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What's the deal with brakes on fixed gear bikes?

Almightyshoe

Cruising
Sep 6, 2012
28
0
Ok, so I recently moved to Oita-ken. I bought a Cinelli mash and built it up with the intention of using it to commute and explore at the weekends. After building it, I took it on a test spin and to go and look for some brake cable which I forgot to buy.

My town is very small, so during my test spin I was collared by a police man. Nothing came of it, he just took my details and seemed more impressed that I could speak Japanese. Anyway he let me off and told me to get some brakes.

My question is, is it acceptable to just have the front brake? or is the law insistent on having both front and rear? I'm not one who bothers about having a "fashionable" brakeless fixie, I would just rather not have to buy a dia compe rear clamp on track brake as there is no rear bake hole being a track bike.

how strict are they? has anyone been told off for just having a front brake?
 
OBEY! Been there, done that. They can and many times will ticket you. They can also confiscate yourbike.
 
Yes. Front and rear. Don't forget the bell!
 
50,000yen on brakes for a bike with no gears? What the hell are you intending to buy?!?!
 
I have a complete set of FSA Gossamer brakes (both front and rear) available cheaply, if anyone has a use for them. They have seen maybe 100-200 km of riding.
 
I use an old set of Modolo TT Levers w/105 Black calipers. Maybe I'll dig up the calipers too someday. That totally out hips ANY hipster and completely counter negs the calipers. I run a 'one time' single strand cable. This is for proof to the police I have functioning brakes, but in reality it will simply break under actual braking forcing a proper fixed gear skid and preventing any rim scuffing which might belie the evidence of using non-track wheels on your precious ride.

Most 'hipsters' are so far off track anyway :

1) They ride clinchers - WRONG
2) When they ride tubulars on the road they don't use SOYO 'Greens' - WRONG
3) They use the wrong chains - WRONG
4) They don't pull a tire at least 3x a week - WRONG
5) They don't wear a sweatshirt when casual riding or training - WRONG
6) They don't know the meaning of the word, 'STAY' - WRONG

If you're going to build up a long ride fixed mulletto at least get half of the wrongs 'right'.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/2737343282/
 
Thank you! I always smile inside when I see Mosburger knowing they ripped off the Modolo logo - and reminicing when Tom Green worked at one for a couple hours...

Fixed that for you.
 
Haha!!

I forgot about when Tom Green came to Japan. Hitting that up on Youtube tonight for certain.

:D
 
Haha, running a polo double lever - one lever two brakes. But it's adjust so the rear brake only slightly touches the non-brake surface on full pull. But wait for it, rear brake is original Modolo flash!
 
50,000yen on brakes for a bike with no gears? What the hell are you intending to buy?!?!

If he was to spend 50,000 then those would be the TRP R979SL Magnesium calipers :D

timthumb.php
 
I lust after those --- and the ee brake!

2012-03-04162719.jpg


If he was to spend 50,000 then those would be the TRP R979SL Magnesium calipers :D

timthumb.php
 
So both front and rear brakes is a must? really don't wanna have to pay 5 man :s

The police is more and more vigilant, every n-th (10th was it ?) day of the month they have actions against bikers - it's mostly about:

talking over the phone
wearing headphones
wrong side cycling

There were a few accidents where a hipster with no brakes couldn't stop in time and rode into a group of pedestrians - and some of those ended up in morgue for the pedestrian.
This is one of the reasons they are looking at brakeless bikes too.
 
Not sure if your Cinelli has holes in the fork and the bridge on the rear to accommodate brakes. If yes, I feel that Campa Veloce have good braking power, good look and are priced very decent below 3.500 JPY for a pair in Europe incl. VAT.

http://www.bike24.net/1.php?lang=2;...nu=1000,4,19;product=17999;mid=1;pgc=0;page=1

If not, you can use these from Dia Compe with adaptor plate:
http://www.diacompe.com.tw/product_View.asp?nid=934

And for the levers it wil depend if you have a standard drop bar with 23.8mm diameter in the grip area (as opposed to stem clamp diameter) or 22.2 mm which is more common with flat bars.

For the later I like the Tektro FL750 levers, good value for good style.
http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=69&sortname=Lever&sort=1&fid=3
 
Not sure if your Cinelli has holes in the fork and the bridge on the rear to accommodate brakes. If yes, I feel that Campa Veloce have good braking power, good look and are priced very decent below 3.500 JPY for a pair in Europe incl. VAT.

http://www.bike24.net/1.php?lang=2;...nu=1000,4,19;product=17999;mid=1;pgc=0;page=1

If not, you can use these from Dia Compe with adaptor plate:
http://www.diacompe.com.tw/product_View.asp?nid=934

And for the levers it wil depend if you have a standard drop bar with 23.8mm diameter in the grip area (as opposed to stem clamp diameter) or 22.2 mm which is more common with flat bars.

For the later I like the Tektro FL750 levers, good value for good style.
http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=69&sortname=Lever&sort=1&fid=3

Thank you for this info! The forks have a handy brake hole thats been capped and painted over, so that's not a problem. I already have a front brake caliper too. Just need levers for 31.8mm bars and a rear caliper. Looking at the Dia Compe rear track clamp on thingy ma jig. looks a mess but if it stops me being pulled over by Tsukumi 5-0 then I'm happy.
 
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