I think you need to log at least an hour a month on a bike for you opinon to be valid mr vomitron.

I've had a few moments where drivers reacted unpredictably, meaning "I thought they saw me, but they didn't." It's always been these cases when I've used the brake.

I go for weeks at a time without using the withered handbrake-- just a supplementary cross lever on the front. I play this game with myself where I really try not to use it unless I really have to. And I know it ain't safe.

wow...can we get back the original point

's cooler and more fun to not ride with a break...just like 's cooler and more fun not to walk to school with a helmet on

plus...my bike is lighter than it would be with one

Trying to stop to avoid an accident isn't always the best thing to do. Sometimes you are better off just getting out of the way. Of course you can stop faster with a brake. When somebody takes your out, and you don't have a brake, you are going to have an accident. Notice I say when, not if.

If you ride with a brake on your track bike I don't want to get to close to you when I am street racing. You are not committed! Your riding style has an escape hatch.
I want to draft in a pack of wolves that are one track mind.
No problem with brakes, it just seems silly to ride a track bike with a brake. Why not a singlespeed/freewheel?
When I ride my track in heavy street traffic I am more alert, responsive and playing offense instead of defense.
You can work magic with no brakes, but you got to believe.

And if 'your knees hurt' go back to freewheel.

And the question I have for you is, how do you know that you wouldn't have made it without a hand brake?

I mean you had it so you used it, who's to say that if you were brakeless you wouldn't have? When you ride a bike as much as we do, you get into some close calls. I just find ti funny that it's assumed that either when you ride brakeless you don't get into these same situations or are incapable of dealing with them.

I agree with the part about no brakes.

I disagree with the issue of having a brake on my bike.

Having a brake on my bike is why I can ride my bike without having to use a brake, it gives me insurance and assurance, that when I am backpedaling heavily, or strip a sprocket, or -GForbid- get hit by a car (again) I have more options.

I have a brake, but choose not to drive with it. I use the engine to speed up, and to slow down, and my awareness levels are significantly increased as a result. Time does seem to slow dow, even as buses and semi trucks rush past, and even brush against you. This is magical if you have ever experienced riding in the city amongst the flow of traffic, without using a brake...it is magic.

The brake is there as an emergency brake is in a car -so you don't go rolling out of control.
It's not the same as a front/rear brake set on a geared bike, or the foot brake on a car, which are used for driving, steering, slowing, etc.

I say, have an emergency brake, and ride safe, and you hopefully won't have to use it.

[$00.02]

James III

blah blah lets just not judge everyone that doesn't run a brake, break or brak. this forum is out of control, winter madness i says.

I'm sure there are othere reasons you ride fixed, not just so you can brake with your legs. :p