Captain Quackenbush's
Please Add a Brake to Your Track Bike
RECEIVED Wed., July 1, 2009
Dear Editor,
I've noticed that in the last couple of years there has been a rather significant increase in the number of "track" bikes around town. The folks that ride these bikes all appear to be in the same age group (my son calls them "hipsters"). Decades ago, track bikes were used for speed racing on an enclosed track, and I guess that is why they call them track bikes. They have one small gear in the back for high speed, no brakes, and no coast option. This makes sense in racing, but I am not sure this is such a good idea on the streets. If you want to struggle up hills using a stiff gear, that is fine, but what happens when a child runs out in front of you when you are speeding along at 20 mph? Since you have no brakes, the only way you can stop is to push backward on the pedals to start slowing down. Well, by that time you've already run over whoever was in front of you. Let me quickly add that many of the track bikes I have seen do indeed have a brake (singular), so this problem is not aimed at all the "hipsters" (thanks son!).
I would like to please ask all the track bike folks to please add a brake to your bike for the safety of the pedestrians out there on the streets. I am no engineer, but I am rather certain that trying to push pedals backward at high speed is not remotely as effective as front and rear brakes.
It's just a matter of safety, really.
I've noticed that in the last couple of years there has been a rather significant increase in the number of "track" bikes around town. The folks that ride these bikes all appear to be in the same age group (my son calls them "hipsters"). Decades ago, track bikes were used for speed racing on an enclosed track, and I guess that is why they call them track bikes. They have one small gear in the back for high speed, no brakes, and no coast option. This makes sense in racing, but I am not sure this is such a good idea on the streets. If you want to struggle up hills using a stiff gear, that is fine, but what happens when a child runs out in front of you when you are speeding along at 20 mph? Since you have no brakes, the only way you can stop is to push backward on the pedals to start slowing down. Well, by that time you've already run over whoever was in front of you. Let me quickly add that many of the track bikes I have seen do indeed have a brake (singular), so this problem is not aimed at all the "hipsters" (thanks son!).
I would like to please ask all the track bike folks to please add a brake to your bike for the safety of the pedestrians out there on the streets. I am no engineer, but I am rather certain that trying to push pedals backward at high speed is not remotely as effective as front and rear brakes.
It's just a matter of safety, really.
Dan McAllister
