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Referenced studies from: David Wilson’s seminal work Bicycling Science
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Not at all, I started the thread to see what the possible cost and effect may be from riding brakeless to someone who rides with full care and caution. But it keeps getting detoured to why that would even be a notion so I'm just tryna help present my reasoning.
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Agreed, but if stopping on a brakeless fixie has been shown to meet the stopping distance for vehicles stated in high way code then there shouldn't be an issue. Superior stopping is always going to be a good thing don't get me wrong but if you meet the requirements deemed to be the minimum needed to ensure public safety then the actual vehicle/bike isn't the issue.
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I completely understand and get that point, I mean if I don't use a brake then having one anyway makes no difference right? Its like having a puncture kit... It's the in case scenario and I get that.
But in all honesty and this is just for me personally, however stupid it may sound. The whole point in why I ride fixed gear is the fundamental basis that I receive more control cycling than other forms of gearing and me getting to this stage in becoming a good cyclist (in my opinion) is because I relied on not having to use a brake and having to think ahead and judge situations. I feel like placing a brake would detach me from that in a way where stopping with cleats and then switching to straps and back to cleats leaves a noticeable retraining in how you cycle where stopping is a greater issue than before.
I've never experienced any issues at all in my years cycling apart from the odd taxi left hooking and before the case that made headlines I didn't feel as though brakeless fixies had a bad image or even had any problems in causing any documented cases of injury or death that I knew of. In fact I still only know of the one death from the headlined case. So personally I don't feel like I should have to change anything when as a cyclist my cycling has never been an issue.
There's a million ifs and buts even with a front brake I.e. What if your pads are lose or the line was tightened correctly and fail. All fixed gear riders should ensure their bike is mechanically sound and safe for roads but that goes back to care for other people and property.
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I don't think she ever said pnld or maybe I misheard it as btp but regardless they were no help other than giving me a link to the legislation on Pedal bikes.
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But not a reporter unfortunately just a cyclist that likes reading, I've been riding brakeless fixed for years safely and stopping at every light etc and never felt there were any issues or stigmas in doing so as long as you rode with care for other people and property in mind. I just want to weigh up whether to conform just to meet code.
The recent case has put a spotlight on it to where I've had the frequent interactions about being brakeless (had a bus driver open his front doors next to me at a light to ask me about the braking technique).
I personally believe being brakeless is as safe as the level of consideration the rider wants to gives to others and property around them. I also feel that a single front brake brings forward a risk of safety to the rider that I don't feel is warranted when some studies have shown brakeless fixies as practically having a braking distance at 20mph as equal to that of the amount required by vehicles in the highway code.
--If you don't wanna read study malarkey this is probably the best end point--
You can use studies for and against so take it all with a pinch of salt I guess. David Wilson’s seminal work Bicycling Science demonstrate that a deceleration of 0.5g is the maximum that a seated rider can risk before he goes over the handlebars. Wilson’s calculated 0.5g yields 6.5 metres with the front brake and 12 metres without it at 20mph. The highway code only demands a 12 meter stopping distance for cars going at 20mph.But in situations where sudden braking is implemented braking consistently goes past the safe threshold of 0.5g and poses a serious danger to the cyclist of falling forwards off the bike.
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I may have misunderstood her by all means because she went on for a while but she did mention the btp at one point so I just assumed I was given the btp number. Number was 01924294086 if that helps clarify whichever department of the police this went to?
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Tried the local police station at Brixton and talked to a lady in the front desk to the right of the lobby but they gave me a phone number for the British transport police saying they'd be the ones to go to for such an issue. Called them up and was put through to several departments till the last just referred me to a link for the actual regulation saying it would be on there. But it's definitely not.
So I figured best thing to do would be to see if any rider has had to experience facing this on here. This has to be the best place to get a consensus for fixies without a front brake and dealing with its legal consequences.
I just wanted a bit of clarity on what the consequences and cost would be, To be honest from the comments that did refer to the original subject, I'd be looking at either a talking to or a £30 fine. And in all seriousness if that's actually the extent of the risk that other cyclists in their experience have faced then I do feel I received the needed clarity on it.