Brakeless in Berlin

and reflecting peddles

found it = a simple clamp, shouldn't be hard to make providing you got the material, even free;

oh jesus christ, that's ingenious! right though, i'm not going through that much trouble. i'll chuck a front brake on and if that's not enough, i'll have to get a geared bike i guess.

the rear one is a great idea for a cheap clamp-on brake for herne hill come to think of it, much cheaper (free even) than getting a clamp-on one for the front.

" i thought about scrunching up some aluminium foil to look like a brake..."

quality!

Apparently they actually have started seizing bikes from curryers...

.

here you go sunshine it'll take plod several hours to figure this one out

Well, the police checks have been massive the last couple of weeks. Hopefully it'll be over tomorrow, but from now on we all know here in Berlin that police (even plain clothes police!!!) are aware of what a "fixie" is...
A good friend of mine got nicked last week (and he wasn't even riding his bike!!! He was coming back from a pick up and he's approached by two guys showing their police IDs and saying his bike had no brakes).
I've heard more stories about people losing their bikes as well...
My mate is back on the road with a front brake and he's still waiting for the ticket to arrive (maybe there'll be more trouble, as his bike had no side-reflectors, dynamo lights, pedal-reflectors, bell, etc.).
I've been riding my geared bike since the checks started....I got problems enough and it'll be better to spend some 100 euros on bike parts than on a police ticket...

blimey, even people with town bike whose only brake is a coaster one is fuc ked as well.

i was told to get off my bike by a pig recently, due to me having no brakes. He knew exactly how my bike was, so no coaster brake bullshit or "it stops by squeezing the handle bars" lines.

Hmm, just back from Berlin - Strange and alluring place.

But that aside, I barely saw any fuzz in 4 days of walking all over the city. They are certainly a lot more low pro than london.

Loadsa of bikes though. Personal favourite being a rusty, battered old colnago Saronni rep locked up at the bottom of simon dachs strasse with a 2quid chinese lock. Trusting lot the Berliners.

Made the pilgramage on saturday to Keirin Cafe but it was closed! Ach so, es ist alles wurst as (i think) they say....

Ach so, es ist alles wurst as (i think) they say....

If what you mean is 'I see, nothing is worth caring about', then yes. ;)

I thought that might draw you out Oliver....what is it with everyone practising German these days!

I was hoping to suggest something on the lines of 'never mind, nothing to be bothered about' (sorta)

I shall definitely brush up on a little grammar before my next visit.

I was hoping to suggest something on the lines of 'never mind, nothing to be bothered about' (sorta)

"Naja, macht nichts, ist nicht so schlimm."

Hi all,
I'm a reporter based in Berlin writing an article about the German police's crackdown on fixies. Anybody with a story to tell, please get in touch.
cheers,
Chris

you're better off trying on the berlin fixed gear site. and also better off not calling them "fixies"

Hi all,
I'm a reporter based in Berlin writing an article about the German police's crackdown on fixies. Anybody with a story to tell, please get in touch.
cheers,
Chris

Burn him...

Burn him...

Burn his face first.....

Hi all,
I'm a reporter based in London writing an article about the LFGSS forum's crackdown on 'fixies'. Anybody with a story to tell, please get in touch.
Cheers,
Oliver

wow. That's nuts.