Not enough posts on brakeless...
03-02-06, 07:27 PM
#126
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Originally Posted by shants
i was unaware that this was going to devolve into a common sense academic discussion about braking. it seems like such isn't really even worth having. the answers are extremely obvious. the particularities, though, of city riding, require different considerations. that said, if you want to ride with a brake, have fun and be safe, just like everyone else.
03-02-06, 07:43 PM
#127
roll'em high
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Originally Posted by paule
Actually, you participated, and I dare say passionately, in this "de-evolution" into something as boring as physics, culture, style, and preferences that we hold about our bicycles. So, if you must ride brakeless, have fun and be safe, just like everyone else because no matter how you ride your bike, your just riding a freakin' bike. And by the way, I am not a "brake advocate" and I do not teach "safety school", but I do enjoy pedaling.
anyhow, keep enjoying it (the pedaling, that is).
03-02-06, 07:43 PM
#128
loves living in the city.
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Originally Posted by shants
i ultimately took the brake off because it had proven to be totally unnecessary for the riding that i do and interfered with my hand positions on the handlebars (i even used a cross lever). yes, it also looks a lot better. it's also a **** of a lot more fun, too.
03-02-06, 07:44 PM
#129
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Originally Posted by KrazieF00
Hey shants man, I respect you a lot on these forums. I know how you feel on the matter, and surely you're one of the brakeless riders who clearly knows what he's doing. There's no beef here =P In my post i tried to make it clear that I'm not targeting all, but some.
03-02-06, 07:44 PM
#130
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Originally Posted by Ira in Chi
You better come out here sometime, we've got some beers to drink!
cheers, aaron!
04-21-06, 09:02 PM
#131
Somebodies friend
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I was able to skip/skid on my first fixie, on my first ride... I started w/o a brake ***** (untill you put one on for me, thanks somebodies).
04-21-06, 10:38 PM
#132
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Looks like an old thread, but I suppose the reason I would want a brake a lot of the time is in case of a mechanical problem. I didn't see that mentioned much in the discussion. Not necessarily a reason for everyone to have a brake, but might be a reason a lot of people do. Also, my knees arent the best as it is now, and being able to take a little strain off them can be nice.
04-21-06, 10:42 PM
#133
blah
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I think most people who ride brakeless have learned how to stop by jamming their shoe into their tire. If you don't know how to do that, go practice. You'll thank me some day. I've slipped out of my pedals going 20 down a really steep hill, ran 3 red lights and didn't go down. Part of that is luck, but part of it is just being ready for that sort of situation. I think riding brakeless makes you ride smarter because you know there is no bailing out. I wouldn't say its safer, but it's a different mentality and style of riding. If you can do it, do it. If you don't feel comfortable, don't. Simple as that. My worst crash was on a fixed conversion with brakes, and right after that I switched to brakeless and haven't looked back.
04-22-06, 07:41 AM
#134
jack of one or two trades
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Originally Posted by onetwentyeight
I think most people who ride brakeless have learned how to stop by jamming their shoe into their tire. If you don't know how to do that, go practice. You'll thank me some day.
04-22-06, 04:12 PM
#135
Murder Face Crew
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Originally Posted by onetwentyeight
I think most people who ride brakeless have learned how to stop by jamming their shoe into their tire. If you don't know how to do that, go practice. You'll thank me some day. I've slipped out of my pedals going 20 down a really steep hill, ran 3 red lights and didn't go down. Part of that is luck, but part of it is just being ready for that sort of situation. I think riding brakeless makes you ride smarter because you know there is no bailing out. I wouldn't say its safer, but it's a different mentality and style of riding. If you can do it, do it. If you don't feel comfortable, don't. Simple as that. My worst crash was on a fixed conversion with brakes, and right after that I switched to brakeless and haven't looked back.
I have a front brake; I race through traffic, obstacles and red lights almost daily in the interest of keeping consistent speed. I will not argue that it is smart, because it is not, but I will say that I'm still here typing while looking forward to riding tonight in good health. That makes me confident enough in my practice of fluidity.
My style is single gear, fixed, and I love it. My front brake just makes my bike a better piece of equipment for street use. Stuff happens, especially if you ride your bike for everything. Chains snap, tires pop or you may be too tired heading to work or drunk heading home after some alleycat games and allow your feet to come off the pedals on a hill; or just maybe you actually need to stop because of the miraculous actions of some yuppy driving an H2. A brake can be very convenient in these situations. I have no concern of the weight and wind drag on my brake holding me back when I am racing through city streets either.
My equipment does not define the mentality of my riding, I do.
04-22-06, 04:18 PM
#136
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I agree that the rider is the key part, not the equipment. Brakes or no brakes, any bike is dangerous if you suck at life.
04-22-06, 04:29 PM
#137
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No matter how much attention you are paying there will be unexpected obstacles that you will not be able to avoid. Riding in control means going at a speed at which your reaction time + stopping time allows you to not run into these things. Stopping time will be much faster with a brake then without one. Therefore you will be able to ride faster while still being in control on a bike with a front brake. Since you can ride at a faster speed(especially approaching intersections) there is no way you could be faster(and still in control) overall without a brake. If brakeless riders beat braked riders in alleycats it is purely because they are much stronger riders or quite possibly they are simply more reckless. Being forced to ride more slowly or out of control seems absurd but I guess there could be reasons for it. I really don't care what y'all want to do as long as you avoid me while doing it.
