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Depends.

Fixies with sensible owners will have at least a front brake, while fixies owned by people more interested in looking cool may not have any other way of braking than putting reverse pressure on the pedals.

The above is good advice. Here is a more complete answer:

A fixed wheel bike. Or "Fixie," has a single fixed sprocket on the rear wheel, as opposed to a free-wheel. On a fixed wheel bike the pedals turn constantly, and the rider cannot coast downhill for example. A track bike designed for racing on a banked track or Velodrome, has a fixed wheel and no brakes.

On a Velodrome the cyclists are all traveling in the same direction and it is actually safer to have no brakes because no one can stop suddenly. If someone falls, a skilled track rider will try to steer around the fallen rider, rather than try to stop.

A pure track bike has no provision to fit brakes. If ridden on the road it is not strictly legal, and it is not wise to do so. It is possible to stop a fixed-wheel bike by holding back against the pedals, and is how track cyclists stop. However, for emergency stops required in traffic, at least one brake, usually a front brake is a good idea to make the bike street legal, and also for common sense safety reasons.

It is also most important to use a proper rear wheel hub, designed for a fixed sprocket. Such a hub has a right hand thread for the sprocket, and a separate stepped down left-hand thread, (Counter-clockwise.) for a lock-ring. Without such a lock ring the sprocket can unscrew, while trying to hold back against the pedals. If the sprocket unscrews all the way it can destroy both the hub and the frame, as well as causing an accident, especially if traveling at any speed.

It does take a certain amount of practice to master a fixed-wheel bike. Once the rider becomes used to the idea that he cannot stop pedaling, he will find he has more control than the conventional free-wheel bike, especially in stop and go conditions. A medium to low gear ratio is advisable for more stopping power and fast acceleration.

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Do fixie bikes have brakes?

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