Justin Yu has been a staple of the San Francisco fixed gear scene since 2003.
What made you decide to take the brakes off?
I bought my first track bike in 2003, an ’81 Celeste Bianchi Piaggio with a full Gipiemme group for $300. It was undrilled, so I learned how to ride fixed on a brakeless bike. That’s actually how I met Benny Gold; we both had Celeste Bianchis and at that time there weren’t that many track bikes around, so seeing someone else with a similar setup was rare. I was going to battle him for Bianchi rights to the city, but he was such a nice dude that I let it slide.
What was the hardest part about adjusting to a fixed gear?
I had to learn how to rely heavily on my legs for control through turns and traffic maneuvers. I was used to my road bike and carelessly throwing my weight around. Finding a shop with mechanics that were knowledgeable and receptive to the idea of track bikes on the street took some time as well, but I eventually wandered into Salon di Biciclette on Fillmore and met Dustin, who I followed to Freewheel on Hayes. Since then, Travis, Dustin, and Stevie are the only ones I trust to wrench on my bikes if I can’t do something myself.
What kind of bike are you riding right now with what parts?
Pogliaghi frame
Dura Ace headset
Suntour Superbe Pro cranks, 51t ring
MKS Touring pedals, Soma clips, Toshi straps
Suntour Superbe seat post, Brooks Swallow saddle
SRAM PC-7 chain
Rear: Chub hub to Mavic MA-3, Surly 18T Cog, Continental Contact 28c
Front: Spinergy Spox, Continental Gatorskin 23c
What is your favorite city to ride your bike in and why?
San Francisco. The city is so small that the bike is by far the most efficient way to travel. The partitioned layout of the neighborhoods makes you feel like you’re riding across several small cities, each with unique landscapes to see. And skidding is obviously one of the main differentiators between track and other kinds of city bikes, so riding them in SF, a place with tons of steep hills, definitely challenges your skills. When you get comfortable, the city just turns into a huge obstacle course for you to enjoy.
Do you or did you ever skateboard? If so, did that affect your biking in any way?
Casually, but I wouldn’t say that it affected my riding aside from introducing me to the idea of physically challenging myself and adapting to my environment.
