poonster18

Hey people, I'm just wondering why many pro riders and most amatuers as well have their seatpost cut off to a certain limit, have their seat lowered, and why some bikes only run on back brakes. I noticed that bikes made for dirt jumping and street only have front brakes, while skatepark/park bikes or freestyle have both brakes. What's the difference? Yes I did lower my seatpost and everything, and I find it really useful since my seat doesnt get in my way when I'm jumping onto a rail or manualing acros my driveway. I was just wondering if anyone knows....Thanks people!

^oZ

I don't know much about BMX-bikes, but I'm quite sure that dirt bikes only have rear brakes...?

sxe fbm rider

Well you answered why we lower our seats, so they dont hit us while we do stuff. You cut the seat post to resuce weight.. you dont need the extra 4 inches of your seat post if it's in your frame. And dirt and street riders definately only ride back brakes. Theres no need for a front brake in street and dirt, you need to stop, but you dont need like a tweeked stop on your front tire for any reason usually, you just need to stop and thats that. Alot of park riders run one brake, but anough run two as well as flatlanders becuase they really need to control their entire bike, a flatlander spends a decent amount of time on just their front tire so they like to be able to control just the front tire. Do you really hit rails?

poonster18

Haha thanks..Umm yea I actually do. only flatbars on the ground though. I don't do stairs with rails and everything...NOt that advanced yet haha. Thanks anyways.

sxe fbm rider

That's what I meant, like handrails. when you say rails, handrails is assumed.

hammye

But I have known many a people to ride front and back while riding street and dirt. Street riders benefit plenty by having both on and there has been a few to ride flat with no brakes at all.

poonster18

Yeah, I've seen many people run brakeless/ Going brakeless I would consider a pretty bad idea, unless you know after doing a trick you can actually stop. Dont wanna hit a mom carrying her child on the street. Cuz that would plaing suck.

poonster18

Oh yea, and why some people only have pegs on one side or even run only on the back pegs?? Just curious.

hammye

Dominant side. One may only do peg stuff on that side.

poonster18

Haha, thanks. I hv'em on my right side.

bmexican

i've never seen a dirt rider use front brakes. i would hope most ppl are smart enough to not hold down the front brake lever while landing, but still.

poonster18

Haha that's really true. Who would be dumb enough to hold down the front brakes when they land. Whoever does that rpobably wont have a face the next day.

poonster18

Won't that hurt like hell if they run with front brakes? I don't really get it since they wouldn't need front brakes anyways...maybe just for convience.

pack

ryan nyquist ran front brakes cause he said they keep your front wheel stable when doing no handed variations

queensrider86

how do you use them if you're no handed? on the props passport video, at the end a japanese guy tries a frontflip with brakes, but he forgets to let go of the lever .

hammye

What dumb ass is stupid enough to grab and hold onto his brake lever? I rode bmx for years and never did anything that idiotic.

CMcMahon

I hold my brakes when I'm riding trails or hitting a big gap. It gets your nose down.

hammye

But do you let go before you land?

CMcMahon

Obviously.

^oZ

Ever tried a braked landing?

hammye

I tried doiing it once long ago after I had just gotten into bmx. I was like 13 or so. It didn't really do to much seeing as how my front brakes were mx1000's.

FLyBOy

Which one do you hold down to get your nose down? I'm just curious, because I want to learn better jumping techniques.

CMcMahon

The rear. I don't have front brakes at the moment.

poonster18

Haha I would think Ryan Nyquist ran front brakes too...did anyone watch X Games Big Air Park Competition?? He was second place behind Mirra. Man his run was awesome till he tried something like a 720 barspin over a quarter pipe...or something like that..i forgot.

poonster18

Ryan was the only one who was running with front brakes! But it doesnt really matter I dont think..