Should you ride brakeless? | Fixed Gear Q&A

For lightweight, top-tier steel bikes, check out Wabi Cycles:

Cycling gear mentioned:

Questions answered in this fixed gear Q&A:

1. What do you think about brake laws?
2. How often do you ride off-road? Thoughts on fixed gravel?
3. Can a good fixed gear bike frame withstand bad road conditions?
4. Thoughts on conversions?
5. 26.0 vs. 31.8 mm bars and stems? Why is 31.8mm becoming more popular?
6. Have you ever had someone road rage at you while you were riding your bike?
7. How do you get rid of anxiety while riding in the road?
8. Earphones or portable speaker for riding?
9. What are some bike jobs for teenagers?
10. What's your gear setup as you travel through Asia?
11.Gloves or no gloves?
12. What do you think about SKREAM Bikes?

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StanStrong108
Evan Clement
Joey Rapalo
Marek Dravecky

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Michael Rector
Austin Fowler
nicodache
@ffnivas
Pat Bateman

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#brakeless #brakelessfixedgear #bikecommuting

[peterbaskind]

I look at the brakeless question very simply: I cannot imagine someone finishing a ride and saying, “Wow. I sure wish I hadn’t had those brakes on this ride.” But the opposite is surely true.

[bullishbryan]

I've been watching you for a while now and just realized how little subscribers you have, with the passion and quality in which you make your videos you deserve way more..

[clacclackerson]

I love bikes and cycling but am not into fixed gear stuff. I just figured out why I like watching your vids. It's because of you. Smart, level-headed and sane. I wish you all the best, Zach Gallardo.

[BluesBroken]

Gloves help if you are gonna crash. Hands always hit the deck. Talking from experience 🖐🖐🖐

[hughesj]

I walked into a shop when I was 14, asked if the guy needed a hand, and started working for minimum wage helping customers and cleaning the shop. Within a month I was handling a large portion of the repairs. Didn’t know him before I started working there. Didn’t have any prove-able experience. Just hit up all your small local shops and be persistent.

[elicrawford]

Nice video!
I'm 14 and I recently got a job in a bike shop and I can really relate to this video. It started with me going in every now and again and talking to the people who worked there, and then one day I just went in and asked for a job and they said yeah. I've been working after school 3 days a week and on Saturdays and I'm really happy that you addressed this topic.
BTW: I'm aware no one really cares but I felt i could share it anyway.

[swingingkris]

The point of cycling gloves if to protect your hands in case of an accident. If you fall off your bike, your hands are often the first part that touches the ground and they could be the only part that gets injured.

[daltonbedore]

i always get excited about riding from your videos! Thanks Zach

[vahanara]

Owner of Csepel Royal Frisco here. May soon flip from freewheel to a fixed cog.
20 inch wheeled and bit heavy.

[ryansugimoto]

Most of the cons of aluminum/carbon frames on the road can be solved with a wide road or CX wheelset. A rim with an internal width of 19mm+ opens the profile of the tire and the improved ride quality is undeniable. 25mm tires feel like 28mm/30mm without the extra weight. Worth looking into.

[DarioCast]

RIP Hub and spokes 🥺😭 The bike shop closed about a year ago or so. It is dearly missed

[nova-jo]

I carry a steel seat post just in case of road ragers😄

[justineaves]

Also I've always been on the fence about whether I like you or not but after hearing your analysis of skream bikes I'm positive we would get along👊

[mrkringlan]

Rode brakeless (with helmet!) for a good bit until I got hit by a car (honestly, not my fault). I was fine, the bike was destroyed. The kind of accident that happens because drivers don't have enough respect for cyclist.... Now I ride single speed with disc brakes (plenty practical). From time to time I miss my brakeless fixie. Would I buy another fixie? Yes. Would I decide to ride it brakeless? Yes. Why? Because it is so much fun and forces you to think ahead.

[emmanuelmontes]

Got a ticket a year ago for riding brakeless in riverside CA

[Cube_Ernator]

'Road Rager's'. Yes, ignoring them is fine and avoiding them is better. Persistent ones became even more angry when they return to the parking lot and find all 4 tyres deflated.

[teddyr]

Well for tough roads you can build a fixie with 700 wide tires like the ones they have on mountain bikes build it to work for the condition you're in and talking about people slide swiping you back in the 80s I have Road over a couple of hoods sideswiped a couple of times I've lost count it comes with the territory

[rwirtz]

I run a front brake, i don't use it muchvbut if your blasting at 25mph and have to stop it's def needed, Skiding doesnt stop you very good and bombing a hill one time a car pulled out so i jammed my foot in the rear tire and it burnt through my entire shoe almost.

[troymanning]

Zach give a heads up in a video the next time you're planning on coming through Osaka Japan. We'd love to ride with you (fixed and geared folks)

Oh no - I just bought a Bianchi Super Pista, alum frame carbon fork. The looks - Oh yes !