The Official DMF Bicycle Thread

[kopfjäger]

I'm not into bicycles, but I know that single speed bikes are the latest trend - stupid, but trendy.

Trendy...been riding em since I was 6, I'm 57 now and would not ride anything else.  

[stopintime]

I had them too, but I remember the joy of having three gears and later 21 

Come to think of it, it's not just that they have only one gear, but also that the pedals move with the wheel - not free at all. I've even heard that the trendiest of the trendy don't have brakes - maybe they slow down with muscular power through the pedals... Minimalist thinking...

[kopfjäger]

I had them too, but I remember the joy of having three gears and later 21 

Come to think of it, it's not just that they have only one gear, but also that the pedals move with the wheel - not free at all. I've even heard that the trendiest of the trendy don't have brakes - maybe they slow down with muscular power through the pedals... Minimalist thinking...

You're talking about a 'fixie', my SS is free wheel.

[Speeddog]

The 'fixies' have been all the rage here amongst the younger urban crowd.

Many indeed sporting no brakes at all, at least ~ 1 year ago.
They apparently discovered that in an urban environment, it's not so functional. 
Virtually all of them now have at least a front brake.

[kopfjäger]

If you stop pedaling a fixie, the rear wheel stops moving, built in rear brake. 

[Speeddog]

Just like on your moto, rear brake only isn't really enough. 

[triangleforge]

You're talking about a 'fixie', my SS is free wheel.

Looking at this particular bike, though, it's either fixed or a coaster brake ... or entirely brakeless. I couldn't find anything about components in the very pretty but sketchy information on the website (didn't search all that thoroughly, admitteedly), but there clearly aren't any brake levers on it.

I'd love to be a bigger fan of belt drives, but I'll probably wind up being a late-adopter on those; I just saw this pretty even-handed review of the state of the belt-drive art at the moment: http://www.dirtragmag.com/reviews/review-gates-centertrack-carbon-belt-drive-system

And if the Rizoma bike is indeed a fixie, I'm willing to take my hat off to 'em for making something cool-looking, but I have to say belt drive fixed gear is a pretty dumb idea, given the current state of belt drive tech.

[stateprez]

Gates does not recommend using their belt drives as the "primary braking system."

Mine however, has no brakes.....

[stopintime]

Front brake on the Rizoma.

The frame looks a little Pierobon  

[triangleforge]

Just like on your moto, rear brake only isn't really enough.  

I ride a fixed gear a lot in traffic (used to be downtown DC, now a little town in Arizona - but the retirees here who can't see over the dash pretty much make up for the homicidal cabbies I left behind). While it's fun to declare a "No Brake Day" and make a point of only using back pressure on the pedals or skidding the rear wheel, there's no way I'd be alive today if I didn't have a front brake on it as well. My skills & risk-tolerance just aren't that high, and I find I ride a LOT faster on days that I'll let myself use that front brake.

And back when I occasionally rode the track (where you're actually not allowed to have a front brake, for safety reasons), it was easy to pull the road handlebar & front brake off, and swap in that cool set of Cinelli track bars or the bare aero bars. I wasn't fast, but I looked the part. 

[triangleforge]

Front brake on the Rizoma.

Oops, you're right - I didn't look close enough at the photos in the Gallery; the Design & Technology and Technical Info tabs show it with a bare handlebar - ie, no front brake.

[stopintime]

Front brake on the Rizoma.

The frame looks a little Pierobon  

and rear brake too...

[kopfjäger]

Just like on your moto, rear brake only isn't really enough. 

Very true, but sometimes folks gotta push the edge.

[kopfjäger]

and rear brake too...

Macaframa SF Track Bike Promo

[cokey]

Here in ny many ride fixie with no brake..  slightly raise the back tire while slowing down your pedaling is proper way without destroying rear tires..  I might turn my 12 yr old 14 speed into one once I finish the other build I've been posting in here.  Its definitely crazy way to ride...