DaveLeeNC

It might be a couple days before I get my front brake calipers back in order. The question is would you ride this bike under these conditions.

1) Country roads, lightly traveled
2) No group rides - strictly solo
3) Rolling terrain with no big climbs or descents of any note

I'm facing this and am undecided.

Thanks.

dave

superslomo

You would be no worse off than the great many motorcyclists who only use their rear brake, convinced that the front will send them to certain, fiery death.

Under the circumstances mentioned, and if you have very strong feet for any potential flinststoning that's required, I imagine that shouldn't be too dire a deal.

calgarc

they do it on fixies... although i would not recommend it...

BoSoxYacht

Why?

hamster

Would be a very bad idea with potential to be fatal. Rear brake provides a small fraction of the stopping power of the front. If you really have to go, can you swap the calipers temporarily and put the functioning caliper in front?

BoSoxYacht

A rear brake normally won't work as a front brake due to the length of the mounting bolt, but you could use the rear brake cable to replace a broken front cable.

howellhandmade

My first thought was "no way, the front brake is far more effective." But then I thought of the thousands of miles I rode as a kid on a Schwinn StingRay with only a rear coaster brake. Which had much different geometry and a fat back tire, also an 80 to 100-pound kid riding it. Probably going to have to use your own judgment on this, but I'd either pass unless I had to get to work or look at this as a compelling case for N+1. If you're committed enough to want to ride a road bike with no front brake, you either need a couple of days off or need a spare bike.

prathmann

Didn't realize my parents were sending me out on such potential suicide missions when they cheerfully waved as I left to ride around town on my bicycle with only a rear coaster brake.

Rear brake effectiveness is about half that of the front brake - but given that Dave, the OP, is clearly aware of the reduced effectiveness and plans to ride cautiously I suspect that he's likely to overcompensate and therefore be even safer than usual on his rear-brake-only ride compared to his normal rides with both brakes but without the extra caution.

gsa103

I saw a more impressive variant on this riding around my neighborhood.

Girl on a single-speed BMX bike, no brakes + freewheel. Her only option was Flintstoning. Fortunately, the bike seemed to be geared at about 1:1 ratio with 20" wheels, so even Lance would've had trouble going faster than a brisk jog.

To the OP: I wouldn't do it, but I don't see it as inherently un-safe. You're the only one who knows the traffic situation, but might be a good day for a trainer session.

neliconcept

I've used the rear brake more often then not while in NYC. Granted it's more of a need to swerve the rear tire out to avoid getting killed by a cabbie type deal, but even on a slight hill the front is going to provide ample stopping power compared to the rear.

TheVakman

It'll be fine. Just be cautious. I have certainly rode with only front, only rear and even none before. Just be aware in general and aware of when you should start coasting if you know you are going to need to stop, it'll help.

powbob

Smart people put a front brake on their track bike for emergencies.

BoSoxYacht

It'll be fine, unless he needs to unexpectedly stop fast.

Leinster

Stack a bunch of washers in there? Oops, wrong way round...

Short of the caliper itself being busted, I can't think of a situation where I couldn't take the cable, housing, pads or tension bolts etc off the rear and put them on the front. I would sacrifice the back for the front every time.

The comparison with coaster brakes on cruisers isn't really a straight one, as those may be heavier but theyre stopping from slower speeds.

Be very careful.

TrojanHorse

Depends on the brake - my SRAM brakes are identical and the nut is different to accommodate the front/rear brakes. It would take less than 10 min. to switch them if I were so inclined.

hueyhoolihan

commuted for a year in Sacramento on road bike with Nexus 7 speed hub and built-in coaster brake. absolutely no problem. it's a good idea to take it easy at first though to learn what your stopping capabilities are.

hamster

What's the cruise speed of a kid on a Schwinn StingRay upright bike on a flat? Can't be all that high. Can't find data on gearing off-hand, but if it was something like 44x16, with 20" wheels, it would go 12 mph at 80 rpm and 13 mph at 90 rpm. And I doubt that an average kid can manage even that. And, between single speed transmission and 40 lb bike weight, you would probably get off and start pushing the StingRay at grades that Dave the OP would barely notice on his road bike. Which means no rolling down hills either.

Stopping distance scales as speed squared. If the kid never exceeds 10 mph and Dave routinely rolls up to intersections at 20 on flats (25 if it's rolling terrain and slight downhill), given the same equipment (rear brake only vs rear brake only), Dave has 4 to 6 times the stopping distance of the kid.

DaveLeeNC

I don't know squat about bicycle mechanics. But based on the work that I have done (now on my 3rd day trying to get a BB off a spinner bike) I assume that this trivial appearing problem with be otherwise (for me, anyway). Today's workout starts about now (or it won't happen today). And I may not have time to deal with this today so tomorrow is a question as well.

Just trolling for perspective on this (which I got and was very useful).

dave

modelmartin

Brakes only slow you down.

howellhandmade

You quoted me selectively; I went on to agree with you, in as many words. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should, as Chris Rock astutely pointed out. But leaving aside the StingRay example, I see people hauling tuchus on fixies with no brakes (as someone else pointed out), so it CAN be done, by experts anyway. I would guess that my rear brake alone would be sufficient for most intersections, unless severely downhill, since I tend to coast up to them rather than keeping max speed until I need to brake. Descents and emergency situations would be my main concern, which is why I'd want the front brake personally, but it looks like Dave is sufficiently comfortable.

Bacciagalupe

I tend to err on the side of caution, which in this case means "don't do it."

If you really can't go a few days without a bicycle, you might considering getting a 2nd one. One option is to pick up an old beater, and get it into decent working shape. Another is to get a new bike, and use your current bike as your backup.

calgarc

but thats not hipster enough

prathmann

I have no idea about 20" StingRay bikes since I never had one. My bike as a kid had 26" wheels, two-speed internal transmission, and only a rear coaster brake. Sure I wasn't as quick climbing hills on it as I am on my current bike, but I remember coming down hills at a pretty good rate of speed - and without the caution of most adult riders (and esp. of adult riders who realize that they temporarily have reduced braking power and ride accordingly). I had a few crashes on that bike, but I don't remember any that were a result of the brake not being effective enough.

rms13

Go find a safe place with no cars, ride as fast as you can and slam in that rear brake to make an emergency stop and see what happens. I wouldn't want to ride in a real world situation with just a rear brake

emveezee

A great many motorcyclists? Really? Never heard of one. Any motorcyclist who uses only the rear brake is an idiot and should not have a license.