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As long as you are careful, I don't think just a front brake would be a problem, though I was routinely going down stuff like Suffolk, I'd also consider putting a rear brake. Scariest thing I've done on a bike is go down Hazelwood Road on a brakeless fixie (second place is having my chain brake going down Baker Street on the same bike).

Go to a parking lot to learn how to skid. You may want to drop your gearing a bit, too, as it'll make it easier to learn the motion. And find some skid contest videos on YouTube...watch how people position their bodies.

i would not want to go down either side of baker with a broken chain. that is exactly why i will never go brakeless. suffolk was just part of the tuesday team decaf rides.. it isn't part of my usual route. the steepest/longest hill i go down for my commute and most places is neville to panther hollow.

The steeper the hill, the less your rear brake is able to stop you.

You'll figure it out, go get your skid on with the beginner drivers in the zoo parking lot.

I was not able to learn until I spent some time practicing in grass.

It is easier to break the grip on the rear tire while perfecting foot placement.

In addition, I found leaning far into the bars extremely off putting and chose the risk of kissing grass over pavement.

I still just prefer to use my rear legs to slow the rear and then apply my front brake which Is dialed not to emergency stop with light pressure.

Skidding (at least for me) is best saved for a emergency.

Hope this helps, Ciao

Whoa, you guys went up Suffolk on a decaf ride? I've been missing out!

@rice rocket: No, down from Hazelton. Far scarier, IMO.

@Eric And that is why you should shift your butt back, start with rear break and feather front one.

@Stefb With broken chain and only front break chances to go over the bar going downhill are pretty high.

@reddan +1

Actually a broken chain would make it easier to stop on a steep descent assuming a functioning front brake. Level those now not spinning pedals and get your weight back, use plenty of front brake.

I know a lot of people are nervous about riding fixed, but honestly most of the mystique around it is just hype. You'll be fine.

Hmm, it never occurred to me to try it on grass. I tried it on my driveway and my knees were screaming like extras in a slasher movie.

I worry too much and I am fine once I relax. When I mountain bike, I think about it too much and I worry and it takes me an hour to get comfortable and get off of the brakes.

My daily commute involves going down either Penn, Liberty or if I have a little more time Neville.

I would never ride brakeless in *this* city, But honestly I have yet to feel unsafe riding with front brake only.

I simply use my legs and reduce cadence which causes bike to slow then gradually apply the front brake.

This works for me but everyone has different ability's and safety concerns.

Busting the chain at speed or even worse getting a pant leg sucked into the chaining is about as close to a death sentence as you will find.

Besides that like Eric said, for the most part it is all mystique and hype.

@Erik Broken chain and only front brake could be easily simulated on a road bike or MTB. Try to use only front bike on Suffolk as soon as you get to about 30 mph and remember there is stop sign at the bottom.

I can't figure out how to start skidding properly after years of trying. I can do, and maintain it, if there is a small patch of sand or debris etc. but locking the wheel just doesn't seem to work.

I really don't think it's a strength issue for me but I can't really figure it out.

I also ride a 48x16 so that probably has something to do with it.

Never had a problem with just the front brake in five years.

*use a really quality front brake though

From the 10 minutes I rode a friend's fixie...you need to shift your weight almost entirely on the handlebars unless you have legs of steel.

I'm saving my knees for bigger and better things though.

yeah screw that I'm not trying to be cool I will just use the brake to stop instead of making the bike into a uni

You need to unweight the wheel enough to get off the ground for a split second, lock those legs, when the wheel kits the ground again, SKIDZ.

Mikhail, two things: 1) I'd be glad to bomb any road in this city with any type of bike you'd like using just the front brake. It isn't some type of on/off switch, modulating the front brake to slow yourself down with out going over the bars is not a magic trick. 2) How much time do you have on a fixed gear bike?

I've spent more than one day riding downhill at the bike park with a broken or barely functioning rear brake. I've also had to emergency stop going about 25-30 mph downhill into a red light at a busy instersection (2nd at 10th) with a snapped chain on my fixie and a front brake only. That was by far the easier of the two.

Rear brakes aren't for stopping anyway, if you think they are, you're doing it wrong.

Ok the rear brake came off. I don't think I am going to be doing any skid stops after all. I hope my knees don't bother me, cause it is going to be annoying to switch back to single speed.

stef after a week or two of commuting fixie only I predict that your knees and ankles will ache a little.

At first, I fought the bike/crank all the time and almost gave up and went back to single speed.

This will pass though as you relax and soon you will forget coasting ever existed.

What gear ratio are you running?

@Erik I have may be three years of experience riding fixie. But this was around 34 years ago.

@cburch I used to have single speed with coaster brakes only. As a matter of fact it was the only setup available back in the USSR at the time. As you understand this is rear break only. Never had a problem with stopping. No problem with skidding as well.

Rear brakes aren't for stopping anyway, if you think they are, you're doing it wrong.

this. the rear brake is a backup system.