Probably that's why you still ride FG, not having smashed into a bus. Riding better tires also helps and big skidders mostly ride hard tires 'cause skidding costs money.
Nothing wrong in using brakes! Have you tried a short skid on gravel? It was easier for me to learn on gravel. Depending on the tires and asphalt it's way more difficult to learn it there but if you already know how it should feel from your gravel skids it's easy to level up.
I've been riding fixed gear for about 4 years now, I never skid. I always have a front break, but about never need it. I understand skidding could be the source of many people's knee pain. Fixed gear has totally changed my life of cycling, anything to keep me on it longer, I'm for.
Berlin cyclist here, usually you will only run into trouble if you ride completely breakless. And even then, if you behave well in trafic you really don’t get stopped often. And if you get into trouble they usually do not take your bike the first time riding breakless.
@@FOADGang Quite a lot actually. Berlin has really upped it's cycling infrastructure in the past years, which makes the bike a very efficient way to get around town. Just keep your wits about you and you can do it quite safely, too. But that really goes for riding everywhere.
I'm also a fixie rider from Berlin and I want to add that if you behave on your bike in traffic you will not get stopped by the police. Even if you ride brake less. I feel that fixed gear riders are not so much of a priority for them anymore. Back in the 2010s when fixie bikes were new and trendy, you could see so many novice riders on brakeless builds. It was back then when the cops were so much more strict with stopping you, confescating bikes and destroying them. Having said that, we now still have dedicated bike police. Some of them are really knowledgeable and will spot brakeless builds in seconds. They will still give you a hard time but only if you jump a red light or other stupid shit. However, these bike cops are most present in the city center only. In all the surrounding areas you can ride brakeless with no worries. At least that has been my experience over the years.
Nice comment down to the point. Also nice from you for sharing your experience. That's the trick, ride defensively and according to the rules. And yes, bike police can be a bit of a hassle but they are easy to spot early. Greetings from Dortmund!@@paulfromberlin377
On my first fixed gear bike I've had a front brake on for a year. Only when I took it off I started to progress as a rider. Then I learned everything you need for daily riding. Bunny hops, nollies, skids. Taking off the front brake forced me to improve my riding
Physics say you have all the weight on the front wheel when braking at speed, so there is a very limited amount of friction you can create with the rear. I skid very well but mostdef would have died without the 65% braking power of my front wheel..
@@khazsilverstar umm you're just using bike a mode of transportation then, not treating it as a sport. why are you even discussing this? of course you should maximize safety if your goal is "get from point A to B"
Jackson, fixed gear is part of my cycling since two years thanks to you. I learned how to skid, and track stand thanks to your tutorials. I tried some other tricks but failed until now. But maybe someday. Thanks!
Been following since the pandemic lockdown, right when I got into fixed gear cycling. Your tutorials have been of great help and your tracklo/fgfs/tarck edits have been both huge inspiration and entertainment. It's nice seeing you guys grow!
I happily rode fixed for several years without foot retention. I never had a problem because I rode within the limits it imposed. However, I now use SPDs and they certainly make it easier over a wider range of circumstances.
it's far less important if you run a front brake though. On my beater bike, I busted a strap, and kinda went "eh, fuck it, I got a brake" and didn't get new straps for a few months. Was absolutely fine. Now, n my decent bike (brakeless), I wouldn't ride more than a few meters without straps.
@@terrycruise-zd5tw not really, flopping over is much less dangerous than having far less stopping power. Plus I haven't fallen due to not getting out of straps in years at this point
She's a former track racer and her legs just know hoe to pedal FG. Foot retention is crucial for track, on street for skidding - but for casual riding retention isn't as important as long as one doesn't outspin and doesn't 'loose' pedals. Pedaling with force keeps feet planted to pedals so no, retention is less important than habit not to loose awareness and don't stop pedaling. I ride with half-clips, don't skid and don't miss "real" retention.
Just popping in here. Track bikes in the UK are pretty vast in what the every day folk use, so to a lot of them the big difference is often the brakes. We all know the deal about the brakes, but Americans tend to think every track bike is like UCI legal or race ready or something when people ride relaxed geo fixies on tracks. They have more tracks, they even have "grass" tracks. They don't police bikes quite as much, but yes obviously in Olympic events and the like they are more strict to avoid injuries and cheating.
At 66 years old and having ridden bikes all my life, road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX etc., I find riding fixed gear in traffic to be a somewhat neurological experience. I love it!
In Japan, any kind of bike has to have both front and rear brakes. It's illegal to ride brakeless so some frames designed in Japan have rear brakes under BB to make the bikes look better
10:10 welcome to UK bike paths haha. look out for the blue sign, it's a shared path for pedestrains and cyclists. Still go slow when you're passing pedestrians (especially mums with pushchairs!)
In the late 80's I had a nice Panasonic NJS fixed gear. I was on a rather long ride and since I was more used to my Somec road bike, I was going down a hill and thought I would stand up and coast........... Well I ended up flat on my back.
11:35 18 yrs DH MTBing and my most unexpected wreck on a bike was a pedal strike when me and a buddy had swapped fixed gears so he could try mine out. I didn't think to ask about crank arm length and his were 175 whereas I use 165 on fifxed. End of a long straight and us sprinting like idiots there is a turn I've easily made at speed 1000's of times ... not this time... I flew 14 feet in the air (we measured post wreck) before landing on my side/back cracking two ribs. I was in the air long enough to have time to tuck my head and arms in to prepare for whatever I was about to land on as I was flying backwards. That 10 mm clearly made a massive difference and it essentially turned the bike into a pole vault that I was riding. Scratch on bar end plug and chain stay... and one ruined pedal.
Yes the thing with the bike taken away is true in Germany, in some cases right away in others they give you like 3 strikes, but make you revisit them again with all the missing parts put on. Alos sometimes they get aggressive and try to pull you from yoour bike by blocking you or getting close with their car. To the clipless part, yes it is true they can unclip but there were these atac time MTB clipless with a huge angle to get out (production was stopped); myself I failed on a track stand and than was laying clipped in on the street in Hamburg and had to twist my legs singlely out with help from the arms. I can recommend for the ratio also to look into what is recommended for what age class on track by UCI so you won´t blow your knees...most people I know had to stop riding fixed gear due to knee health, which is of course getting not well if you overestimate your training level.
I experimented with various pedals and straps with and without cages until I settled on the fact that I won’t be getting a solid enough connection with the pedals for my taste while also maintaining the ability to slip out of the straps when necessary. I’ve found some clipless MTB shoes like the Shimano ME5 to be comfortable and casual enough for walking into a cafe and they also provide a solid pedalling experience and a reliable release. I’ve heard the Shimano SPD system may be prone to accidental release depending on the pedal and how it’s adjusted so I’ve used Crank Brothers Eggbeaters for 17 years now. They will not release no matter how hard I pull on them. The seals and bearings on them have been excellent for many years now, which was not always the case. The only downside I’ve found on clipless vs. straps is that you can’t really do the ”fixie dismount” where you release one foot, step back as the loaded crank is coming down, kill the remaining speed with all your weight on the pedal as it passes BDC, and slip your foot out of the pedal exactly when the speed is zero.
I've never ridden fixie, though my next bicycle will definitely be a fixie/free. I can't imagine that I will really enjoy riding fixie, but I definitely will give it a try. My usual fitness riding route (on which I ride a 7-speed bicycle converted to singlespeed) winds through my neighborhood in such a way that it occasionally leads me to need to make almost blind turns at intersections at night, and is riddled with skunks. I don't think I'd be able to make an emergency stop under control using a fixed cog the way I know I can with a freewheel and good brakes.
I ride fixies to commute since 2012 and started on the track with a proper track bike in 2021, and I can say for sure that riding a fixie (specially brakeless) on the traffic demands a LOT more skill than riding on the track. Exception maybe could be some bunch racings, that you ride with a lot of people around you really close, but even tho, commuting is a lot more dangerous.
The whole brakeless thing gets both sides all riled up at each other. The way I always describe it to non-fixed riders is this; Riding brakeless is much like like going out clubbing on the weekend and getting pissdrunk. There's a certain amount of automatic risk involved, but you can mitigate or exacerbate it. Staying in a group, buying your own drinks and keeping an eye on it getting picked up by family or friends Vs wandering off by yourself drinking/taking anything and everything you can get your degenerate grubby claws on and jumping in a taxi with some rando. Same with brakeless. You can be chill and reasonable safe about it or every ride can be your own hotline. There's no guarantee of being safe or being in an accident either way.
Hahahah this is such a great analogy! I definitely agree the intentionality and riding style is just as important as the equipment. Thanks for sharing!
Jackson (and all) - a road legal bike in the UK is required to have two braking mechanisms. Therefore, a front brake and a fixed gear back wheel count as two. There's also a bit more to this as well. There was a UK legal case where a fixed gear cyclist riding brakeless hit a woman (in 2016, if you want to look this up). In part because of his style of cycling (a la inner-city speedy fixed gear videos we've all seen) and because he did not have a front brake, he was convicted of causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving” and got an 18 month sentence. His attitude post accident and on the road were noted but no front brake was EXPLICITLY mentioned by the judge. So, there is a precedent for this in the UK which leads to some confusion for people from other countries. I think you said you couldn't find anything about the laws regarding brakes. From what I can see its from the Pedal Cycles Regulations (1983) which state that pedal cycles “so constructed that one or more of the wheels is incapable of rotating independently of the pedals, be equipped with a braking system operating on the front wheel“ - essentially you must have two independent braking systems, one for each wheel. If you are in the UK and don't want a front brake put one on and just don't use it!
As a fixed gear rider of 20 years from London I gotta say, riding with no brakes is the only way to fully enjoy the bike. I’d advise learning how to track stand and skid asap, it’s like becoming one with your sword. BMX pedals with heavy straps is the perfect for city commuting. Enjoy
The answer to riding fixed gear in the city brakeless is not going super fast, not riding down hill, and swerving rather than coming to a complete stop. What ive noticed in terry's hotline vids are they never stop.
I left a comment on their video dealing with the lack of information on foot retention. No mention of straps or cages. In two days it will be my 5th year riding a fixed gear offer up $20 special, still keep the front brake because I do tend to go through a park that has many kids and unaware joggers. Have loved every minute, except for that first ride that almost lost it going through railroad tracks and the bike started to identify as a wild horse and tried to throw me 😂. Great video, good positive critique, hope they acknowledge your input.
Great video!! I too have 15ish years riding fixed/Track bikes. Have always ridden a front brake. It's there for the "Oh shit" moments you run into when surfing traffic. I've already broken my collarbone several times in my life. I don't need to do it again. That said I think I've gone several year stretches without even touching it. Also shout out to 49t chainrings!! :D
Get yourself a fixie if: You live in a big city with no hills, and you spend most of your life there, since a fixie can't be reasonably used anywhere else anyway. You don't mind having a bike with little utility value, since in a big city you've got everything. You don't need a rack, nor lights! You don't mind strapping yourself to a bike with intentionally reduced steering and braking performance. You don't mind potentially endangering others. You're in your 20s or early 30s and feel immortal. You value (affordable) style above everything else.
The GCN video was made for cyclists who have never ridden fixed gear bikes and would MAYBE consider it for commuting only. Track cycling & Urban commuting are 2 VERY different things.
I live in fake London in Canada. I have been riding fixed gear for commuting for 30 years. Being a traditional roadie, the bike has brakes and I don't skid. This year the winter bike used flats without straps instead of SPD pedals to allow for normal shoes. Out of curiousity, I tried my current city bike at the velodrome(really short at 138m with 50 degree corners) and it did not work. The steering was hyper sensitive and would not track in a staight line. It was really bad on standard 650x42 tires but still not good with 700x28 track wheels. Oddly the steep fork and short rake make it stable vs the road set up without any toe overlap. I see some peope riding track bikes on the road but that does not appeal to me.
I'm just happy GCN is talking about fixed gears at all on their channel, so many people that ride bikes don't even know they exist. I brought one to a road group ride and people were flabbergasted🤣
GCN is for the masses. They use a big budget in the videography, editing and click bait pics and hire presenters that are likeable. But their content is often lacking. They too often push (and try to glam up) more expensive options to please their sponsors. The sponsors who pay for all that slick videography and editing. It's not "hate" and it's not about her. It's about GCN's business model and the managerial decisions. You are welcome to watch them, your choice.
@@olivergavvShe is trying to appeal to their typical audience which is mainly roadies that never have been on a track bike, as for her she is an actual former track rider which makes her more official than any other so called fixie rider on the streets trying to be cool.
i commute most of the time in the boston area, don't really just ride for fun enough--and honestly if you're going slow, its perfectly fine to ride flat pedals with no straps or clips. if you do think you'll sprint or take on hills, i think clipless or straps is a toss up since it should be a similar amount of effort to bail. i think clips can be a bit harder to bail from depending on how deep your foot is into them. in scary areas with a lot of mixed traffic (pedestrians, cars and bikes), i'd recommend unstrapping/unclipping and just being on pedal if possible. i'm running 48/16 on a 52 myself--nice and slow and a bit of a crunch with my height/leg length.
Hi Guys, I see that the handlebar are lower than the seat on many bikes. Doesn't your wrist hurt this way? I had to raise my handlebar a bit higher than my seat to avoid wrist pain even if I use 40 wide tires. What can be the possible issue?
im a beginner on a fixie so i use breaks but most of the time i use my legs to stop to normalize it and hwne im confident enough or experience enough on stopping on legs I'll going to remove my front breaks(my front breaks is just for emergency use)
I’ve been riding fixed for 8-9 years now. I started when I was 14 and now I’m gonna be 23 in couple months. I’ve never rode anything else like a roadie, mtb or bmx my entire time riding. I’ve rode everywhere on fixed. For being so young and have parents that’d let me ride far as hell in the world. Basically exploring the world on my own with my friends was probably the best time of life span of years. When nothing was important to me other than riding, man I wish I can tell all the stories with me and my friends. We’ve road thousands and thousands of miles and I say that confidently. The amount of uphill climbs and downhill bombs felt like nothing else. Hitting whipskids, going as fast the cars downhill man ain’t nothing else. I’d say if you wanna ride fixed and actually get serious about it, just keep riding your bike. You learn as you ride your bike. Simple as that. If you ride somewhere it’s not commonly known for people to ride fixed then don’t worry about it. I’ve went from riding with a big ass group of 10-20 people regularly to literally only me. There’s only one like 3-4 of my homies who still have there bikes but don’t ride it like how I ride. In all honesty just enjoy riding fixed, try pushing yourself like never before, and just ride safe. Can’t promise nothing and it’s always a danger riding on the street so imagine me riding by myself. I don’t care bc I ain’t a bitch no disrespect but yea. Riding fixed especially when I’m alone is very peaceful to me. I don’t think about anything else, I just keep pedaling, got my AirPods on jamming, got my whole riding attire on, helmet, glasses, clipless shoes, short shorts, and just breathe nothing but air. In all honesty, if I didn’t ride fixed gear even tho I was already into other sports, I’d probably be lazy fuck lmao and that’s the truth. But nothing but some coffee, a joint, a cold breezy morning, fresh nice cold air. How can you not be happy?!?!
I ride no brakes and can't skid. I just plan my slowing down way ahead of time with my legs lmao I also don't have clips or straps...looks like I need those. Been doing it that way for a few years
I suffered an accident using straps and almost lost my right foot. Now I wanna have a fixie again because mine was stolen but since I use a very fast gear I feel like I need straps but I’m affraid that it might happen again.
The Berlin fixie crackdown is real, and although Im not sure about the current situation, but it was (since around peak fixie hype, 2010-ish) by law required to have a working front brake. And the law was enforced, first time a fine, 2nd time loose your bike. This is what I heard about it
"How to..." and we're straight into gatekeeping for the "fixie culture" and the brakes/no brakes thing? Manon's videos for GCN are typically strings of breathless cliches anyway; no need to add to that. Things you need to know about riding fixed (whether you call it fixed wheel or fixed gear): if you choose a low enough ratio for the steepest hill you will be riding up, you will probably spin until your knees smoke on the way down the same hill. Riding fixed gives you great control of the bike at low speed when weaving between obstacles. Riding fixed makes you feel connected with the landscape because every incline or decline means a change in your pedalling. You only have 3 gears: sitting down, standing up, and walking. It's enormously good fun. Part of the game I play is never to touch the brakes except in an emergency. That sometimes means starting a descent slowly and only spinning out towards the end. A geared bike is faster over a distance, but riding fixed makes you stronger and more determined.
So in Germany there is Stvzo which governs vehicles participating in traffic. Two brakes are part of that. Berlin cops are looking to fleece people with fines, that is why they enforce this law. You get ticketed a bunch and if it happens to much, they will confiscate your bike. I believe you can get it back in some circumstances. This is a big issue in Berlin and Hamburg. The further south you go, the more relaxed police will be around this or care about other things. We used to go on big ride outs at nights and cops only cared about having the correct lights on our bike (front and back, not blinking). everyone was riding brakeless. Similar thing in Japan. you need two brakes except for if you are a licensed keirin racer, than you may only run a front clamp on one on your race bike for training.
Looks like the Berlin thing is accurate. You do need two brakes on your bike or it can be taken away. You get one chance to get it right after the 1st inspection
7:46 if you’re having problems with flats and straps and are already used to clip-less ones from your non fixie bike try them on your fixed despite what’s being said here.
Still, if you see a mother pushing her baby in a stroller on a fairly narrow path, you slow down and use a bit of extra caution. That GNC girl was flying past her without even noticing. What generally makes a good fixed rider, is one who is aware of everything.
I could not follow the english pronunciation "on a fixie if you stop pedalling, you ??" ... was it catapulting? What does that mean? I have using a 'fixie' ... those found in India (which are similar to those people use for commuting in Neatherland too). I often stop pedalling and go for quite a bit before needing to pedal again. Also, regarding brakes... I can't imagine myself riding a cycle without brakes! I am not quite fond of getting into road accidents! I have a feeling this 'fixie' is a somewhat different kind of fixed gear bicycle than what I am used to riding.
Maybe its just me, but I would never use metal pedals with metal pins on my fixed gear, not even with foot retention. The idea of somehow getting hit by those pins scares me. btw I am from Berlin and yes they take away your fixed gear if you ride it without brakes. But it depends on the cop, I never had trouble with the police riding with a front brake, but ymmv
I personally also don’t like riding with metal pin pedals and straps. I like it them with mount bikes where I don’t have straps, but fixie it’s just a little too much sticky-mess to the pedals.
She rides with foot retention in the 'drome. Why she thought that not having it for the street is ok is beyond me. You need foot retention, regardless of whether you ride with brakes, or not. You can get bucked off your bike very easily if you're going fast and hit a pothole. Also, I believe the odd tooth number for the chainring just means that you have ambidextrous skid patches, not necessarily more for your dominant leg. 47/17 is a nice all-around ratio and beaucoup skid patches.
Just run a front brake and you should be good! you can really really easily just convert to a single speed bike with front and rear brakes also and a free coaster
You said that knowing how to skid is crucial, but you don't explain why. I am riding a fixie for 2 years and I don't intend to learn skidding. Why should I?
Never ridden a fixie so I don't understand how you would go flying over the handlebars if you stopped pedalling. It would just stop rear wheels spinning so you would skid, front wheel would still be rolling.
No skidding. Steel is real. Keep pedaling. It's possible to skid without straps or cages, you have to put one foot under the pedal but even more exhausting. BTW I've got a front break just in case my chain snaps or derails and for being lazy on red light stopping.
about the brake law, here in my country such law is highly encforced such that there are traffic marshals whom are on patrol or deployed in fixed gear hotspots, stop all fixed gear riders’ brakes if they work or not. if the brakes aren’t working well or they don’t even have brakes, the bikes are confiscated😢
Rear brake adds nothing. As soon as you start using it the weight shifts forward and you have no more breaking power than your legs would. Front brake is much more effective for emergency breaking. Once you gain control over you front brake you won't topple, it'll just be a sick stoppie.
I used to ride breakless for years, trying to be somekind of idiot cowboy. Then I had an encounter with sedan that I was impossibly lucky to limp away from. Now I'm very happy with both a front and rear break. Especially because I dont have to deal with spin outs anymore.
So how do you ride a fixie without feeling like an outsider… or someone who doesn’t belong, or someone who can’t be excepted…. It feels like you have to buy in and I mean BUY in to be a part. It feels like parts of punk… you can be here… but are you really punk?!? Fuck That.
Hey brother , never mind all the shit. Buy a bike. Get foot retention and go out there and have fun. Niche hobbies always have snobs. Fuck them. Ride for yourself
So how does one deal with the whole fixed gear life vs people who want to bike for fun and getting to where they need to go. Shouldn’t the point of bikes allow all?
_When it comes to brakes one may want to follow the guidelines/laws of your city or state._ *In my city, front/rear lights & brakes are required. No way around it.*
GCN could have made a better video in my opinion if they brought in a guest co-presenter with fixed-gear crit or more street experience. She is definitely one of the best presenters at GCN, but this is just enough outside of her experience that it shows.
![BIKE HANDLEBARS EXPLAINED [FIXED GEAR]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LesvN8EMhRw/mqdefault.jpg)
Been riding fixed gear for like 15 years now.. still cannot skid and still use my front brake, still enjoying it to this day
Probably that's why you still ride FG, not having smashed into a bus. Riding better tires also helps and big skidders mostly ride hard tires 'cause skidding costs money.
@@event4216 wtf dowg, what FG freakin means???????
@@GianCuka fixed gear, apparently
Nothing wrong in using brakes! Have you tried a short skid on gravel? It was easier for me to learn on gravel. Depending on the tires and asphalt it's way more difficult to learn it there but if you already know how it should feel from your gravel skids it's easy to level up.
I've been riding fixed gear for about 4 years now, I never skid. I always have a front break, but about never need it. I understand skidding could be the source of many people's knee pain. Fixed gear has totally changed my life of cycling, anything to keep me on it longer, I'm for.
Glad you addressed that Manon is literally a former pro track rider -- I feel like a lot of Reddit trolls entirely glossed over that bit
I think that’s actually why the gcn video got clowned so hard
Berlin cyclist here, usually you will only run into trouble if you ride completely breakless. And even then, if you behave well in trafic you really don’t get stopped often. And if you get into trouble they usually do not take your bike the first time riding breakless.
That’s very good to know! How do you like riding out there?
@@FOADGang Quite a lot actually. Berlin has really upped it's cycling infrastructure in the past years, which makes the bike a very efficient way to get around town. Just keep your wits about you and you can do it quite safely, too. But that really goes for riding everywhere.
I'm also a fixie rider from Berlin and I want to add that if you behave on your bike in traffic you will not get stopped by the police. Even if you ride brake less. I feel that fixed gear riders are not so much of a priority for them anymore. Back in the 2010s when fixie bikes were new and trendy, you could see so many novice riders on brakeless builds. It was back then when the cops were so much more strict with stopping you, confescating bikes and destroying them. Having said that, we now still have dedicated bike police. Some of them are really knowledgeable and will spot brakeless builds in seconds. They will still give you a hard time but only if you jump a red light or other stupid shit. However, these bike cops are most present in the city center only. In all the surrounding areas you can ride brakeless with no worries. At least that has been my experience over the years.
Nice comment down to the point. Also nice from you for sharing your experience. That's the trick, ride defensively and according to the rules. And yes, bike police can be a bit of a hassle but they are easy to spot early. Greetings from Dortmund!@@paulfromberlin377
Skids, hops, and jumps are 100% safety essential and not just for tricks. This guy gets it
Definitely are💯
I find the track stand most useful in traffic with straps, not as a trick
i tried that shit and i fell during red
On my first fixed gear bike I've had a front brake on for a year. Only when I took it off I started to progress as a rider. Then I learned everything you need for daily riding. Bunny hops, nollies, skids. Taking off the front brake forced me to improve my riding
good advice
Physics say you have all the weight on the front wheel when braking at speed, so there is a very limited amount of friction you can create with the rear. I skid very well but mostdef would have died without the 65% braking power of my front wheel..
@@khazsilverstaryeah but learning to compensate for that without relying on your break is what makes biking fun and forces you to evolve.
@@1tubax I just like to go fast through traffic without dying every day. Would feel rather stupid ignoring physics!
@@khazsilverstar umm you're just using bike a mode of transportation then, not treating it as a sport. why are you even discussing this? of course you should maximize safety if your goal is "get from point A to B"
Jackson, fixed gear is part of my cycling since two years thanks to you. I learned how to skid, and track stand thanks to your tutorials. I tried some other tricks but failed until now. But maybe someday. Thanks!
Been following since the pandemic lockdown, right when I got into fixed gear cycling. Your tutorials have been of great help and your tracklo/fgfs/tarck edits have been both huge inspiration and entertainment. It's nice seeing you guys grow!
Thank you! That’s great to hear! And stoked you are still riding!
You shouldn't use the term lockdown, it is a prison term
@@Jack-lo1uc But that's exactly what it was. We should never let controllers use the term lockdown again is what's most important.
Foot retention was the only "Oh my Christ, what is she doing?!" moment watching the GCN vid. Great observation.
I happily rode fixed for several years without foot retention. I never had a problem because I rode within the limits it imposed. However, I now use SPDs and they certainly make it easier over a wider range of circumstances.
it's far less important if you run a front brake though. On my beater bike, I busted a strap, and kinda went "eh, fuck it, I got a brake" and didn't get new straps for a few months. Was absolutely fine. Now, n my decent bike (brakeless), I wouldn't ride more than a few meters without straps.
@@MarchuxProductions isnt it more dangerous to be stuck in your pedals if you fall or need to bail
@@terrycruise-zd5tw not really, flopping over is much less dangerous than having far less stopping power. Plus I haven't fallen due to not getting out of straps in years at this point
@@terrycruise-zd5twI've been hit head on by a truck, just jump out of the stirrups.
it looks absolutely ridiculuous for gcn to put out a video on fixed without even having foot retention on the bike.
She's a former track racer and her legs just know hoe to pedal FG. Foot retention is crucial for track, on street for skidding - but for casual riding retention isn't as important as long as one doesn't outspin and doesn't 'loose' pedals. Pedaling with force keeps feet planted to pedals so no, retention is less important than habit not to loose awareness and don't stop pedaling. I ride with half-clips, don't skid and don't miss "real" retention.
right? hilarious she's got the skills for it though
Unless you’re riding brakeless, it’s not necessary.
@@alastairwright77It is neccessary for the official bike channel of the world
Have riden a "fixie" with no "retention system" for over 15yrs no problems.😑
It’s good day when foad posts
Just popping in here. Track bikes in the UK are pretty vast in what the every day folk use, so to a lot of them the big difference is often the brakes. We all know the deal about the brakes, but Americans tend to think every track bike is like UCI legal or race ready or something when people ride relaxed geo fixies on tracks. They have more tracks, they even have "grass" tracks. They don't police bikes quite as much, but yes obviously in Olympic events and the like they are more strict to avoid injuries and cheating.
Her bike is pretty ice. She presents the modality to a general public, your coments are a great complement for the beginners like me! Great video !!!
At 66 years old and having ridden bikes all my life, road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX etc., I find riding fixed gear in traffic to be a somewhat neurological experience. I love it!
In Japan, any kind of bike has to have both front and rear brakes. It's illegal to ride brakeless so some frames designed in Japan have rear brakes under BB to make the bikes look better
Interesting! I’ve noticed some mash frames from blue lug have different brake drilling in accordance with the laws there. Would love to visit one day!
Decathlon also des that on some of their city bikes. It makes it easier to put big mud guards.
Just break the law bro
They could make a fork with integrated brake not seen from outside. To comply with law and still look 😎
This was a funny thing when I traveled to Japan for BMX competitions being one of only two people there with front brakes
10:10 welcome to UK bike paths haha. look out for the blue sign, it's a shared path for pedestrains and cyclists. Still go slow when you're passing pedestrians (especially mums with pushchairs!)
Way to go mate ! Great vid. Informative and straight to the point as always. Keep em coming.
In the late 80's I had a nice Panasonic NJS fixed gear. I was on a rather long ride and since I was more used to my Somec road bike, I was going down a hill and thought I would stand up and coast........... Well I ended up flat on my back.
Aww, Manon is one of my favorite presenters at GCN. Thanks for sharing. I have yet attach my straps on my pedals but that’s my plan soon!
Do it before you completely mangle your shins!
11:35 18 yrs DH MTBing and my most unexpected wreck on a bike was a pedal strike when me and a buddy had swapped fixed gears so he could try mine out. I didn't think to ask about crank arm length and his were 175 whereas I use 165 on fifxed. End of a long straight and us sprinting like idiots there is a turn I've easily made at speed 1000's of times ... not this time... I flew 14 feet in the air (we measured post wreck) before landing on my side/back cracking two ribs. I was in the air long enough to have time to tuck my head and arms in to prepare for whatever I was about to land on as I was flying backwards. That 10 mm clearly made a massive difference and it essentially turned the bike into a pole vault that I was riding. Scratch on bar end plug and chain stay... and one ruined pedal.
cool but terrifying story lol
You mean, crank arm didn't bend? 🧐
several year rider here, always ran flat petals no breaks and no straps, never had any issues, just took some learning.
Great take on riding brakeless, it just gives a real true fixed gear experience
Yes the thing with the bike taken away is true in Germany, in some cases right away in others they give you like 3 strikes, but make you revisit them again with all the missing parts put on. Alos sometimes they get aggressive and try to pull you from yoour bike by blocking you or getting close with their car. To the clipless part, yes it is true they can unclip but there were these atac time MTB clipless with a huge angle to get out (production was stopped); myself I failed on a track stand and than was laying clipped in on the street in Hamburg and had to twist my legs singlely out with help from the arms. I can recommend for the ratio also to look into what is recommended for what age class on track by UCI so you won´t blow your knees...most people I know had to stop riding fixed gear due to knee health, which is of course getting not well if you overestimate your training level.
Which gear ratio would recommend for newbies, with road experience, then? I was checking your suggestion but couldn't find info
I experimented with various pedals and straps with and without cages until I settled on the fact that I won’t be getting a solid enough connection with the pedals for my taste while also maintaining the ability to slip out of the straps when necessary.
I’ve found some clipless MTB shoes like the Shimano ME5 to be comfortable and casual enough for walking into a cafe and they also provide a solid pedalling experience and a reliable release.
I’ve heard the Shimano SPD system may be prone to accidental release depending on the pedal and how it’s adjusted so I’ve used Crank Brothers Eggbeaters for 17 years now. They will not release no matter how hard I pull on them. The seals and bearings on them have been excellent for many years now, which was not always the case.
The only downside I’ve found on clipless vs. straps is that you can’t really do the ”fixie dismount” where you release one foot, step back as the loaded crank is coming down, kill the remaining speed with all your weight on the pedal as it passes BDC, and slip your foot out of the pedal exactly when the speed is zero.
Yeah I feel like GCN dropped the ball by not emphasizing foot retention whatsoever. But hopefully the video gets more people interested in track bikes
I probably would not have made this video if they hadn’t have missed that detail. It’s pretty important for bike control and fun!
they are trying really hard to tell people to just be safe but it backfires
I've never ridden fixie, though my next bicycle will definitely be a fixie/free. I can't imagine that I will really enjoy riding fixie, but I definitely will give it a try. My usual fitness riding route (on which I ride a 7-speed bicycle converted to singlespeed) winds through my neighborhood in such a way that it occasionally leads me to need to make almost blind turns at intersections at night, and is riddled with skunks. I don't think I'd be able to make an emergency stop under control using a fixed cog the way I know I can with a freewheel and good brakes.
I ride fixies to commute since 2012 and started on the track with a proper track bike in 2021, and I can say for sure that riding a fixie (specially brakeless) on the traffic demands a LOT more skill than riding on the track. Exception maybe could be some bunch racings, that you ride with a lot of people around you really close, but even tho, commuting is a lot more dangerous.
The whole brakeless thing gets both sides all riled up at each other. The way I always describe it to non-fixed riders is this; Riding brakeless is much like like going out clubbing on the weekend and getting pissdrunk. There's a certain amount of automatic risk involved, but you can mitigate or exacerbate it. Staying in a group, buying your own drinks and keeping an eye on it getting picked up by family or friends Vs wandering off by yourself drinking/taking anything and everything you can get your degenerate grubby claws on and jumping in a taxi with some rando. Same with brakeless. You can be chill and reasonable safe about it or every ride can be your own hotline. There's no guarantee of being safe or being in an accident either way.
Hahahah this is such a great analogy! I definitely agree the intentionality and riding style is just as important as the equipment. Thanks for sharing!
Jackson (and all) - a road legal bike in the UK is required to have two braking mechanisms. Therefore, a front brake and a fixed gear back wheel count as two. There's also a bit more to this as well.
There was a UK legal case where a fixed gear cyclist riding brakeless hit a woman (in 2016, if you want to look this up). In part because of his style of cycling (a la inner-city speedy fixed gear videos we've all seen) and because he did not have a front brake, he was convicted of causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving” and got an 18 month sentence. His attitude post accident and on the road were noted but no front brake was EXPLICITLY mentioned by the judge. So, there is a precedent for this in the UK which leads to some confusion for people from other countries.
I think you said you couldn't find anything about the laws regarding brakes. From what I can see its from the Pedal Cycles Regulations (1983) which state that pedal cycles “so constructed that one or more of the wheels is incapable of rotating independently of the pedals, be equipped with a braking system operating on the front wheel“ - essentially you must have two independent braking systems, one for each wheel.
If you are in the UK and don't want a front brake put one on and just don't use it!
As a fixed gear rider of 20 years from London I gotta say, riding with no brakes is the only way to fully enjoy the bike. I’d advise learning how to track stand and skid asap, it’s like becoming one with your sword. BMX pedals with heavy straps is the perfect for city commuting. Enjoy
The answer to riding fixed gear in the city brakeless is not going super fast, not riding down hill, and swerving rather than coming to a complete stop. What ive noticed in terry's hotline vids are they never stop.
DUDE I SAW THAT VIDEO AND YHOUGHT THE EXACT SAME THING LIKE NO STRAPS??
I left a comment on their video dealing with the lack of information on foot retention. No mention of straps or cages. In two days it will be my 5th year riding a fixed gear offer up $20 special, still keep the front brake because I do tend to go through a park that has many kids and unaware joggers. Have loved every minute, except for that first ride that almost lost it going through railroad tracks and the bike started to identify as a wild horse and tried to throw me 😂. Great video, good positive critique, hope they acknowledge your input.
Great video!! I too have 15ish years riding fixed/Track bikes. Have always ridden a front brake. It's there for the "Oh shit" moments you run into when surfing traffic. I've already broken my collarbone several times in my life. I don't need to do it again. That said I think I've gone several year stretches without even touching it.
Also shout out to 49t chainrings!! :D
I live in a hilly place, so 2.75 ratio is perfect, you can ride fast enough on a flat areas, and also can climb hills.
Like a Pro? Not everyone is Pro but this video inspiring the non-Pro in dangerous
My man Jackson. Great I was waiting for this 🌀🌀🌀
Get yourself a fixie if:
You live in a big city with no hills, and you spend most of your life there, since a fixie can't be reasonably used anywhere else anyway.
You don't mind having a bike with little utility value, since in a big city you've got everything. You don't need a rack, nor lights!
You don't mind strapping yourself to a bike with intentionally reduced steering and braking performance.
You don't mind potentially endangering others. You're in your 20s or early 30s and feel immortal.
You value (affordable) style above everything else.
Yes, I've heard of multiple incidents from people riding in germany's bigger cities like Hamburg and Berlin getting their bikes taken away.
The GCN video was made for cyclists who have never ridden fixed gear bikes and would MAYBE consider it for commuting only. Track cycling & Urban commuting are 2 VERY different things.
Her video was very informative for the general public. Yours is more nuanced for people who are really into cycling.
I live in fake London in Canada. I have been riding fixed gear for commuting for 30 years. Being a traditional roadie, the bike has brakes and I don't skid. This year the winter bike used flats without straps instead of SPD pedals to allow for normal shoes.
Out of curiousity, I tried my current city bike at the velodrome(really short at 138m with 50 degree corners) and it did not work. The steering was hyper sensitive and would not track in a staight line. It was really bad on standard 650x42 tires but still not good with 700x28 track wheels. Oddly the steep fork and short rake make it stable vs the road set up without any toe overlap. I see some peope riding track bikes on the road but that does not appeal to me.
Manon's awesome - don't hate on her!
that's a poser video
He clearly didn't.
I'm just happy GCN is talking about fixed gears at all on their channel, so many people that ride bikes don't even know they exist. I brought one to a road group ride and people were flabbergasted🤣
GCN is for the masses. They use a big budget in the videography, editing and click bait pics and hire presenters that are likeable. But their content is often lacking. They too often push (and try to glam up) more expensive options to please their sponsors. The sponsors who pay for all that slick videography and editing. It's not "hate" and it's not about her. It's about GCN's business model and the managerial decisions. You are welcome to watch them, your choice.
@@olivergavvShe is trying to appeal to their typical audience which is mainly roadies that never have been on a track bike, as for her she is an actual former track rider which makes her more official than any other so called fixie rider on the streets trying to be cool.
i commute most of the time in the boston area, don't really just ride for fun enough--and honestly if you're going slow, its perfectly fine to ride flat pedals with no straps or clips. if you do think you'll sprint or take on hills, i think clipless or straps is a toss up since it should be a similar amount of effort to bail. i think clips can be a bit harder to bail from depending on how deep your foot is into them. in scary areas with a lot of mixed traffic (pedestrians, cars and bikes), i'd recommend unstrapping/unclipping and just being on pedal if possible. i'm running 48/16 on a 52 myself--nice and slow and a bit of a crunch with my height/leg length.
thank you for your videos! keep people informed from your experience!!
I use flat pedals and I don’t use a retention system. My legs are strong enough to slow me down. I don’t want to skid, tires are too expensive.
Never got used to the fixed setup. Still ran YNOT straps and brakes front and back. I see the appeal
I run clip pedals on my fixie....love it
What is that poster behind you? Looks sick
i ride with a brake now in the back and clipless pedals :D love my fixie
Hi Guys,
I see that the handlebar are lower than the seat on many bikes.
Doesn't your wrist hurt this way?
I had to raise my handlebar a bit higher than my seat to avoid wrist pain even if I use 40 wide tires.
What can be the possible issue?
im a beginner on a fixie so i use breaks but most of the time i use my legs to stop to normalize it and hwne im confident enough or experience enough on stopping on legs I'll going to remove my front breaks(my front breaks is just for emergency use)
I’ve been riding fixed for 8-9 years now. I started when I was 14 and now I’m gonna be 23 in couple months. I’ve never rode anything else like a roadie, mtb or bmx my entire time riding. I’ve rode everywhere on fixed. For being so young and have parents that’d let me ride far as hell in the world. Basically exploring the world on my own with my friends was probably the best time of life span of years. When nothing was important to me other than riding, man I wish I can tell all the stories with me and my friends. We’ve road thousands and thousands of miles and I say that confidently. The amount of uphill climbs and downhill bombs felt like nothing else. Hitting whipskids, going as fast the cars downhill man ain’t nothing else. I’d say if you wanna ride fixed and actually get serious about it, just keep riding your bike. You learn as you ride your bike. Simple as that. If you ride somewhere it’s not commonly known for people to ride fixed then don’t worry about it. I’ve went from riding with a big ass group of 10-20 people regularly to literally only me. There’s only one like 3-4 of my homies who still have there bikes but don’t ride it like how I ride. In all honesty just enjoy riding fixed, try pushing yourself like never before, and just ride safe. Can’t promise nothing and it’s always a danger riding on the street so imagine me riding by myself. I don’t care bc I ain’t a bitch no disrespect but yea. Riding fixed especially when I’m alone is very peaceful to me. I don’t think about anything else, I just keep pedaling, got my AirPods on jamming, got my whole riding attire on, helmet, glasses, clipless shoes, short shorts, and just breathe nothing but air. In all honesty, if I didn’t ride fixed gear even tho I was already into other sports, I’d probably be lazy fuck lmao and that’s the truth. But nothing but some coffee, a joint, a cold breezy morning, fresh nice cold air. How can you not be happy?!?!
I ride no brakes and can't skid. I just plan my slowing down way ahead of time with my legs lmao I also don't have clips or straps...looks like I need those. Been doing it that way for a few years
I suffered an accident using straps and almost lost my right foot. Now I wanna have a fixie again because mine was stolen but since I use a very fast gear I feel like I need straps but I’m affraid that it might happen again.
great analysis :) and entertaining segments
Thank you!
The Berlin fixie crackdown is real, and although Im not sure about the current situation, but it was (since around peak fixie hype, 2010-ish) by law required to have a working front brake. And the law was enforced, first time a fine, 2nd time loose your bike. This is what I heard about it
"How to..." and we're straight into gatekeeping for the "fixie culture" and the brakes/no brakes thing? Manon's videos for GCN are typically strings of breathless cliches anyway; no need to add to that. Things you need to know about riding fixed (whether you call it fixed wheel or fixed gear): if you choose a low enough ratio for the steepest hill you will be riding up, you will probably spin until your knees smoke on the way down the same hill. Riding fixed gives you great control of the bike at low speed when weaving between obstacles. Riding fixed makes you feel connected with the landscape because every incline or decline means a change in your pedalling. You only have 3 gears: sitting down, standing up, and walking. It's enormously good fun. Part of the game I play is never to touch the brakes except in an emergency. That sometimes means starting a descent slowly and only spinning out towards the end. A geared bike is faster over a distance, but riding fixed makes you stronger and more determined.
I am trying to figure if my bike is a normal fixed, I stop peddling or "cruise" and I haven't gone flying off.
i bought a fixed gear as my very FIRST bike and i dont know how to ride a bike, is it that okay and normal?
So in Germany there is Stvzo which governs vehicles participating in traffic. Two brakes are part of that. Berlin cops are looking to fleece people with fines, that is why they enforce this law. You get ticketed a bunch and if it happens to much, they will confiscate your bike. I believe you can get it back in some circumstances.
This is a big issue in Berlin and Hamburg. The further south you go, the more relaxed police will be around this or care about other things.
We used to go on big ride outs at nights and cops only cared about having the correct lights on our bike (front and back, not blinking). everyone was riding brakeless.
Similar thing in Japan. you need two brakes except for if you are a licensed keirin racer, than you may only run a front clamp on one on your race bike for training.
Looks like the Berlin thing is accurate. You do need two brakes on your bike or it can be taken away. You get one chance to get it right after the 1st inspection
In NZ the law is that you need to be able to skid/lock up both wheels. Obviously aimed at front brake minimum for a fixie.
VEGAN POWER! Go Jackson!!!
7:46 if you’re having problems with flats and straps and are already used to clip-less ones from your non fixie bike try them on your fixed despite what’s being said here.
Heads up, that’s probably a shared path. It’s a bike lane / pavement (sidewalk) combo.
And 165mm is pretty short and hard to find in the geared world
Just clarifying here, it is a shared path, you can see a blue sign flash by at 9:55, that indicates the shared path in the UK
Still, if you see a mother pushing her baby in a stroller on a fairly narrow path, you slow down and use a bit of extra caution. That GNC girl was flying past her without even noticing. What generally makes a good fixed rider, is one who is aware of everything.
I could not follow the english pronunciation "on a fixie if you stop pedalling, you ??" ... was it catapulting? What does that mean? I have using a 'fixie' ... those found in India (which are similar to those people use for commuting in Neatherland too). I often stop pedalling and go for quite a bit before needing to pedal again.
Also, regarding brakes... I can't imagine myself riding a cycle without brakes! I am not quite fond of getting into road accidents!
I have a feeling this 'fixie' is a somewhat different kind of fixed gear bicycle than what I am used to riding.
Maybe its just me, but I would never use metal pedals with metal pins on my fixed gear, not even with foot retention. The idea of somehow getting hit by those pins scares me.
btw I am from Berlin and yes they take away your fixed gear if you ride it without brakes. But it depends on the cop, I never had trouble with the police riding with a front brake, but ymmv
I personally also don’t like riding with metal pin pedals and straps. I like it them with mount bikes where I don’t have straps, but fixie it’s just a little too much sticky-mess to the pedals.
I use metal pedals on all my commuter fixies, no problem in 7 years. Clipless on my training / intense track bikes
Riding Hollowtech II cranks fixed gear seem a little risky
She rides with foot retention in the 'drome. Why she thought that not having it for the street is ok is beyond me. You need foot retention, regardless of whether you ride with brakes, or not. You can get bucked off your bike very easily if you're going fast and hit a pothole. Also, I believe the odd tooth number for the chainring just means that you have ambidextrous skid patches, not necessarily more for your dominant leg. 47/17 is a nice all-around ratio and beaucoup skid patches.
I still struggle with trackstands...having ridden for quite awhile. Lol
can i reconvert my fixie into road i dont want to die because of the reckless driving in my country? or do i just put V break in my bike?
Just run a front brake and you should be good! you can really really easily just convert to a single speed bike with front and rear brakes also and a free coaster
the catapult thing also broke my collarbone HAHA
im waiting for this shit so long😊
where is ur bike check of mash AC3?
You said that knowing how to skid is crucial, but you don't explain why.
I am riding a fixie for 2 years and I don't intend to learn skidding. Why should I?
Хорошее видео , спасибо!
12:03 all cranks avail these days are 175 min. absolute PITA. MTB slowly is coming around with 165 or 160 but yeah. pain.
Never ridden a fixie so I don't understand how you would go flying over the handlebars if you stopped pedalling. It would just stop rear wheels spinning so you would skid, front wheel would still be rolling.
No skidding. Steel is real. Keep pedaling. It's possible to skid without straps or cages, you have to put one foot under the pedal but even more exhausting. BTW I've got a front break just in case my chain snaps or derails and for being lazy on red light stopping.
A pro on fixed gear is called a messenger, shes a sports pro, she knows the mechanics that's all. fuck the berlin laws
How dare the government not want people getting exposed to completely preventable hazards
about the brake law, here in my country such law is highly encforced such that there are traffic marshals whom are on patrol or deployed in fixed gear hotspots, stop all fixed gear riders’ brakes if they work or not. if the brakes aren’t working well or they don’t even have brakes, the bikes are confiscated😢
That’s CRAZY… in Paris cops don’t give a shit hahaha
Rear brake adds nothing. As soon as you start using it the weight shifts forward and you have no more breaking power than your legs would. Front brake is much more effective for emergency breaking. Once you gain control over you front brake you won't topple, it'll just be a sick stoppie.
Thank you for making this video!
anyone else really triggered whenever she says "fixie" instead of "fixed gear"?
It's the same thing but short
It's "fixed wheel" if you're British!
How to do a slider on a fixie?
I used to ride breakless for years, trying to be somekind of idiot cowboy. Then I had an encounter with sedan that I was impossibly lucky to limp away from. Now I'm very happy with both a front and rear break. Especially because I dont have to deal with spin outs anymore.
So how do you ride a fixie without feeling like an outsider… or someone who doesn’t belong, or someone who can’t be excepted…. It feels like you have to buy in and I mean BUY in to be a part. It feels like parts of punk… you can be here… but are you really punk?!? Fuck That.
Hey brother , never mind all the shit. Buy a bike. Get foot retention and go out there and have fun. Niche hobbies always have snobs. Fuck them. Ride for yourself
9:53 that blue sign means it's a shared cycle path
Still, as a rider you should not be zooming past a mother pushing a baby stroller down a pretty narrow sidewalk. You slow down just in case.
I was pulled over on my fixie in Berlin, it turned out I was missing 10! things on my bike 😂 the let me go with a warning though
So how does one deal with the whole fixed gear life vs people who want to bike for fun and getting to where they need to go. Shouldn’t the point of bikes allow all?
Make more branded straps for the gcn viewers! (And me)
_When it comes to brakes one may want to follow the guidelines/laws of your city or state._ *In my city, front/rear lights & brakes are required. No way around it.*
at nite have some light ,don t ride on side walk its for footers !!, have fun ! njoylife
The first time i rode my fixie i got airborne while braking too hard trying to descend a hill.
GCN could have made a better video in my opinion if they brought in a guest co-presenter with fixed-gear crit or more street experience. She is definitely one of the best presenters at GCN, but this is just enough outside of her experience that it shows.
49/16 is good ratio?
8 skid patches or 16 if ambidextrous skid so on skid marks it's fine, and imo a good ratio for a flattish city
I tend to like 47 * 17 or 19 where I live, but for flatter places 49/16 is perfectly fine
Depends where you live, your riding style, weight, components etc. no right answer just try it and see what works best
I'm not a hater of Fixie, but whats the skill riding it?
Lol ride with no brakes told the cop ( it's has a coaster brake! ) did a skid to show him and was told nice bike
I like my gp5000 too much. It's definitely a break for me👍