Monique Y. Mudama said:
I've also been pondering a fixed-gear bike ... but track bikes don't
have brakes! I like brakes. I want at least one on there somewhere.Is there a way to attach brakes to a straight track bike, like the
cannondale or the Bianchi?
Depends on the frame. I think most will accomodate at least a front
brake (and you really don't need a rear). My solution to this problem
was to build up a cyclocross frame as a fixed-gear, instead of a
traditional track frame. This has pluses and minuses. The cyclocross
frame (a Surly Crosscheck) has a much slacker geometry than a track
frame, which makes the handling slower and the ride smoother, both
advantages from my perspective (YMMV). The bike has a forward-facing
horizontal dropout instead of rear-facing track dropout, which makes
Jimbo nervous but has yet to cause me any problems. I have both front
and rear brakes on my bike -- Deore V-brakes, which won't work with
standard roadie brake levers. The Dia-Compe 287-V lever is a drop-bar
lever which is compatible with V-brakes. The point of the Vs is so that
I can use fattie tires and/or fenders, something difficult to do on a
traditional track/road frame. This is one of the beauties of the Surly:
"Fatties Fit Fine"! I keep the rear brake on because I have a Phil Wood
fixed/free flipflop hub on the back (truly a work of art), so that I
can swap over to a freewheel if I wish. I rarely do. Riding fixed is
that much better, once you get over the hamstring cramps.
CC