Originally Posted by
kyselad
Brakeless riding provides a zen connection to the bike and trains one not only to think ahead, but also to look through solid objects to see hazards not apparent to cyclists with brakes, let alone those pantywaists running gears. But this stuff is all over the internetz anyway, so read up and check back in later.
Being a Pantywaist running gears on my road bike, I decided to try and improve my leg strength for both Mountain Biking (Where I wear baggy shorts) and road biking. I ended up purchasing a Windsor Clockwork and swapped out the broken out of the box freewheel for a fixed cog. It is very much improving my cycling but damm near scared the crap out of me the first few times I thought I could freewheel. I kept the brakes, and find them very useful even with the fixed gear in traffic situations. As far as the Zen connection quote, I think your skinny jeans are cutting off your circulation. I ride geared road and mountain as well as single speed mountain and now fixed, and don't remember the last time I meditated on my bike.
Main Entry: Zen
Pronunciation: \ˈzen\
Function: noun
Etymology: Japanese, religious meditation
Date: 1727
: a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation