wearyourtruth

i think most of us ride fixed because we don't want our bikes to be any more complicated than they have to be. those that choose to put on a front brake do so because they need/want it, but since the front does 70% of the work in a braking situation there's no reason to clutter things with a rear.

garagegirl

If you are going down a steep hill (on a freewheel bike) and stop suddenly with only a front brake, won't you endo?

doofo

try leaning back

or

put you butt over the rear tire

dutret

if you are about to endo the rear brake isn't doing anything anyway. The key is to learn modulation and to shift your weight behind the saddle.

roadfix

The only times I kind of wished I had a rear brake in addition to my front brake on my fixed were during very looooong and tiring descents (like 10 miles down GMR, for instance) where I usually ride my brake most of the way down. My hand usually gets tired from the continual squeezing of the lever and I always worry about my front tube popping due to the extreme heat build-up. Perhaps only a front disc may be preferable, instead.

garagegirl

Assume you don't have the time to get in a better position, and you just slam on the front brake. Wouldn't a rear brake help prevent you from going over?
edit- never mind, I type too slow

garagegirl

So if you're going to flip over, you'll flip over rear brake or no?

doofo

id add very rainy or wet descents as a second time a rear can be helpful

lets rename this the brake forum

doofo

modulating the front brake will keep you from going over

stop squeezing before you perform your front flip


i cant think of a way a rear brake will reweight the rear wheel if it has come up

maybe someone can

cc700

if you transfer brake force from front to rear yeah but it won't do anything if you don't lessen front braking force or transfer weight back.

you won't flip over the back if there's a deceleration force, you have to come to a stop before you'll flip over the back.


this discussion is ridiculous






it's a functioning system that requires its own parameters of use, just like any other functioning system. The style aspect is separate.

garagegirl

For my own sanity I couldn't ride a freewheel bike with only a front brake, regardless of physics. I'd still freak out every time I went downhill.

doofo

fine but if you want to become a qualified brake user learn to ride one without using rear brake

dont remove it just dont use it unless necessary

garagegirl

Will I get some sort of merit badge for this?

Don't worry, I like brakes. Too much for my own good apparently.

doofo

you will have satisfaction of knowing you will not endo nor hit a buick

and you will be alive to give your daughter away at her wedding

garagegirl

Hey, stop with the wednesday addams business. The smiley face means I was kidding.

doofo