Originally Posted by
Flinstone
Great example. Try this barefoot. It will become very clear that your toes are squeezing very hard FORWARD into the fork and are not directly transmitting the force responsible for pushing back on the bike's weight. You're just stopping the wheel. The wheel stops the bike (through the hub and thus spokes, with an crucial support from the ground).
Converse all stars, high tops only. I tend not to think that much about my brakes, ever.