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@roxy
As I wrote to the editor yesterday before the article went to print:
"Hi Lucy,
I've been talking to Alice about your fixed gear piece. Firstly let me say that I'm happy that it sounds like someone is writing a positive piece about the culture and also 'm happy to be a part of that.
But, I've been supplying photos to the photo desk and it's gotten me a bit worried. As you know the media seems to give lots of inches to lollipop ladies complaining about cyclists while giving less inches to the fact that two messengers were just hit last week by HGV's (one may never walk again) and another commuter cyclist was just killed. So it worries me when someone gets excited about "brakeless fixies".
Fixed Gear doesn't equal riding brakeless, it's a misnomer. The drive shaft on a fixed gear bike counts for a brake. This is why while it is the law to ride with two working mechanical brakes fixed gear's can be ridden with only one hand brake. Working the drive shaft by providing resistance with your legs is a brake.
Also it is not the majority of fixed riders that "ride brakeless" (meaning a hand brake).
So looking for photos that are showing only brakeless bikes may give a wrong and prejudicial viewpoint to the average reader.
Feel free to call and discuss this, I know you're on deadline. And like I said, I'm looking forward to some great Sunday reading tomorrow!
Roxy"