No, he pointed out the inherent flaw in anything resembling the notion.

Viz, the prime consideration in designing any braking system is heat dissipation. Do I need to continue by further restating FB's incontrovertible points?

This was a first approximation of a brake, like what you find on a billy cart. It deserves no further evolution.

(cue perverse steampunk gleam in more than one reader's eye)


...Actually, I'm reminded of a penny-farthing I saw once rocking a pair of Aerohead rims.

Got me thinking, what would a racing highwheeler look like if designed today... some sweet pneumatic tyres on those Aeroheads would be a start. And I guess there might be a place on such a machine for a nifty finned aluminium-backed brake spoon... certainly a dual-pivot caliper would be total overkill.

I guess spoon brakes were appropriate for highwheelers, since anything more than the most moderate braking equalled a header.