Hey, I didn't say it would be safe or sensible. Just cool.

I think side curtan air bags built into your helmet and a roll bar are the way to go.

Some friends of mine have an old bike with rod-pulled drum brakes. Pretty indestructible braking system. It's too bad the bike has a gashed tire-tube and requires difficult-to-obtain tubes. (28 inch, I think.)

By the way... CdCf-- do you have slime, tire-liners and/or kevlar-belted tires for flat resistance?

One of my worries with adding a second front brake would be that adding mechanical parts to a bike almost always tends to make things less certain. Cables get caught on stuff, parts get loose and jammed in places they don't belong, etc.

I think at least some of Avid's mechanical disc brakes are designed to use the same type of brake lever and cable as typical rim brakes, so you might not have to switch shifters in order to run a disc brake as your main front brake.

On a related note, I once saw a kid trying to hook up a v-brake and a caliper brake on his rear wheel. He used a shifter and shifter-cable to activate one of them.

There's nothing for cables to get caught in, so that's not a problem.

And we're back to the ridicule again, I see.
I really don't understand what your problem is.

The brake is, BY FAR, the most important thing to have a backup for (that's the reason we have dual brakes in the first place, after all...).
If a tyre blows, I might lose control and fall over, and I might have time to brake a bit if I'm lucky, but if I can't brake with a perfect tyre, I'll just go faster and faster, and faster, and faster, and THEN it's very bad indeed when I fall over...

And by the way, virtually all modern cars have two separate front brake systems...

Gosh, why all this calamity. Yes it is possible with dual brakes as long as your fork permits it. And you might find it difficult to find space on the bars for the levers, but that shouldnt be impossible. So go ahead and do it.
I think it is a good idea as long as the levers dont interfere with your normal riding.
And hey, this ridicule is what it is, just ridicules. And quite fun sometimes :)

One thing that can happen on an extremely long descent is that your tire could be damaged by using a rim brake. If the pads wear alot they could cut the tire. If they heat up too much they could also damage the tire. Once your tire is done, you are done. If you want a backup for a primary brake, I think you would use the disc brake as your primary and the rim brake as your backup. I agree with the consensus that the chances are slim that you would need a backup, but I don't know of anybody that has used disc brakes offroad that has preferred to use rim brakes.

why don't you get a foam tire insert. that way even if you have two rim brakes heating up at the same time they'll never blow your tube. the tire will still roll even if the tire wears through due to pads rubbing. you got shoes right? remember when you were young use them to stop when all else fails. your shoes are cheaper than a new head right? problem solved!

Even though I ride an MTB, I don't use it off road.
I went with an MTB for the low gears and the sturdy frame.
The most off road it's been so far was when I cut through a shallow ditch to get to another road... :)

Next year, I plan to do some serious touring, so I'll be using the disc brake as "descent brake", as well as a backup if something should break along the way.
With an extra brake, I can just keep going to my destination for the day, and not have to stop by the side of the road to fix it.

I've never used my shoes to stop, by the way... :)

Please go back and read my initial post.
Where exactly did I ask for advice on what to do if the front brake fails?

If YOU don't think it's necessary, that's up to you.
For me, it IS necessary, and that's why I wanted to know if there are any problems to watch out for.

I really thought cyclists were a better, smarter breed, but I see many of you are no better than 10-year-old kids, making fun of people who don't stick to what everyone else does.

drift :D

Well if you really want to have to sets of brakes thats great. But its just that the odds are so unlikely of a cable snapping.....AND....you have a second set of brakes. But i say only worry about an extra pair of front brakes, since you have said you cant control back very well. I see many bikes with front disks and back V-brakes.

If you end up not building this project then just look after the cable ect, and maintain the braking system.

Where did you get the idea for this? In the twenty years or so that I've been playing around with bikes I've never heard of a need for for having two brakes on the front wheel. Why again do you think it's needed? In case a cable snaps? The odds of that happening are slim if you can perform simple maintainace tasks. You again also have a rear brake - learn to modulate slowly apply greater pressure as you slow down. Again you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Paranoia is never a good thing

That's all he needs to do in the first place.

where would the second lever go though?

The handlebar has around 8-10 inches of unused space, so that's not a problem.

And Raiyn, please understand that your needs might be different from my needs.
I really don't understand why you, and a few others, keep going on and on and on about this.
I wanted TECHNICAL advice, not this nonsense.

Wow, there sure are some condecending pompous folks around these parts.
I'll know not to bring any ideas or questions around here.
Grow up people, the guy just asked a question... not for your world views on whats stupid and whats not.

lol i agree

And I asked you why you NEED to have a second front brake. The reason that I (and others) go on and on about this is due to the fact that what you propose has no real practical value that is easily seen. What you propose is redundant and cumbersome at best, completely illogical at worst. You claim to have a hill right in front of your driveway that you have to turn sharply into lest you overshoot by a quarter mile, is that right? I didn't see any mention of loaded touring nor did I see any mention of any limitations you may have, hence my conclusions above. Can you do it? Yes. Does it make ANY sense NO There are special brake levers designed for handicapped riders that will allow you to operate two brakes with the same lever. Each brake has it's own cable and position on the lever, ask at your LBS if they'll look through thier QBP catalog to find it for you.
:lol: The word is condescending. If you intend to critique someone at least spell the words correctly. You also forgot your apostrophes. :lol:
Back to the idea of you not asking a question:
I'll answer any question that's posed intelligently. I will answer them to the best of my ability. However, if you continue to press illogical, incorrect, or redundant ideas after I and others answer you will be called on it. Plain and simple.

Thanks for the English lesson but its not needed.
All I was stating is that this fellow comes on here with a question and gets attacked by more than one person.
He didnt ask your opinion, nor did he ask to be slandered.
How is what he does to his bike going to harm you? Thats right, in no way will it harm you. So then, why do you care so much to make a huge deal out of it?
You say that he'll look stupid (however you put it) to other bikers. Maybe he doesnt care and maybe you shouldnt either.... after all, if you wear biker shorts and tops like the majority of seasoned riders do, you look a little goofy yourself.
People need to lighten up, bikes are for fun... not for coming to an internet message board and inflating your own ego by slandering others and pointing out miniscule, meaningless grammer mistakes.

Just being pedantic but it's "...but IT'S not needed". It's is short for IT IS, the apostrophe marks the missing 'I'.

Really sorry, just couldn't resist :).

Hi Cdcf

Dont worry about what everyone else thinks just go ahead and do it if you think it is a good idea. When I suggested wearing some body protection like a Dainese safety jacket for winter commuting I think everyone thought I was a bit mad. I went and got one anyway and maybe it will save me getting a broken arm or something in which case I will have been right. Or maybe it wont in which case I was maybe just being unduly paranoid.

The guys are just having a bit of fun and not being malicious. I think though that you feel a bit embarrassed about the two-brake idea yourself. That is why you are getting fed up of the teasing. It does sound a bit funny having like a row of brakes on the handlebar you must admit. Brake failure is not something I have worried about but who knows maybe I should. Anyway it might save your life so go for it.

Good luck

Rayin,
Its people like you that drive people away from this sport.
Being new to the sport myself I have come across quite a few "know it all" types, most of which were jerks.
As far as slandering goes, I think the comment about getting a "special" helmet and lining it with foil was a prime example.
Ive been made fun of because I dont wear "biker clothing" when I ride. I go out in my blue jeans and t-shirt and enjoy the time I have away from the world. I get made fun of by men who wear spandex, isnt that kinda strange?
Rayin, its fine by me if this is the way you want to get you kicks, it only serves to make you look weak.
Oh, by the way, if the grammer mistakes impair your ability to read my posts then Im sure you need help. After all, Im is understood by most as I'm, if you cant get this down then maybe you need help.
Ive throw you another 8==8, make sure and get it.

To the guy who asked the question:
Do what you want with your bike and pay no attention to those that have negative things to say, after all, what do they matter in the grand scheme of things. As far as what others think, I have a whole lot to say about that but I'd probably get banned.

Good day all.