Stupidity is the cause
03-05-09, 09:31 AM
#27
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I was thinking the same thing. For the past week or so, every time I head out, I squeeze that back brake and think, "Oh, right. Maybe I should fix that." But now I'm days away from moving those brakes over to a new frame with a new wheel and put on fresh brake pads, so it seems like a waste of time. Until I hit something, anyway.
03-05-09, 09:35 AM
#28
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Use both brakes, not just one brake.
Fix critical components...like brakes...when you notice a problem, rather than just noting them.
That is all.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-05-09, 11:46 AM
#30
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I had just the opposite problem yesterday. Everything worked well, but I still went too far. It was first time out this year, and all the work I'd done on the bike was working right, the weather was pretty nice (about 40 degrees), and I was supposed to be home working on my taxes. So I ended up riding way farther than I first planned on, and ended up riding about 17 miles on knobbies with an empty stomach. Both brakes worked fine, and I would have been better if I had used them before I got too far and turned around.
Glad to hear you didn't hurt yourself too bad at the cemetery.
Glad to hear you didn't hurt yourself too bad at the cemetery.
Last edited by no motor?; 03-05-09 at 02:50 PM.
03-05-09, 02:45 PM
#31
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I wonder if anyone died by crashing their bike into a Cemetery. 
BTW: Good advice - thanks for sharing - glad you survived to enlighten us.
BTW: Good advice - thanks for sharing - glad you survived to enlighten us.
03-05-09, 06:23 PM
#32
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I only have a front brake that I operate with my left hand. I've never had a problem. Most of your quality braking is done with you front anyways.
03-05-09, 10:04 PM
#33
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Always do a little basic safety check of your bike before riding it. I give a quick squeeze of the breaks and quickly press down on the tires with my thumb to make sure they are properly inflated. It takes all of 5 seconds and,as you saw, it can save your life. 
03-06-09, 01:42 PM
#34
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I rode bmx as a kid and for the longest time didn't even have brakes. my old motto- brakes are for wussies. You can stop with your feet this is one reason not to use clipless pedals imo=) its harder to use your feet to stop you on a commuter bike but just do that or jump off the bike and walk (or sometimes more like run) it to a stop you will not keep going. or just try to keep your weight back and use the front. or at least thats what i would have done. lol desperate times call for desperate measures.. For serious though, what exactly was wrong with your brakes cause mine tend to get kind of gradually worse to where i just have to pull harder??
Last edited by ian123; 03-06-09 at 01:52 PM.
03-06-09, 06:58 PM
#35
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Actually I had time to take the bike apart this week-end and clean it and readjust everything.
Found that the back brake cable, and the front to a lesser extent had stretched enough that I was losing tension. Could tell because of the mark after I moved it to get the proper tension.
So the cause of my biking and literary downfall was excessive speed through a turn (I finally made that freaking light after 8 months), cable on brakes (my fault for not fixing it sooner), signaling my turn late so not having both hands on the brakes when I should have, and not re-reading my post for noun/verb/spelling/grammar usage...due to a lose brain cable.
Found that the back brake cable, and the front to a lesser extent had stretched enough that I was losing tension. Could tell because of the mark after I moved it to get the proper tension.
So the cause of my biking and literary downfall was excessive speed through a turn (I finally made that freaking light after 8 months), cable on brakes (my fault for not fixing it sooner), signaling my turn late so not having both hands on the brakes when I should have, and not re-reading my post for noun/verb/spelling/grammar usage...due to a lose brain cable.
03-06-09, 07:45 PM
#36
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^^^ the perfect storm, meet em everywhere
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
