On one of the highest paved roads in Europe with fixed-gear bicycle (footage)

[Dan D]

What if the Zombie Apocalypse breaks out and you can’t outrun them because you have chosen the wrong gear ratio?

Be prepared, be very prepared, like this guy:

In July 2010 cyclist Patrick Seabase climbed and then bombed the famous Stelvio Pass (Italian Alps) ( http://vimeo.com/14930896), running a 49/17 gear ratio and without brakes.

[Herr-Berbunch]

And without a helmet! :nope:

Rather him than me, I live in a flat part of the country and always get the wrong gear when I get to a slight slope. :up:

[Tribesman]

and without brakes.
Yet he brakes several times in that clip.

[Fincuan]

Yet he brakes several times in that clip.

He probably meant no traditional, hand-manipulated brakes on the bike. Illegal in most parts of Europe btw. The "braking" you see is a feature of fixed-gear bikes. There's no freewheel on the bike so the pedals are constantly tied to the rotation of the rear wheel(fixed), and when he stops pedaling the rear wheel locks.

[Dan D]

Yes indeed.
It is a technique that does not work on freewheel: cyclist locks the rear wheel and then skids to slow down. „Such a move is initiated by unweighting the rear wheel while in motion by shifting the rider's weight slightly forward and pulling up on the pedals using. The rider then stops turning the cranks, thus stopping the drivetrain and rear wheel, while applying body weight in opposition to the rotation of the cranks. This causes the rear wheel to skid, and slow the bike. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or until the rider desires to continue pedalling again at a slower speed.

A wet surface further reduces the effectiveness of this method.“

(„Fixed-gear bicycles for the road“ by Sheldon „Coasting is bad for you“ Brown)

[antikristuseke]

He probably meant no traditional, hand-manipulated brakes on the bike. Illegal in most parts of Europe btw.

what the hell are you talking about? I mean, both my father ans his partner and myself are passionate cyclists, he has riden his from estonia to the shores of gibraltar, not once was it mentioned that brakes on a bicycle are illegal.

[Skybird]

He meant that Fixies, as these special bikes are called in Germany, are illegal. German police confiscates them on sight.

[Tribesman]

Illegal in most parts of Europe btw.
That is because they can be bloody dangerous in traffic.
Fine for racing though(unless you are not used to them at all)

[Jimbuna]

The fixed wheel bike is not illegal in the UK provided it is also fitted with a brake to the front.


Pedal Cycle Construction and Use Regulations 1983 (http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4073), says you need two brakes: one on the rear wheel and one on the front. A fixed wheel counts as a rear brake, but you still need a calliper on the front.
(http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4073)

A link to the relevant details:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/aug/25/cycling-without-brakes