avner

Do you like to scrape your toptube on things?

hairnet

Ha, well I'm going to be at Ciclavia with my girlfriend. It's on my birthday (21)

avner

ftfy.

think I pmed you my number awhile ago. Hit me up when you go, first tall boys on me. Are you going to go to the BBQ as well?

bleedingapple

really? this town is infested with them... even the 50 year old commuters ride fixed...

lamest excuse, every time I hear it... $5-10 on the used market and thats not even a ****ty one...

avner

Now that I see this thread again.

I was at the Co-Op last night momentarily to go potty before I went off to try and meet up with the West Side Mosey. My friend lagged it and we didn't make it in time. However some kid picked up a conversion for 150, by kid I mean 20-23 year old student at USC. He was probably 5'10 and I've got to be honest. It seems like you dont technically need common since to get into USC because he had a 62-64CM frame with the seat all the way to the bottom. No foot retention and no brake. I don't carry my lock around so all I could do is advise him on how to properly set up his bike so he didn't die on his ride home and teach him the basics of controlling his speed with his feet. I hope someone at the Kitchen made sure he got that front brake on, and if they were nice some clips.

bleedingapple

but you ride 63GI so can back pedal easier and dont do balls out skids... Unlike most of the brakeless peeps I see who are in the 75GI+ range.

hairnet

But you would have locked his frame for me right?

MPC Biker

^this

I'm doing the exact same thing, first fg build = full brakes (also hoping to ride it soon)
Maybe Ontarians like us just prefer safety, or know how stupid motorists in downtown Toronto can really be.

Clif

Someone has never driven stick before....

JesusBananas

I have not, actually. Humor me and explain how my analogy misunderstands the concept.

EpicSchwinn

So today a car hit its brakes in front of me suddenly and there wasn't much stopping room. I have a brake but since almost I never use it, in that split second my reaction was to skid - not hit the front brake. Just thought I'd mention that those of us who have a brake for "that one close call that's bound to happen." If you have it but don't use it, you're not going to use it by instinct in that moment of need.

Clif

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking
The analogy works perfect with concept of brakeless bike if you ask me.

The only reason to not have a front brake is for looks.

JesusBananas

Oh ok, I was thinking about the actual manual shifting of the gears more than I was thinking about braking without using brakes. I imagine most people who drive stick prefer it for the manualness, not the questionably alternative braking methods.

sulr

How do you determine someone's experience upon first sight anyway? Just worry about yourself.


Most FG SS people I see riding around have one or two brakes, but I'm not at a university anymore so my perspective is invalid.

hwdxbassist

Hey i see those kids around all the time

dam kids with their pokemon cards and their hoola hoops!!!

hahaha no but seriously if you see some of the "Noobs" or beginners, give em some advice, most people i see riding around and you can clearly tell their new and riding brakless, i give them some advice, we all started fresh at one point and had to learn the hard way. why not avoid someone getting killed because of inexperience and lack of knowledge-by simply helping them out. thats what biking is all about. getting out, and being open to what comes next. Happy riding BF

dookie

automotive brake pads are cheap and easy to replace. motor/transmission/clutch, not so much. i drive a stick and use my brakes.

bicycle brake calipers are cheap and easy to install. dental implants/titanium bone screws/etc., not so much. i ride a fixed-gear with a brake.

as for 'worry about yourself only'...sure, i do. eg: when somebody shows up on a brakeless fixed gear for a fast group ride with a dozen+ other riders, s/he is politely asked to leave and try again next week, with brakes please. totally up to them what they do when riding alone.

as always, my opinion.

Clif

Exactly you use the brakes on your car because they are far more effective at stopping than engine braking. It's like how a front will brake will stop you over twice as fast as back pedaling.

clink83

You usually only notice the gapers, the people who ride brakeless well tend to fly under the radar.

LocoTracks

I was wondering about the physics of this the other day, any mathematicians around?


I generally see 3 types of brakeless riders around UW-Seattle. Ones who do bar spins on campus all day, ones with their bikes locked to cafes, and ones who ride on the sidewalk and almost hit everyone they pass.

Of course there exceptions, but that seems to be the demographic.

plowmanjoe

semi truck drivers use engine braking a lot it seems, just an observation, no first hand experience.

Parabolous

Portlandia. That was the first episode I saw and I laughed my face off. I applaud your reference. Bicycle rights!

bikessuck

I honestly don't see why anyone, experienced or not, would ride brakeless. My trusty front brake's gotten me out of some hairy situations in the past.

Scrodzilla

I just ate a 3/4 lb bison burger with bacon, jalapenos, cream cheese and avocado on a fresh sourdough roll. It was ****ing delicious.

JesusBananas

plowmanjoe

i ride without a brake and it's hard to explain why i do. i just like the feel. same reason why i like driving a manual transmission in a car. manual with the clutch is not the best or most efficient yet i still prefer it.

i ride much differently without a brake though. i make different decisions.