Fixed Bike Shops: Duty of Care to Shoppers

Is it really so dangerous to ride fixed/front brake without clips/straps? I did it for about three months when I first went fixed. Never had a single problem. Ok, my feet came off the pedals twice in the first two weeks (once under Hyde Park Corner underpass, memorably) but it was easy enough to slow down with the brake and get my feet back on.

Like someone above says, learning to ride fixed and learned to ride strapped in would have been too much of a headfuck for me.

One or two forumengers at the time politely enquired how I was stopping (happily they didn't bite my head off), but it's pretty straightforward to resist the pedals / back pedal, as opposed to pulling up on the straps (although the latter is more effective). Arguably it's a bit more natural too.

Notwithstanding all that, I now ride strapped in and much prefer it. I do wonder whenever someone on here expresses outrage about people riding without any foot retention whether it's because they learned to stop by pulling up not backpedalling...

runs for cover

I'd say the manufacturers should sell with clips/straps or no pedals. If the bike comes with no pedals then that gives the sales person an opportunity to suggest clips/straps/spds/atacs etc.

That would encourage the use of foot retention in riders new to fixed. Selling with clips/straps (cheapo nylon stuff would do) gets over the problem of being able to test the bike at the shop too.

Is it really so dangerous to ride fixed/front brake without clips/straps?... I now ride strapped in and much prefer it.

I'd say it's in the interests of everyone if riders new to fixed try, and persist a little bit with clips and straps. Encouraging that is doing them a favour!

Surely can't hurt for bike shop staff to say, 'Most people who ride fixed would say it's probably advisable to get some sort of foot retention,' and leave them to make their own decision.

'Yeah ok can you take the goddam fake bell off tho?' is an acceptable answer.

Yeah but that relies on BikeHut staff remembering their lines etc.

(sorry to any BikeHut staff reading this)

I know someone said something about putting your front foot under the pedal but I maintain that it's absolute folly to ride fixed without foot retention.

BTW My new road bike came with a little box containing a bell, pie plate, loads of reflectors, and a leaflet for life insurance!

:-)

Oh... and stickers everywhere telling me not to be a prick etc.

If a lawsuit hasn't been filed in america it is unlikely to happen here.

Although it is just a matter of time.

By which time we'll all be riding dutch bikes anyway...

Is it really so dangerous to ride fixed/front brake without clips/straps? I did it for about three months when I first went fixed. Never had a single problem. Ok, my feet came off the pedals twice in the first two weeks (once under Hyde Park Corner underpass, memorably) but it was easy enough to slow down with the brake and get my feet back on.

Like someone above says, learning to ride fixed and learned to ride strapped in would have been too much of a headfuck for me.

One or two forumengers at the time politely enquired how I was stopping (happily they didn't bite my head off), but it's pretty straightforward to resist the pedals / back pedal, as opposed to pulling up on the straps (although the latter is more effective). Arguably it's a bit more natural too.

Notwithstanding all that, I now ride strapped in and much prefer it. I do wonder whenever someone on here expresses outrage about people riding without any foot retention whether it's because they learned to stop by pulling up not backpedalling...

runs for cover

Its not either or, you should be resisting with one leg and pulling up with the other at the same time.

british standard states you need 2 brakes, 1 of which can be a fixed gear. If no foot retention is supplied, a chainguard must be fitted instead.

british standard states you need 2 brakes, 1 of which can be a fixed gear. If no foot retention is supplied,** a chainguard **must be fitted instead.

That'll really do the job of the toe clips right?

Personally I still see bikes rolling out of shops with forks on backwards, unusable brakes and the like. I think worrying about shops providing foot retention on bikes which already need brakes by law is jumping the gun somewhat.

british standard states you need 2 brakes, 1 of which can be a fixed gear. If no foot retention is supplied, a chainguard must be fitted instead.

WHAT!?! Where did you gather this info?

I know someone said something about putting your front foot under the pedal but I maintain that it's absolute folly to ride fixed without foot retention.

It really isn't.

You can "Jamaican skid" (racist, etc) without foot retention but you wouldn't use that to stop in an emergency - you'd use your brakes, which you wouldn't take off before getting foot retention and learning to skid. It's only stupid to ride fixed brakeless without foot retention.

british standard states you need 2 brakes, 1 of which can be a fixed gear. If no foot retention is supplied, a chainguard must be fitted instead.

Interesting. I saw a new Charge Plug racer in Covent Garden a few months ago with a chain guard fitted, so that must be why. Personally, I think panniers would be more useful if they're going to insist on something completely arbitrary.

I supppose we need to hear from someone who actually works in a bike shop - I would of thought that a conscientious 'sales person' (as part of the fitting/preparation of the bike ) would assess the buyers ability/experience and advise at least but would you want to lose a sale ?

Somehow, people managed without foot retention in the olden days...

I rode without retention for a couple of months without incident. I'm not saying it's a good idea, and I undoubtedly have MUCH better control with my SPDs, but I don't think it's the biggest of issues.

Getting let loose on a fixed if you don't have some cycling experience (and a front brake) is a bad idea with or without retention IMO.

I would expect a shop to inform an obvious noob about what they should do (fit brake, fit foot retention). On the other hand if I wanted to buy a bike without pedals I wouldn't expect to be hassled into buying some for fear of some legal bollocks. "I have pedals at home already, sonny". It's just a question of common sense. The first corner should sort 'em out anyway.. bit of gravel rash is good for the soul.

Brakes before foot retention. People will hopefully find out about foot retention fast enough, but without a brake they'll be really fucked if they're new to fixed. Unless you're a deep-end-first swimming kind of person, learn the basics of fixed first then the basics of foot retention. Probably.

I alway expect that shopper video to end in a Keo Spin for some reason. That would be pretty cool.

I don't think action is needed on this matter; obviously it's better to have foot retention but as many have said upthread I think making people to have them may be more harm than good.

I have had many a conversation with customers who don't particularly care about the shop (ie. my) advice. Especially the banker boys buying plugs. chuh.

lack of foot retention + brakless -> taxi + screaming pain/death = moron filter.

that was at least partly a joke.

i've been riding fixed without my feet clipped in, or toestraps since Thursday.. i've had no problems what so ever stopping.

only thing i found was if it rained.. i lost all grip.

i wish i hadnt lost my decent riding shoes on wednesday in the park :(

curiously, what clipless pedals do you guys recommend? i would like the option to be able to cycle in normal shoes as well

curiously, what clipless pedals do you guys recommend? i would like the option to be able to cycle in normal shoes as well

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9986.html

I've got Shimano A520 tourers - swiped off my geared bike. SPD on one side, flat on the other. I very rarely use the flat side (and definitely wouldn't recommend it for riding fixed) but in terms of design they work well either way.

However if I was starting again I'd probably go for double-sided Time clipless and have different pedals (or a different bike!) with straps for riding in trainers. Only takes a couple of minutes to swap them over.