At the Handbuilt Bike Show: Another Brake on a Fixie

• Mark V
• 17 years ago
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: handbuilt

Here’s a brake configuration that I had never even thought of. Sycip Designs put a disc brake caliper on the down tube which grabs a rotor mounted to the left side of a special White Industries crank. Since the rear wheel is directly linked with no freewheel to the crank, stopping the crank stops the rear wheel. Kinda odd, but you would never have to worry about disc/caliper alignment while adjusting the chain tension and you would use a normal track hub. But I think you’d definitely want a real track hub with a reverse-thread lockring.

Update

We heard from Jay at Sycip and he said

This was just a one off attempt to see whether it would work or not. Its an idea we have had for a few years now and kept on shelving it due to the weak link a normal track hub and reverse thread cog w/ or w/o lock. The White Industries track hub with a spline cog is whats making it possible. We would never in a millions years try it with a threaded cog for obvious reasons.

The crank will never turn fast enough under braking to heat the rotor unlike a wheel and most important its serving as a assisted brake working in conjunction with the riders legs. Lets not forget the inertia or the wheels and riders legs which will continue to turn even under immediate braking.

Isn’t it a fun idea?

I will have to say it works well. Front brakes are the simple way to go and is for sure more effective since it does most of the braking.

I will have to say it works well. Front brakes are the simple way to go and is for sure more effective since it does most of the braking.