Braking, how to?

thanks for the quick advice. i have a front brake. i've just started up on a fixed wheel so feel uncomfortable about putting straps on. i guess i'll move onto straps after a few weeks, i have the right pedals.
thanks again.

No worries - have fun!

Twigdip, riding fixed without clips or straps is lunacy IMO, you gain so much: control, pedal stroke efficiency, not to mention stopping power! Hence why you never see anyone with any common sense riding fixed without one of the above. Do yourself a favour get some clips or straps sooner rather than later,
(I prefer double toe straps) because inevitably you will need them if you want to be able to control your bike at any kinda speed above 10mph.

Honestly, CrazyJames is right - the problem with running just a front brake is that if you have to stop quickly, you're going right over your bars. Straps take about half an hour to get used to and pulling out of them is really easy.

You could just lean forward enough I guess.. but then you won't be able to stop :)

strap will feel very weird the first 3 weeks, you'll feel that you can never get the hang of it, but sooner or later it'll feel 2nd nature easily.

just HTFU with the strap until later on you'll go "what the fuck was I am complaining about? it's easy as pie!".

You can but riding a fixed bike without clips and straps, or clipless is crazy.

I only use one clip, does that mean I'm only half crazy?
(intending to go clipless by mid jan)

I am also new to fixed and have clips and straps for the first time. I would say that certain shoes make it easier or harder to get in and out, but mostly it's practice. I nailed skidding this week and would say it's much easier on the bullhorns than flats, due to weight placement. You also just have to grow some balls and try it - locking your legs at speed feels like suicide at first, but you quickly gain confidence; and I find most of the skid is affected by pulling up on the leading foot. Be warned: you will have aching hips and groin for a day or two...

Honestly, CrazyJames is right - the problem with running just a front brake is that if you have to stop quickly, you're going right over your bars. Straps take about half an hour to get used to and pulling out of them is really easy.

I think unless you already basically on top of your front wheel, it'd be really hard to flip the bike like that. If you're sitting in your saddle normally the weighting will stop it happening. Whilst this is all just conjecture on my part, as it's never happened to me, I'm pretty sure it'd be totally unlikely to happen.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't get clips and straps! Save yourself!

You can but riding a fixed bike without clips and straps, or clipless is crazy.

No it isn't. Riding one without clips/straps or clipless without brakes is crazy.

I reckon it is partly in the gearing, partly in the attitude. 44x16 works for me (it is about 70 gear inches I think??). try skidding first on wet grass, then try on those footpath pavers with the little dimples on them which are nice and slidey when wet. youve got to really commit to the slid, half hearted doesnt work you will just wrench your legs. oh yeah, and get those bollocks up nice and personal with the stem. good luck...

wet grass is a good idea. if it's not wet out then trying skids on cinderpaths is ok, worked for me.

With some practice, you can actually back spin on wet grass or very slippy roads. I found this out by accident. Fucking terrifying, but quite fun when you get used to it.

I know its a bit off topic but are these any good for fixed cycling? http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/38312/Shimano-PD520-Spd-Pdl-Blk/

I use them. Lots of people on here reckon ATACs are less likely to unclip. It all depends on how much you twist your feet if/when skidding.

I think unless you already basically on top of your front wheel, it'd be really hard to flip the bike like that. If you're sitting in your saddle normally the weighting will stop it happening. Whilst this is all just conjecture on my part, as it's never happened to me, I'm pretty sure it'd be totally unlikely to happen.

Ummm yes, yes it does.

When i started riding fixed i tried on flats, as i figured it was safer - Epic Fail - 2 weeks later with my shins looking like they had seen some serious cheese grater action from slipping off the flats, i bit the bullet and got some spuds and it all started to make sense . .

Get clipped/strapped in now as you will just kick yourself for not doing it sooner once you have, so why put off the inevitable?

Being attached to the pedals is what gives you the control to skid/ manage you speed properly on a fixed gear bike, and once mastered enables you to ride with so much more control than with a freewheel!

Not totally sure what the OP after... If you wanna stop quickly and you have a front brake then you use you legs and brake in combination to stop, but the OP seems to be obsessed with 'skidding'... If i ride brakeless i actually try to AVOID skidding, i try to foresee what the traffic/peds are doing ahead of me and ride in a way that takes them into consideration.... And the whole 'getting your balls over the stem' is great advice if you wanna skid as far as possible, but if the aim is to stop then you want as much weight over the back wheel as possible.... Think about it... And although its not the general rule i know people who can ride and skid without clips just fine, it's just very difficult, but these are the same people who ride hills and pop wheelies on 52-16... Chickin.... Go figure...?!

No it isn't. Riding one without clips/straps or clipless without brakes is crazy.

I didn't suggest riding brakeless, did I?

How about these bad boys? better or worse Hippy? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5937

It'd be worth using the search function on the subject of pedals Stein.

Whoopsydodles, well im lazy.
Just thought I would but in.:D

Ummm yes, yes it does.

I consider myself corrected. However I kind of think I'm right, until I have proof of the opposite.

a scar on your chin you mean?

;-)

How about these bad boys? better or worse Hippy? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5937

I had a set of flat/spd pedals. Since I'm almost exclusively riding in SPDs the flat side was a waste of space and made it more annoying to clip into. They were ok, but I prefer the double-sided SPD pedals.