding it fixie, helmetless and Clipless!
  although, that is probably the only way they ride up the hills here.
  Thank you Ghost for mentioning about skidding, about having a good enough brake to skid.
  skidding my not be as powerful as a mechanical brake, but it will most likely will slow you down enough to put your foot down, and if you ask me I trust a size 9 “brake pad” a bit more than a lil rim brake pad.

• 9 Ghost Rider // Jan 10, 2008 at 10:13 am

  Well, folks could do it “Ted Shred”-style…a freewheel-based bike with no brakes. I present to you:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5W1Z23wPg

• 10 dontcoast! // Jan 10, 2008 at 2:37 pm

  well, for one, “brakeless” fixies are not illegal everywhere. for example, not in WASHINGTON FUCKING DC (id never thought id use dc as a positive example)
  1204.1 Each bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which enables the operator to cause the braked wheels to skid on dry, level, clean pavement; provided, that a fixed gear bicycle is not required to have a separate brake, but an operator of a fixed gear bicycle shall be able to stop the bicycle using the pedals.

  i think its waaaay dumber to ride no clips than no brakes. -clips are my brakes

  and, the law requires one to be able to skid on flat dry pavement. if ted shred can ride brakeless freewheel and skid down huge hills, hes not braking the law. if i rode his bike, i would be, cuz i cant skid it.

  so, someone who rides my bike and cant skid is also breaking the law

  point being, its about the riding, not the bike

  and RIP lucian, i think that was mostly really bad luck. huge delivery trucks are unforgiving.

  i know a messenger who was crippled for a year cuz such a truck back up onto her while she was standing. some shit you cant do much about.

• 11 Moe // Jan 10, 2008 at 3:20 pm

  Man, I used to ride my BMX to High School Ted-shred style and I got a freaking ticket for it!!! My parents were not happy either, I was going thru tennis shoes like they owned a store.

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