Newcastle Fixed Gear

I don’t normally hold with look-no-brakes fixed gear riding on public streets. But this, via The Foot Down (and on Twitter via a Splendid Chap In Darlington) is local, quite nicely shot, and just the right length to be interesting rather than tedious:

In case you were wondering why I don’t hold with brakeless riding on public streets, there’s this as a reminder:

Filed under: Bike Culture

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7 Responses to “ Newcastle Fixed Gear ”

  1. Ty on October 11, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    That dude in the second video is a baffoon, he gives cyclists in general a bad name.

    Ty
    The Foot Down

  2. KarlOnSea on October 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    Yep - pure Darwinism in action. The scary bit is how long he spends with his rear wheel locked up once he realises that he’s not going to make it. I ended up leaving both brakes on my fixie - they only get used a couple of times in a 15 mile commute, but when you need them, you need them!

  3. Tom on October 11, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    I’m thinking we film our own middle aged Newcastle fixed gear, brakes on, sensible jumpers, mudguards. Radical?!

  4. KarlOnSea on October 11, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Pipes too.

  5. miketually on October 11, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    I think I recognise the Cinelli from my occasional trips to The Toon. My fixed gear has a front brake, too.

  6. mistahsinclair on October 11, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    The rear wheel lockup illustrates why a front brake is more valuable than a rear…the video also highlights what I find while cycling:

    The biggest danger on the roads are people on bikes…a danger to me on my bike…a danger to themselves…and a danger to the reputation of all cyclists.

    I’ll stick to single speed, rather than fixed gear, and brakes front and rear!

  7. Rob Codger from Aus on October 14, 2011 at 10:06 am

    I found the first video simply tedious. What is it with cyclists trying to wear out the rear tyre as quickly as possible?
    Re the second: commuting is not a sport, speed and impatience are the killers!