All right, so right now i have 49/17 gear ratio and im finding it damn near impossible to stop myself with the current clips and straps i have on right now. I had brakes on before but took them off to get familiar with riding brakeless.

the question is should i strap a brake on or switch to a 49/19 and stick with brakeless. Invest in good brakes or invest in some toshi doubles and soma quad gate?

Also those who run brakeless what gear ratio do you guys run and can you stop yourself as quickly as a good front brake?

edit: i forgot to mention my old brake was complete crap

oh this should be good

Oh, dear Lord.

If you have to ask: USE A BRAKE!

If there's any doubt in your ability to stop safely: USE A BRAKE!

Just taking off your brake to 'get used to riding brakeless' is a terrible idea. Try having a brake, but avoid using it as much as possible, to get used to riding brakeless. Once you've put a ton of hours in on your bike without having to touch your brake, then think about taking it off.

But still, as fast as you can be without a brake, is still slower then you would be with a brake. If you want it for the 'zen' or whatever bull**** hipsters tell themselves, go for it, I could care less what you do with your bike.

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i find i can stop quickest when i ride wheelless. i wear crampons for ice and snow.

I'll be adding a second brake when my front rack comes in.

Use a brake.

Threads like this are why so many people leave this forum and dont come back.

no, i think its because of people like you.

How long do i have to post to get rid of you?

Oh snap

well, i drive a stick shift, which theoretically means i can stop with my transmission.

but that doesn't mean i'll stop using my brake because i have this annoying sense of self-preservation...

talking **** to deathhare? bold, but probably regrettable.

i've always wondered what would happen if i pulled my car out of fourth or fifth and threw it into reverse. bad things, probably.

i don't see why you cant ignore this thread if youre not going to help. get a life bro.

Please god guhjee use a brake until you are fully confident in your ability to skid and stop. If you can't skid, you cant stop. My best advice is gear down a little, run a brake, and practice skidding/stopping. Try not to use the brake as much as possible, consider it an emergency brake, and use it accordingly. When you find yourself not using the brake for a while, then you can consider taking it off.

That just isnt possible. This thread was idiotic from the beginning.

all lies. OP: sack up and ride without a brake. practice on steep hills and in traffic.

uses sticks for brakes, relace your wheels nightly

w/e im tired of this internet battle. deathhare youre right and you win.

i don't ride with brakes... i carry a thin metal rod and insert it between the spokes to make sweet tarck skids... but i'm having a problem with weak poorly made spokes... should i run my brake too?? i'm also running 52x13...

yeah sometimes i get myself hard and stick it in the spokes. of course when i fail to skid.

woohoo!!

yeah woohoo for both of us, finally got you out of my hare...ha ha ha?

some brake but not too much.

Keep your brake on until you feel comfortable riding without it(if thats what you absolutely want) You'll need it there incase you cant stop fast enough and are still having difficulty. It's always nice to have it there just in case, but its really your call.

Long story short: its always nice to have it whether you skid or not. Keep it there til you're absolutely comfortable and sure you can go without it. Bikes are not a great situation where you learn by failing..you can really hurt yourself. (my jackass moment would be getting my fingers cut up cleaning my chain)

Almost everyone started with a brake. Its a personal question you need to ask yourself when the time is right.. but you're not there yet.