Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - time for a brake

that's it, i've had it.

i didn't crash or anything, but i'm damn tired of being the weak link on group rides: "no, that's okay, you guys have fun and bomb the hill and go super fast, i'll be back here trying not to die."

it's not that i feel unsafe; i can always stop in time, it's just that to make that happen i sometimes have to be the slow guy, and that's getting old.

word.

+1 I did the same thing. I always ride faster with a brake.

I'm feelin ya. If you want to split a set, let me know.

+1 I did the same thing. I always ride faster with a brake.
but you live in Sacto, you guys consider an overpass a hill!!!! :D

Same things for me too. I started with no brake, got tired of having to back off on rides with my roomate, got a brake, and couldnt be happier.

yeah, i hear that. but they just look so... well, let's not get into that.

Sometimes I like to go down hills on my breakless bike and take my feet out of the pedals. Ups the challenge and all that. If I don't run 3 red lights on my way to work, well. Somethings wrong.

Sometimes I like to go down hills on my breakless bike and take my feet out of the pedals. Ups the challenge and all that. If I don't run 3 red lights on my way to work, well. Somethings wrong.

you got a bad attitude son.

I also like to run over baby carraiges and kick over trashcans when i ride by.

I track stand on homeless people, and instead of tires, I just inflate kitten intestine and glue it down. I go through about a litter a week because I like skidding through fields of broken glass.

Bad attitude, my ass. The guy is obviously more hardcore than any of us! He keeps it ****in' harddcore, son.

but you live in Sacto, you guys consider an overpass a hill!!!! :D

No kidding. If there were hills here I would never taken off the brake.

being the slow guy is not what made me run a brake... it was when my chain broke on a downhill:rolleyes:

my chain separated at a stop light once. trackstanding, light turned green, hammered down... snap. next thing i knew, i was on the ground. there were a couple people standing on the corner looking at me like i was a complete idiot. which may have some truth to it, cuz i still don't have a brake.

And this is why i have an overpriced chain with no masterlink. It is edged with diamonds and when I spin fast enough I use it to cut car doors like tin cans.

edit: im not even sure that makes sense. heh.

Why do people make apologies for wanting a brake ? :rolleyes:
They're like the Spice Girls...When you go ahead and
admit they're ko0L you feel liberated..........

I also like to run over baby carraiges and kick over trashcans when i ride by.

I track stand on homeless people, and instead of tires, I just inflate kitten intestine and glue it down. I go through about a litter a week because I like skidding through fields of broken glass.

are you drinking again? but really 128 is that hardcore...****in hilarious

I wish. Just sippin on some herbal tea at work. So hardcore.

(And by herbal tea I mean little baggies of weeds that grow along side the overpass soaked in the hot tears of all the people I made cry today.)

Why do people make apologies for wanting a brake ? :rolleyes:
They're like the Spice Girls...When you go ahead and
admit they're ko0L you feel liberated..........
****in' a man, i am WITH the spice girls.

that's it, i've had it.

i didn't crash or anything, but i'm damn tired of being the weak link on group rides: "no, that's okay, you guys have fun and bomb the hill and go super fast, i'll be back here trying not to die."

it's not that i feel unsafe; i can always stop in time, it's just that to make that happen i sometimes have to be the slow guy, and that's getting old.

word.

You sir... I applaud.

I also like to run over baby carraiges and kick over trashcans when i ride by.

I track stand on homeless people, and instead of tires, I just inflate kitten intestine and glue it down. I go through about a litter a week because I like skidding through fields of broken glass.


I like this guy.

my chain separated at a stop light once. trackstanding, light turned green, hammered down... snap. next thing i knew, i was on the ground. there were a couple people standing on the corner looking at me like i was a complete idiot. which may have some truth to it, cuz i still don't have a brake.

You know that a brake would have in no way stopped you from falling, right?

i run a brake because i am lazy. i still am highly aware of traffic because i still dont like to stop.

Brake or no brake, at least you are out riding.

I started out with no brakes. 50 x 16 gearing. Hills were ok soon as you got going, you always had the momentum.

Going down was fine too, I just had to slow my pedals. I found riding without a brake like playing a chess game, I had to anticipate the moves of other people on the road. Thats fine when you have lots of time and a clear head.

Then my running such a high gear all the time buggered up my leg I think, cause running a freewheel and brakes the problem stopped.

Its great to run no brakes, maybe a few days a week. We all live in cities and there are other factors involved.

128, all your posts are making me laugh out loud.


I also like to run over baby carraiges and kick over trashcans when i ride by.

I track stand on homeless people, and instead of tires, I just inflate kitten intestine and glue it down. I go through about a litter a week because I like skidding through fields of broken glass.

genius.

You know that a brake would have in no way stopped you from falling, right?

I think he's implying that if it broke right then, it was ready to break any time soon. Which, if while riding in traffic, may have played out with pain instead of simple embarrassment.

edit: why do my posts always make me sound like an *******?

You know that a brake would have in no way stopped you from falling, right?
of course. what i meant was.. the chain broke. it could've broken when i was approaching the light, not stopped at it. freaked me out.

my new bike has brakes...unclipping accidentally while I was trying to slow down on my last bike and going over the handlebars definitely helped me to decide to put brakes on

i was strongly considering going brakeless until i started my new commute to work. there's a super steep hill that leads directly into a reasonably busy intersection. unless i crawl down it, i'd have no chance to stop.

that and the amount of rediculously stupid and careless drivers out in the burbs. it's like playing chess with a ******.

aha. i run a brake. not coz im a puss puss....im just with out cash and new tires are like a luxury. sooooo less skidding, skipping=more riding time on new tires. besides....i really like to
bomb hills, just because i cant coast doesnt mean i give up the reward of taking on a steep descent.(sp)

that and the amount of rediculously stupid and careless drivers out in the burbs. it's like playing chess with a ******.
+1. If there isn't a light every 10 seconds, cagers tend to get tunnel vision.

im sick of people copping silent elitist attitudes about having no brakes. blah blah. its one thing to have no brakes on your bike, but its another when your a messenger playing in hardcore traffic for 8 hours a day and having no brakes. at the end of a day, its alot harder to stop. especially when your really trying to move all day...
doing one trip brakeless is far easier in comparison than going all day. me.. personally, i would rather conserve my energy for going, not stopping. bottom line is that im faster with a brake when i need it.

I'm feelin ya. If you want to split a set, let me know.




i have a couple of bar end brake levers layin around
if you need em let me know maybe we can work somethin out

it's like playing chess with a ******.
no dude, when you play chess with a ******, you win.

no dude, when you play chess with a ******, you win.

Maybe you're a better chess player than sers.

*smug grin*

Sometimes I like to go down hills on my breakless bike and take my feet out of the pedals. Ups the challenge and all that. If I don't run 3 red lights on my way to work, well. Somethings wrong.
lets ride

no dude, when you play chess with a ******, you win.

autism is a different category, no?

no dude, when you play chess with a ******, you win.
You must be super-popular at the community center, huh?

Brakeless riders need to lose the elitism.
Hand-brake riders need to stop the ****ing excuses/apologizing.

Brakeless riders need to lose the elitism.
Hand-brake riders need to stop the ****ing excuses/apologizing.

What ****ing excuses?

I'm talking about all the people who are like "I ride a brake BUT I never use it."
Or "I have a brake because I like bombing hills."
Or "I have a brake because there is a steep hill on my way to work."

It's as if people who ride with hand brakes need to justify it instantly.
No one is judging you!

And it should go without saying that that is not directly at EVERY rider with a hand brake.

Brakeless riders need to lose the elitism.
Hand-brake riders need to stop the ****ing excuses/apologizing.

+1

I hate it when people are like "Yeah, I have a lot of hills so I have a brake, otherwise I wouldn't." or "Oh I just have it as an emergency brake, I never use it".

PS I do have a brake, but it's only there because I sometimes ride my SPD pedals with street shoes

PPS That was sarcasm, I have a brake because I want one damnit.


PPPS I mainly see this on fixed gear gallery submissions

brakes aren't cool and neither are you.

p.s. your mom.

highpants! you found a hill in Minneapolis? I need to ride with you more.