Originally Posted by Mr. Underbridge

Oh God. This is turning into another classic makeinu thread that hearkens back to the "tell me how to replace my chain without the $5 tool, even though I'm most likely to destroy the chain and possibly myself in the process" thread.

Dude. You're trying to claim that braking with your hands is dangerous. All the responses you're getting are from people who have a lot of riding experience telling how and why you're wrong, and you just argue.

What you ought to do is to learn how to brake properly and get your bike set up right. If you're having any trouble reaching the brakes from a stable position, your bike isn't set up correctly. If you find yourself braking while you're turning, then you're not riding correctly - whether you're riding a bike or driving a car, you brake BEFORE you turn, then accelerate through the apex of the turn. Note that means that when you're turning, you're not braking anyway, so your point is moot.

As for the test of which leaves you in greater control, rear-only or front only...if you know how to use your brakes, it won't make any significant difference. If you screw up, then using front-only can cause an endo...but, if you believe Sheldon (and I do), that screwup is usually performed by a rear-only braker who grabs the front out of desperation when the rear doesn't stop quickly enough.

How's this for a compromise - you gloss over the part about how front-only braking will slow the bike more quickly than any other method, unless your brakes are extra weak. Since that's the case, brake with the front and keep the other hand solely on the handlebars.

But I'm still figuring how you've screwed your bike up so badly that you can't reach the brakes from a normal hand position on the bars.