On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 12:24:29 -0500, Luigi de Guzman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Trackies? > > It's pretty stupid (and in most states, illegal) to ride without a front brake > in traffic, even if you do ride a fixie Well then, you're sure to enjoy my bike: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2938717&size=lg Here's a better look at the whole thing (it's the Rossin) along with a couple of my friends: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2870605 Actually, the bike on the right (you can only see it's front wheel) is a track bike with a front brake. Some are more comfortable with a front brake, and I'm all about what one's most comfortable doing. And, I'd never advise anyone to go fixed gear without putting a front brake on and riding that way for a long long time (I rode a front brake for about 2 years). But, once you know what you're doing, and are comfortable doing it, brakeless fixed gear bikes are just as safe as those with brakes. It's like a camera, it's more about who's doing the riding than what they're on. I have far fewer accidents with my track bike in town than when I rode a road bike (not counting my last big one, which was equipment failure). I know that jurisdictions differ, but certainly here in Ontario, Canada, the law is that bikes must have a ~rear~ brake (otherwise all those old coaster brake bikes - the ones that you push the pedals back to put the brake on - would be illegal). Fixed gear bikes don't break the law here, as we can indeed stop the rear wheel, sometimes quite quickly. Locking up the rear wheel is easily doable on a track bike by shifting one's weight forward. I'd love a touring bike, though. In the mountains, more than one gear is good... <vbg> cheers, frank (I don't--I have a touring bicycle > that is just fast enough, just comfy enough, and just sturdy enough for my > purposes). A lot of bad riding is bad education, reinforced by unchecked > bullying and unenforced traffic regulations. > > And when I'm driving, I drive a '91 GMC Safari van, so I'm not really one to > talk about "compactness" That said, I try not to drive at all, if I can > possibly help it, and I'm pretty good about obeying signs where posted.... > > -Luigi > > -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
