Cycling UK Forum

I've just bought a Bianchi Pista fixie which I'll be using for my flattish commute. It's built up around a track frame with a drilling in the fork crown so fitting a front brake was easy enough, but there's no drilling for a back brake. I haven't ridden fixed before and I'm a little nervous about only having a front brake, so does anyone know if it's possible to fit a back brake to a frame that does not have a drilling in the seat stay bridge?

If your route is relatively flat you'll not need (nor have a legal requirement to fit) a rear brake as the ability to resist with a fixed is considered braking enough. I'm not sure you'll be able to fit a brake so would suggest trying it out without one. I reckon you'll find it fine after a few rides.

Thanks Richard - I haven't found a way of fitting one anyway short of having the bridge replaced, but I'm sure you're right and I'll get used to it quickly enough. I was going for a belt-and-braces setup but that's probably overkill.

I ride a fixed with only a front brake and it's fine. Just remember to push your weight back when you have to brake hard. Also, make sure you have a good, powerful front brake as there is a lot of difference between good and poor quality road calipers.

Er... drill the bridge?

A rear brake on a fixed wheel bike really is superfluous. You won't need it.
When under emergency braking on a fixed wheel bike just fitted with a front brake I have even managed to spin the rear wheel backwards in the wet, and not even the best rear brake in the world is going to do that !
The Bianchi Pistas look like nice bikes. I especially love the "No Brakes" warning sticker on the top tube !

Two options here. Drill the bridge, or don't. All depends on how flat, how many kids step out without looking, what you're like at pedalling backwards, how worried you are about fa***ng o** etc, etc.

There is a school of thought that says 'resisting' isn't all that good for the knees - but if you are somewhere flat I doubt that's an issue.
I reckon you've chosen a lovely bike, so would be a bit disinclined to get the drill out, but bet a framebuilder would do a good job for not a lot of dosh.

St John Street cycles do the cable clips for the top tube if you go down that route (in chrome too).

Campag tell us that they've spent a lot on modular differential rear brake development - think of the weight you'll save...

I'd steer well clear of drilling the bridge until your frame's warrantee has expired as i'd bet that drilling holes in it will end the warrantee imediatly.

As for whether you need a back brake, if you've mastered braking with your legs and skid stops then probably not, but I was glad that I had one when my front brake cable snapped and I was on one of my first fixed rides!

depends where you live ie hilly or flat, body weight and if you ride in a group (with gears) or solo.
if i lived on the coast aroud ,say, southport , i'd probably risk just a front.

But i wouldn't go out on fixed without back and front brakes where i live, trying to hold a bike back with one brake on fixed going down barbondale / deepdale into dentdale in the wet is impossible, i tried it .
riding in a group of riders who are all on gears means going into corners at their speed, not slowing down over a good distance.
theres nothing soft about 2 brakes on a fixed touring bike, we have 6 or 7 riders on fixed every winter ,all with two brakes.
the weight saving isn't worth bothering about.
if you want two put two on, get a bike shops opinion on drilling the brake bridge if you're unsure.

I do not know anything about fixed bikes. I did see something on Sheldon Browns web site about makeing a clamp for one.