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-   -   ... but I try not to use it (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/138947-but-i-try-not-use.html)

daveed 09-15-05 12:22 PM

... but I try not to use it
 
Lately I've noticed an alarming trend on FGG: bike owners reporting that they own a brake but they try not to use it. :eek:

If these people are cycling on velodromes, why do they have a brake at all? If, however, they are rolling in traffic, why the hell are they self-conscious about a brake? It could save them or someone else from serious injury. :cry:

I have a brake (a Paul lever displayed prominantly on the top of my drops). I squeeze it frequently. It makes me feel good.

stevo 09-15-05 12:30 PM

i dont criticize anyone who chooses to ride brakeless; however, for the life of me I cant figure out why people feel they need to explain to others how they WANT to ride brakeless, but for some reason or another dont/cant.

actually, I do know why.

shants 09-15-05 12:38 PM

i like to call it "******baggery"

adamkell 09-15-05 12:38 PM


Originally Posted by stevo
i dont criticize anyone who chooses to ride brakeless; however, for the life of me I cant figure out why people feel they need to explain to others how they WANT to ride brakeless, but for some reason or another dont/cant.

actually, I do know why.

yea, everyone knows why. I call TROLL on the OP.

Jamtastic 09-15-05 12:50 PM

i have a brake but only use it for emergencies. like people suddenly changing their walking path for no reason at all. i dont use it because my legs like to get stronger by stopping me. ..

daveed 09-15-05 12:54 PM

Yo ... troll, no. But I'll happily confess to ignorance. Is it a macho thing?

eddiebrannan 09-15-05 12:55 PM

yea it's not the worst thing in the world to try and train yourself to do something better or differently, is it? i mean who needs to trackstand at stoplights? you're not clipped in super-tight and you have legs.

it's fun to know you can in both cases i guess

better to have a brake and try not to use it than to not have one when you don't have the skills.

Shiznaz 09-15-05 01:04 PM

eh, I have a brake on one of my bikes. I don't try to not use it, but I often forget that it is there because I am used to brakeless. All said and done though, I would much rather wear through a set of 5 dollar brake pads than a 50 dollar tire.

invicta 09-15-05 01:13 PM

kinda reminds of this excerpt from a d12 song "I'd rather pack the heat and not need it
Rather then need one and not have it, thats why I married this glockmatic"

filtersweep 09-15-05 01:15 PM

Jebus! It isn't like you can't stop without a brake... now riding a SS brakeless is a different story.

Call me crazy, but it is probably better to ride brakeless than helmetless in my world. Most often I have a brake, but sometimes I'll try a different handlebar and skid around town for a few days.

Aeroplane 09-15-05 01:26 PM

To the OP: Some people ride brakeless in the street. Good for them. Others would like to do this, but have the wisdom to realize there is a learning curve involved. They keep the brake, but they try not to use it. Ta-da!

jim-bob 09-15-05 01:28 PM

I have a brake, but I only use it when I want to slow down or stop, not for accelerating.

Shiznaz 09-15-05 01:30 PM

I went brakeless because my brakes broke. Best excuse for brakeless next to not having a drilled fork.

ImOnCrank 09-15-05 01:32 PM

that's the one that i use

adamkell 09-15-05 01:33 PM


Originally Posted by jim-bob
I have a brake, but I only use it when I want to slow down or stop, not for accelerating.

poseur

somebodies 09-15-05 01:38 PM

I usually forget that I'm trying not to use it. I cut it down though, made it smaller, so that really cool people wouldn't notice it quite as much.

noisebeam 09-15-05 01:40 PM

My bike has two brakes: A front hand activated one and a rear leg activated one. I use both.

Al

jim-bob 09-15-05 01:42 PM


Originally Posted by adamkell
poseur

Please remember - your words can hurt.

jfmckenna 09-15-05 02:38 PM

I rode brakeless for years and after a recient accident(not because of no brakes) I had to put one on. I'm all better now and I am finding I like the brake. But then I live in the mountains too so now I can go down long steep hills and not kill myself stopping where as before I was confined to the flatter areas.

But still when something jumps in front of me my first reaction is the brakeless stop.

shants 09-15-05 02:42 PM

i don't think the poster of this thread was attempting to say that not riding brakeless is lame or anything, but that it's sort of funny when people try to defend their brake by saying "well, i mean, you know... i want to go brakeless, but <insert weak reason>" instead of just saying "look, i have a brake on and dammit, it's safer that way." trying to be cool or something.

highpants 09-15-05 03:00 PM

on my old bike i ran a brake but really did try not to use it so that i could sort of ease into brakelessness. that said, i do have to agree with the original poster, there does seem to be a high level of self-consciousness around brakes on FGG lately.

so even though i've been there, i don't know that i would have felt the need to explain myself so much. i feel like, "so you've got a brake. that's cool, i totally understand."

people are funny, we think things always have to be one way or the other, but what in life is really that simple? some people ride with brakes, some don't, and i don't think anyone should have to justify this or most decisions to anyone else. *****, i don't ride for the gallery, i ride for me.

hee hee. that sounded really corny, but i meant it all the same.

daveed 09-15-05 04:12 PM

To Shants and High Pants ... I could not have expressed it better myself.

Now let's ride, carefully.

endform 09-15-05 04:42 PM

I guess I am one of those rare people who actually ever use their flip flop (sometimes I just like to cruise) so I have 2 hand brakes and most of the time those leg activated ones (they shave so many grams).

manboy 09-15-05 06:07 PM

Listen up:

-It's more fun when I don't use my brake.
-I want to make sure I know how to skid/skip/resist rather than always relying on a brake. What if it fails.
-Someday I might have a track bike and want to ride in a velodrome - better to learn now.
-Again, skidding is fun.
-I use cheapo tires so I don't have to worry about buying another crazy expensive piece of rubber that I'm going to skid through anyway.
-I firmly believe that having a brake makes my bike safer.

Enough reasons?

hyperRevue 09-15-05 06:12 PM


Originally Posted by manboy
Listen up:

-It's more fun when I don't use my brake.
-I want to make sure I know how to skid/skip/resist rather than always relying on a brake. What if it fails.
-Someday I might have a track bike and want to ride in a velodrome - better to learn now.
-Again, skidding is fun.
-I use cheapo tires so I don't have to worry about buying another crazy expensive piece of rubber that I'm going to skid through anyway.
-I firmly believe that having a brake makes my bike safer.

Enough reasons?


I think the point of this whole thread has been that people don't need to justify whether or not they use or have brakes to anyone.


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