Originally Posted by Ira in Chi
The only thing a brake helps you do is slow down faster. If you're constantly tempted to dump speed, your average goes down. A good brakeless rider rarely stops, hence less fluctuation and better average. I'm playing devil's advocate a little, but the fact is there are two different techniques and between two skilled riders, one isn't necessarily superior.
while a good brakeless rider might stop less (true, in my experience) they do have to slow down a good deal sooner and more often to gauge traffic situations ahead to allow adequate time for safe stopping.
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