Colorful, sleek, and incredibly fast, fixed-gear bikes—recently dubbed "fixed-fly"—have become popular among young people.But with only a front brake or no brakes at all, media reports indicate at least four fatal accidents involving fixed-gear bikes this year alone.
The freewheel of a fixed-gear bike is fixed, with the chain tightly attached to it
According to testing by Legal Evening News reporters, after a 100-meter straight-line acceleration, the braking distance of a fixed-gear bike is nearly 3 meters longer than that of an ordinary bicycle. As it does not comply with the Bicycle Safety Requirements, some cities have already prohibited its use on roads.
What is a "fixed-gear" bike? Fixed freewheel, no brakes
"Fixed-gear" is both a direct translation of the English name Fixed Gear and refers to its fixed freewheel.
Compared to the freewheel of an ordinary bicycle, which can rotate freely, the freewheel of a fixed-gear bike fixes the chain to the rear wheel. As long as the rear wheel is turning, the rider must continue pedaling, either forward or backward. Therefore, a fixed-gear bike cannot "coast" like an ordinary bicycle, but it can perform special moves such as riding backward.
Additionally, a key feature of fixed-gear bikes is the absence of brakes, making their braking method very different from ordinary bicycles. Enthusiasts like Yu Hui refer to braking as "SKID," meaning "skidding." In other words, a fixed-gear bike slows down by skidding.
The most basic braking action for a fixed-gear bike involves leaning the body's center of gravity forward, then pedaling backward when the feet are level to stop or even reverse the rotation of the rear wheel, achieving a braking effect.
Investigation: Brakes not included as standard
Like many products, online stores are the main channel for purchasing fixed-gear bikes. Ms. Cheng’s online shop has sold over a thousand fixed-gear bikes, priced between 300 and 2,000 yuan. She said that most customers are students around 20 years old. "They are drawn to the vibrant color schemes of fixed-gear bikes and think they’re unique."
Ms. Cheng stated that brakes are not standard on fixed-gear bikes. "Only when customers ask how to brake do we suggest installing a front brake and practicing on small roads first." She said that if customers are still not comfortable, they recommend switching to a freewheel that allows coasting and installing both front and rear brakes. "But many feel that doing so means it’s not a ‘real’ fixed-gear bike."
Yu Hui became a fixed-gear enthusiast initially for fitness. "Riding a fixed-gear bike can train various physical abilities such as strength, endurance, reaction time, and balance."
Having worked at a fixed-gear bike store, he also mentioned that some beginners don’t even consider installing brakes when buying a bike. Some have even asked, "Why does your fixed-gear bike have brakes?" when they see brakes installed in-store.
Professional riders often opt for front brakes
Reporters found that some fixed-gear bikes online are priced at tens of thousands or even nearly 100,000 yuan. A staff member at an online shop explained that generally, fixed-gear bikes priced above 5,000 yuan are imported from countries like Italy and Japan. Most are custom-assembled based on customer requirements, with some even shipped as "frame-only" component kits.
The staff member noted that the materials and weight of the main components are the primary factors determining the price of a fixed-gear bike—not the color schemes emphasized in lower-end models. Buyers of high-end bikes are usually professional riders who understand the performance of fixed-gear bikes and will request the installation of a front brake on the base model.
A staff member at a fixed-gear bike store in Wudaoying Hutong said that during sales, they require every customer to install brakes. "None of the bikes we sell go out without brakes."
As a seasoned rider, Yu Hui expressed concern that many young people new to fixed-gear biking lack safety awareness. He gave an example: for a bike priced at 500 yuan, a professional rider might spend 400 yuan on a helmet, "but some of our young people don’t even want brakes."
Interpretation: Non-compliance with safety standards leads to bans elsewhere
Reporters found that Article 18 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that the dimensions, mass, brakes, bells, and nighttime reflectors of non-motorized vehicles must meet safety technical standards.
Moreover, Article 5 of the Bicycle Safety Requirements, implemented in 2005, states that every bicycle should be equipped with two braking systems—one for the front wheel and one for the rear wheel. Currently, fixed-gear bikes on the market either have no brakes or only a front brake, clearly not meeting these requirements.
This morning, police officers from the Chaoyang Traffic Detachment told reporters that enforcement has not yet strictly restricted fixed-gear bikes on the road. However, new regulations targeting these new types of vehicles may be introduced in the future.
Reporters noted that traffic authorities in cities like Shenzhen, Xiamen, and Ningde consider fixed-gear bikes as venue-specific stunt vehicles without traditional braking devices, classifying them as non-motorized vehicles lacking proper safety equipment, and thus prohibit them from public roads.
News background: 4 accidents, 4 deaths
At around 12:20 p.m. on March 16, 2014, near the Amber Road section in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, a 13-year-old girl riding a fixed-gear bike was fatally struck and thrown by a speeding private car.
On May 5, in Longcheng Subdistrict, Longgang District, Shenzhen, 17-year-old A Yang was hit and killed by a truck while crossing the road on a fixed-gear bike at the intersection of Longxiang Avenue and Dezhen Road.
On May 10, 16-year-old Zong was riding a fixed-gear bike along National Highway 105 from Zhongshan toward Guangzhou when he collided with a pedestrian. He died on May 19 due to severe head injuries.
On May 19, Li, a 14-year-old middle school student in Zunyi, Guizhou, fell to his death from a high embankment while riding a fixed-gear bike.
Test Results
The braking distance is nearly 3 meters longer
Due to the fixed-gear bike (fixed gear) having only a front brake, or even no brakes at all, media outlets often report accidents involving such bikes.Just how serious are the safety risks of fixed-gear bikes? Actual tests conducted by reporters revealed that at high speeds, the braking distance of a fixed-gear bike is nearly 3 meters longer than that of an ordinary bicycle.
Test Explanation: Reporters prepared a mid-range-priced fixed-gear bike equipped with a front brake, and an ordinary multi-speed bicycle, then compared their acceleration capabilities and braking distances through a "100-meter race."
Visually, the wheels of the fixed-gear bike are larger in diameter than those of an ordinary bicycle, but the tire width is slightly narrower. Moreover, the treads on the tires are very shallow, suggesting lower friction than an ordinary bike. In terms of overall weight, the fixed-gear bike is noticeably lighter, weighing only about 8 kilograms, whereas an ordinary bicycle weighs around 15 kilograms.
The test was conducted on a smooth asphalt road with few vehicles and pedestrians, over a distance of 100 meters from start to finish.
Test Process
Acceleration: Fixed-Gear Bike Finishes 100-Meter Race 3 Seconds Faster
Reporters first tested an ordinary bicycle. During the ride, they shifted the freewheel gear from low to high to maximize acceleration. By the time the bicycle crossed the finish line, its speed was 27.8 km/h, taking a total of 12.95 seconds.
Next, the reporters tested the fixed-gear bike in the same manner. Since the bike’s freewheel is locked, the chain remains tightly engaged with the cog at all times, unlike the more elastic chain found on regular bicycles. As a result, there is almost no perceived power loss during acceleration, leading to a rapid increase in speed.
The fixed-gear bike completed the 100-meter distance in just 9.35 seconds, reaching a speed of 38.5 km/h upon crossing the finish line.
Braking: Fixed-Gear Bike Takes 11 Meters to Stop
In both of the above tests, reporters performed emergency braking as they crossed the finish line. The ordinary bicycle used both front and rear brakes simultaneously, achieving a braking distance of 8.4 meters.
When braking the fixed-gear bike, the reporter squeezed the front brake to stop the front wheel while also pushing backward with both feet to brake the rear wheel. The final braking distance was 11.2 meters—nearly 3 meters longer than that of the ordinary bicycle. Additionally, during braking, the rear wheel lifted off the ground. Moreover, even after traveling 11.2 meters, the fixed-gear bike had not come to a full stop and required the rider to steer it sideways before it finally stopped completely.
In tests without using the front brake, the fixed-gear bike failed to stop within 15 meters in several attempts.