Cant help but wonder how many people who answered 'yes' in the interest of safety actually ride brakeless.

Stevo...you're gonna get it for that one. I've been wondering how many fixie crashers are brakeless, but I think I know the answer anyway.

Also please tell us if you don't wear a helmet and you ride brakeless if you have already reproduced.

I do wear a helmet for safty. I do ride brakeless. I fear what is to come in this thread.

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! This thread is going down in flames...

Riding without brakes has little effect on safety. It's the competency of the rider that matters. Luck sometimes too.

You want to meet up some time for a stopping contest? I'll put my bike up for grabs anytime, anyplace against a brakeless wonder.

Come on,,,, I need spare parts.

regardless of competency, if your chain breaks (and it might) and you're brakeless, it isn't exactly 'safe'. sure, you may get your landing gear down in time and avoid tragedy, but it's a bit of a gamble. i agree that brakeless is fine & dandy 99+% of the time, but if'n your chain breaks...

-rob

What size is your frame?

So coaster brake bikes are dangerous too?

My chain aint gonna break, it's gonna brake.

If anything, it might come off the chainring and wrap up around the axle, but that's it. And I check my tension REALLY regularly since the last time that happened.

Oh, and yeah, helmet. Still yet to be an accident fixed that was my fault that didn't involve being drunk and going to slow and falling over. {knocks on wood}

I ride with a helmet. I have a converted rear wheel with a fixed cog threaded on with locktite and a bb lockring. I also have a front brake. I try as much as possible to stop via backpedalling and now since I now how to skid, skidding. I rarely touch my front brake, except in those moments when an oncoming car suddenly decides to turn left at the intersection just as I'm about to cross it. I'm thinking of replacing my bar end brake lever with a cross lever.

brakes are for *******.

Fixie is a 57cm. What you got?

Yep, I'm a wimp when it comes to crashed bikes, broken bones, concussions, lacerations, abrasions and multiple contusions.

60cm and 62cm... Maybe next time!

soccer moms dont care whether you have brakes or not

I ride with a helmet and a single front brake. The brake is a conventional caliper brake with a hinged BMX lever on the flats of the drop bars.

I reserve the use of the brake for panic stops and very steep hills. I was thinking I would remove the brake at some point, but I have reconsidered due to the number of panic stops that I have to make in traffic.

I have reaonably strong legs and a growing psychic traffic prediction ability; but legs *and* a brake work much better than either by themselves.

As far as the helmet goes, I think that either way you choose, you have probably heard all the arguments for or against helmet use; so I won't repeat any here.

Dan

Of course I wear a helmet, its company police.

I also have a front brake, and it has saved me a couple of times, like last week, where I had to make an emergency brake, and my clamp slipped out of my spd(try braking hard with one foot). If it wasnt for my brake i would have gone down bad.

Most of the time, its just a bad habit reaching for the brake.
It has been taking me a couple of months to be able to make it through the day without touching the brake.

Chains braking?
Not on my watch!
Ive heard more stories about peoples spds slipping out- Eggbeaters should be more reliable
Comments on that one???

Since I went clipless, no 'slipping out' - but there has been one panic yank out - luckily at the end of the stop... That was right after I learned about using both sides of the stroke for control, so my braking on the left pulled the pedal out from the right (which was pulling up)

As far as chains braking...

Can we all start using the correct one?

I will not have a chain BREAK - yet I use my chain every day to BRAKE...

Come on - most of us went to some school and speak english, right?

Or try to, give us a break...

how bout everyone take a break of this stupid brake thread...sheesh..i know i need a break..

Yeah guys. With all this talk about brakes and breaks, how about a little Breakin?

Can I spin on my head?

Uh... no...

Breakin' is gay! You Got Served is where it's at now!