They cant.

Denying physics and common sense?

I can definitely say there's no way I can stop anywhere near as fast without my brake on - I just look for an "out" if push comes to shove. I also try not to put myself into situations where I'll need to slam on. If that means not going balls-out sometimes, then so be it, I prefer to see another day on my bike vs. a hospital bed.

no it isnt. you are making excuses for no reason. brakeless is about vanity. of course you use your front brake in the winter, where do you come up with this nonsense?

i ride every day brakeless. i go through about 3 tires a year. you don't have to skid at every stop.

Sure, why not.

Unbolt your rear wheel and disconnect your chain. Rotate wheel about half a rotation. Bolt back on.

You just added an additional 2wks (assuming a hilly 10mi ride daily with lots of skidding) to your tire.

If your front wheel skids, you get your face in the asphalt. If your rear wheel skids, you have slightly less control, and don't stop as fast as you might otherwise. Snow/ice is quite slippery, and whichever wheel you brake with while on said snow/ice has a good chance of slipping. Personally, I like my face the way it is, and don't want to have it rearranged by the ground, so I opt for rear wheel stopping power when in slippery conditions.

Of course, this is probably a fakepost and you caught me. Good job, sir.

Just jumping back a bit on the whole 'brakeless on icy roads'... when the 'riding a bike brakeless is idiotic vanity' thing comes up, riding in the snow isn't factored into the equation. Braking with mostly/only your rear is totally valid in slippery conditions (like ice or dirt). Anyone who disagrees can go try riding a downhill mountain bike with just a front brake :P

I have brakes on my fixed gear, but only use them rarely, for panic stops.

I go through about 3 tires in 5 years.

I'm guessing your bike goes in storage over the winter and you take the subway then, yeah?

^ +1.

:crash:

yunno even in winter you can actually slow a wheel without skidding. nutty huh?

its funny how nonsense works.

no, like a magical biking wizard, i actually manage to use a brake even when it is cold. i know this is hard to believe and that most folks crash immediately when they even slightly touch the brake after november. i am just that good.

Front brakes are for:
1. New riders, less than 3 months. Learn how to ride first.
2. People over the age of 30, I understand you are old.
3. Kids under the age of like 16, I understand you are stupid.
4. Women, I mean common, just letting em ride a bike is dangerous enough.
5. Men between the age of 17 and 29 with no balls.

I have ridden brakeless for nearly a year and been hit 3 times. Although each time I suppose I more hit the car than it hit me. Each time the car turned right without blinking while I was on the edge of the road. I simply turned with the car and body checked the side, put out my hand and used the car to turn me pushing off at the end of the turn, and hit the car with my handle bars leaving a reminder scratch on their fender to blink.

None of the times was I even knocked off my bike. And none of the times would a brake have been good. I would have needed to hit it too hard for safety. If you pay attention to where you are and what cars do, there is no danger. The first two times I recognized the possibility of the car turning and was able to mentally prepare for what I needed to do. Not ride slower.

I suppose there is that group of people with low confidence or slow reactions who should ride with a brake, but in general it really is not an issue. And I admit, if I rode somewhere like SF, I would fall into category 5, cutting my balls off and exchanging them for a brake because a city that busy and that hilly would conquer me.

It may help if you think of a front brake like car insurance. You don't need the thing unless you are going to get into a car crash. And if you are a good driver you won't get into a car crash. Both my parents have driven for 30 years and never used insurance. My aunt has been in like 6 car crashes. She should run a front brake.

haha, now that is truly absurd logic.

i like the way you guys make up weird excuses to justify your vanity. just own it bros! just say "i am too cool for a brake!, i like to be cool more than i like to be practical!"

nothing is wrong with being impractical in order to be cool, if you like being cool.

:lol:

Stop ****ing telling people what to do and ride your ****ing bike. Front brakes are for whoever ****ing wants them.

that is what i just said, dude. ride without a brake, do whatever you want. nothing is wrong with being thoroughly impractical, less safe, and slower because you would rather be cool. being cool is important, seriously.

I wrote this especially for people like you.

Braking 101

I also think I promised to close these threads as the subject has been discussed to freaking death.