Spotted in Bristol...

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, you can argue about this forever...

...or you can take a hint and try fixed (I'm glad you are). You'll almost certainly love it and certainly be faster and much safer.

very briefly spoke to a dude who came into the shop (BIKE UK) today, he was on a black unipack which (un)surprisingly needed the crank bolts changing after 1 day of riding.
I was pretty busy however, didn't have time to mention I rode fixed.
anyone here?

Bitch.

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, you can argue about this forever...

...or you can take a hint and try fixed (I'm glad you are). You'll almost certainly love it and certainly be faster and much safer.

Tis true Miro, I've ridden fixed before and loved it, so I expect I shall love it on my everyday ride too. See you out there.

J

Bitch.

that was you?

spotted around lunchtime today a guy riding up st michaels hill (the flat bit at the top) past somerfield. I was behind the cars so he couldnt see me.
Black frame with chrome fork and chrome rear triangle... cant remember much else, oh and a front brake.

that was you?

he was on a black unipack
Of course not. Take that back.

:)

[quote=whatfriends;435041]as for single speed and front brake, ive said it before and i'll continue to say it. no no no no. its fucking unsafe and its not just you you put at risk. and in case people care, its against the law.quote]

This may well be me, I really don't want to start an argument but in my defence:

I don't think it's 'fucking unsafe' and I don't see how I'm putting anyone at risk.
I don't know why a bike set up inspires such strong negative feeling.

When I put my bike together I wanted it as simple as possible, one brake, one gear, that's it. I didn't put it together thinking, 'I really hope everyone thinks I'm riding fixed', I didn't put it together to be part of scene, I put it together to ride to work on, which I've been doing perfectly safely for over a year.

So my cable might snap? Yeah if I don't maintain it properly, there's more of a chance, but the chances as is are tiny. I notice people don't give the brakeless crew a hard time about their chains snapping?

I might go over the handlebars? Only if I'm shit at riding my bike, only if I don't look ahead and have to slam the brake on without warning. If I was riding fixed this would still be a problem.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not a fixed hater, in fact I have no problem with how you choose to ride your bike or what you ride. The fact is you're riding, fucking good on ya, brakeless bmx to granny shopper, I salute you!

Anyway, in an interesting plot twist, I'm fixing the falcon this week. Should be fun, got lights too!

no argument, but to explain my point...

basically, if you only have one brake you are at risk for these reasons.

on a wet downhill- front brake only might mean the front wheel washes out
on a wet roundabout and you need to scrub off some speed- the front brake isnt ideal for the above reason.
on any surface which is a bit loose, re gravelled roads etc, see point one.
wet drain covers, see point one.

see where im going with this? none of these might ever happen, and i hope they dont. but if they do, and you only have a front brake, its lips to the floor.. if you are riding by yourself, with no traffic around, then fine. you dont take anyone else out, and you dont get hit by someone in a car who will have to live with it their whole life. its not only you who gets affected you see. however, if you have a legal bike, it could be said that on that point at least (your bike roadworthy-ness, not your riding), you were, in the eyes of the law, in the right. however, if any of the above happen and you have a freewheel and only one brake, its illegal, which may not be a consideration most of the time, but if it happens and someone else is involved, there are consequenses. you could get fucked over by the legal system and sued and all sorts and cycling aint worth that in my book.. of course, its only my opinion, mixed in with a bit of law. do what you like, just dont ride in front of me while you are doing it please.

cycling can change your life, sometimes even save your life, but as far as im concerned you have a duty to represent cycling whenever you ride. and if you ride an unsafe bike, or with no lights, or with a hood up so you have no peripheral vision, ride with bad road position etc etc etc, then you arent doing the cycling community or yourselves any favors.

like you said earlier The fact is you're riding, fucking good on ya, brakeless bmx to granny shopper, I salute you!

enjoy the falcon.

Nah mate, you must be mistaken!
have we met before? bond doesnt give much indication as to your name =]

Shit sorry, must have been Whatfirends! For some reason I get your names confused, I met a few heads one Thursday evening, that's it really...

Hi Whatfriends, I couldn't agree more with a lot of your points, and I think riding responsibly and with consideration is paramount to encouraging more people to ride and respect cyclists.

I think I disagree with your concern about the front wheel sliding away, as I said, you have to learn to ride your bike well, my eyes are always open for drain covers, white lines gravel, frost etc and I've never had a problem because I ride with care. 75% of your stopping power is in the front brake and if you learn to feather it, rather than slam it on, then you don't wash out. I know this because I've been riding this bike for over a year and I've never had a problem, I know what the limits are. I don't know about the legalities of the situation so I can't comment on that.

People who ride fixed and with brakes fall off (there's chat on this group about that) people who don't maintain their bikes properly fall off (I was one of them a few years back) I don't think I represent a danger to other road users anymore than those people, legality outstanding.

Anyway, I'm fixed now so I will ride in front of you with no worries! I'm sure we can agree to disagree.

See you around, J

jetpac - you're just plain wrong. whatfriends is being polite.

the whole point of fixed is that you have a back brake by using your legs. you also then have a front brake for emergencies/as back up (and yes, to be legal). being ignorant of the law ain't no excuse.

NoBrake fixed on the road is another discussion, but you arguably still have waay more control riding that than you do with your set up. you've already admitted that you've given up 25% of your braking power by riding one brake on a ss. why, for the sake of a 'clean' back end with no brake caliper?!

there's also a reason why a) no-one rides your set up* and b) you aren't able to buy any bike with this set up.

good luck with your falcon - riding fixed should help clarify the points above.

*apart from whoever's bike it was i saw locked up outside the arnolfini last summer - geared, with back brake but no front.

Ha ha, I feel like I've poked a wasps nest! I disagree, what can I say!? Over and out.

Saw another Unipack, a bright lime green one, singlespeed, cycling on the pavement outside the Hippodrome while I was on my lunch break!

I'm fairly sure I saw Blankface in St Nicks farmers market last week with a lady, without a bike though identification at his level of unfamiliarity is tricky!

twas me. though i have no recollection at all of seeing anyone that day. sorry about that. she doesnt come to bristol often and we were just about to go on holiday so i was pretty pre occupied. did i see you?

I think so, you were looking at my jacket. I could see you had other things on your mind! I'll introduce myself again on Friday if you're there.

m

People who ride fixed and with brakes fall off (there's chat on this group about that) people who don't maintain their bikes properly fall off (I was one of them a few years back) I don't think I represent a danger to other road users anymore than those people, legality outstanding.

with respect, its not only people who ride with a poorly maintained bike or brakes or no brakes etc that have accidents. there are thousands of cycle accidents every year, many people who are very profficiant riders come off due to adverse weather conditions, environmental factors, other road users etc. things that are outside of their control. with the best will in the world, the best road position, the best lights, tyres, brakes, reflective clothing, awareness and signalling, you cannot account for anyone else on the road. thats it. coming off your bike doesnt always mean you are at fault. ive had people pull in front of me, cut me up, not signal, not see me etc. i used to teach cycling profficiancy, so i know im riding in the right place, i know i am aware, i know i get laughed at on oxford street cos i have so many flashing lights on my bike and bag, but it still happens. its like parents who make their kids wear helmets but dont wear them themselves. it ridiculous arguing that "ive never had a tumble therefore i must be a good rider and i dont need to wear a helmet, lights, look around, have a safe bike....sometimes its just not your fault when you are lying in the road bleeding and cursing the taxis, mopeds, busses, pedestrians or whatever. shit happens. i just think its not so clever that people make it easier for it to happen.

this is not a personal dig, i dont hate you. in fact its not about you as such. just the whole freewheel one brake thing makes me so annoyed and people need to get a clue. as for no brakes with freewheel, al la bmx trend of the last couple years, well, dont get me started...

ride what you like, but this is the internet and people have opinions and things to share. we disagree and thats fine and allowed. just stay on the fixed gear and it will change your life. cheers fella.

I think so, you were looking at my jacket. I could see you had other things on your mind! I'll introduce myself again on Friday if you're there.

m

dude i have no recollection of that at all. next time, come over and say what up. and i'll try to remember...

Agreed mate. Certainly enjoying it so far! See you round.

Spotted two guys, one wheeling along a fixed wheel which looked like it had no toe clips :S
about 9 ish this evening outside @bristol, rode past him, bunnoyhopped a curb and did a few skids just for good measure =]
pretty sure I heard a "weyyyy" coming from him haha

Saw 2 of you guys coming back through keynsham from bristol on thursday night, one being jamesy & one being jamie I think? Was in my car though!

Everyone at the film on Friday.

No one this afternoon even after 2 hours of riding!

spotted 4 guys out for a ride yesterday in Cabot park
1 Fuji track, 2 road conversion and a guy on a geared bike.

Was eating lunch with the missus and a mate.

spotted 4 guys out for a ride yesterday in Cabot park
1 Fuji track, 2 road conversion and a guy on a geared bike.

Was eating lunch with the missus and a mate.

I was riding a white conversion, Blankface was riding a blue legnano frame. Whereabouts were you sitting?

Ah cool :)

Was on a bench towards the top of the hill - trying to fend off the mutant squirrels

that was me and a few mates I presume.
If by cabot park you mean brandon hill though..
I was on the metallic blue conversion, and AdotK was on the white conversion.
Oh and I apologize for rubbish backwards circles - I was horrendously hungover =]
shoulda shouted mate!

bit slow on the post there.