Where Can I Ride My Single Speed

[TwoWheelsDC]

@TomFord 82528 wrote:

I have myself a singlespeed/track bike that I bought with the intention of using to work on my cadence and power. However, being that it doesnt have breaks, I’m a little iffy about riding it in my neighborhood or anywhere that there are a bunch of cars. Anywhere I can take it? I guess Hains Pt would be it?

Even Hains Pt can be dodgy, since there are lots of cars and peds, but yes, I’d say it’s one of the few places you could do it. Fort Hunt is another option. Is your fork drilled for a brake? Oftentimes the hole is plugged and painted, but most manufacturers include one (might be the law, I’m not sure). Also, pics?

[hozn]

Hmmmm … how about a velodrome ?

Seriously, if you’re not comfortable riding the bike anywhere that may require ability to stop on short notice, I wouldn’t recommend riding it anywhere that is not a controlled environment for that sort of thing (i.e. a velodrome). I’ve had to hit the brakes at Hains Point when a car pulls in front suddenly. Or a pedestrian jumps left … Or another cyclist. Etc.

So, you can’t add a brake?

[jabberwocky]

dcv would say EVERYWHERE.

It all depends on how comfortable you are without brakes. There are very strong riders (the aforementioned dcv is one of them) who ride brakeless fixies on long road rides without issues. I personally like a front brake on mine, though I had the brake cable snap once and did my old 22 mile commute sans brakes and was fine. You need to anticipate braking and control speed a little more, but its doable.

[Tim Kelley]

+1 for Fort Hunt. Much less traffic than at HP. (Like, pretty much empty)

[TomFord]

I can (and should) add a front brake. Better than nothing. Thanks for the advice everyone. I live pretty close to Fort Hunt, so that is perfect. Thanks

[bikesnick]

@TwoWheelsDC 82531 wrote:

(might be the law, I’m not sure).

from WABA’s Pocket Bike Law Guide for DC:
From section 1204.1: “Each bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which enables the operator to cause the braked wheels to skid on dry, level, clean pavement; provided, that a fixed gear bicycle is not required to have a separate brake, but an operator of a fixed gear bicycle shall be able to stop the bicycle using the pedals.”

And, I believe a brake *is* required in Maryland and Virginia.
/bs

[rpiretti]

Bike w/o brakes??!!

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