Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
I will claim to be a mechanic and am both certified and certifiable.
My position on the modulators on linear pull brakes is that they are one of the worst ideas ever as they impair brake function and prevent people from learning how to brake properly... they seem to be equipped on hybrids more than anything else and I have removed them on a good number of bicycles with great responses from customers on how well this improved their braking.
Other people like them... these are folks that wear out their rear brakes because they do not know how to use their brakes effectively or know that the front brake should be primary.
Consider that my kids learned to ride without brake dampers and have never gone otb under the hardest braking efforts because we practice riding skills.
Hey Sixty Fiver, I thought maybe you had abandon the Hybrid Forum. And yes you are a very creditable Bike mechanic. First off let me say I am NOT, but having a small case of OCD & desiring to do my best at anything I take on.. I can say this and will, that there's probably NOT anyone "MORE" qualified than me at using a front brake on two wheels on this FORUM. At around age 12, where some boys are learning to change bicycle parts around, I was changing piston rings on my YZ 80 during heat races. I also was an avid Motorcyclist for more than 20 years after my racing days ended (late teens). Plus in my late 20's worked at an LBS as a second job, and only commuted by Bike, (was a health nut) but always had a Motorcycle for longer trips. So I would consider myself very proficient in the concept of weight transfer & 2 wheels..... I have also owned, far more than my share of bikes in only the last 5 years. My craigslist account is 17 pages long, due to buying and selling Hybrids. Some of which I did YouTube videos on, about 10 percent. And as you very well might remember, one was the "Schwinn Trailways" which I enjoyed very much despite the BASHING it took on BIKE FORUMS.. Because it did not come from a Local Bike Shop, it must be a POS.. I also have had a Specialized (full carbon) SIRRUS Limited Edition, leaves the 7.9 FX specs. (wanting).. But back to the brake issue : this is not the crappy Power Modulated Brakes of the 90's that came on Cannondale's etc.. Just a little spring inserted in (just before the brake noodle), and when PROPERLY ADJUSTED this works just like an ABS system.. I am VERY "surprised" at how well it does work, and how many mechanics DO not understand the concept. Should we disregard things that work well, because we might hinder the learning experience of a new rider. That is plain and simple foolish talk, so as not to appear wrong ! Why isn't anyone one bashing disk brakes, my son who was trained to ride safely, and just went flying over the handle bars on his bike. He was taking a drink from his water bottle, and being right handed.. some idiot jumps right out in front of him, slams back is front brake lever on his Trek with (DISK BRAKES), & over the bars he goes.. Now if he had been riding my bike, the chances are very good that he would have come to a sudden stop, (without locking the front wheel) .... In addition to this story, someone quoted on my Disk Brake rant, technology moves on.. LOL well at least for some of us who are willing to learn.
Despite what the old timers at the bike shop say.
