I had to use my brake today
06-04-10, 08:37 AM
#26
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The funny thing is that pretty much every serious fixed gear rider I know (defined by miles put on their bikes) rolls their eyes—often literally—at people who ride brakeless. Moral being that even if you don't like to use a brake put one on anyway, unless you want to look like a n00b.
06-04-10, 09:12 AM
#27
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The funny thing is that pretty much every serious fixed gear rider I know (defined by miles put on their bikes) rolls their eyes—often literally—at people who ride brakeless. Moral being that even if you don't like to use a brake put one on anyway, unless you want to look like a n00b.
06-04-10, 09:21 AM
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I don't know Austin too well, but I can pretty much guarantee you that if you started rolling around in Chicago traffic without a brake people would be laughing up their sleeve at you.
You're also not the fastest FG rider in Austin; even assuming that you're the champ at the local track meets you have a neighbor you may have heard of.
You're also not the fastest FG rider in Austin; even assuming that you're the champ at the local track meets you have a neighbor you may have heard of.
06-04-10, 09:23 AM
#30
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The funny thing is that pretty much every serious fixed gear rider I know (defined by miles put on their bikes) rolls their eyes—often literally—at people who ride brakeless. Moral being that even if you don't like to use a brake put one on anyway, unless you want to look like a n00b.
06-04-10, 09:34 AM
#31
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Okay, fine fine. I meant the fastest non-steroid using fg riders in Austin...
By the way, I'm not saying I myself am the fastest fg rider in Austin, b/c I'm definitely not and that would be kind of a ridiculous statement anyways. What I mean is that I ride with a crew of about a dozen guys who win most every alley cat in the city, race road bikes, and are at the front of all the organized rides. And of these guys, about half of us ride brakeless.
Also, Chicago isn't that difficult of a city to ride brakeless in. Not compared to San Francisco or somewhere else with hills and traffic. And don't tell me that there aren't any serious FG riders going brakeless in San Fran...
By the way, I'm not saying I myself am the fastest fg rider in Austin, b/c I'm definitely not and that would be kind of a ridiculous statement anyways. What I mean is that I ride with a crew of about a dozen guys who win most every alley cat in the city, race road bikes, and are at the front of all the organized rides. And of these guys, about half of us ride brakeless.
Also, Chicago isn't that difficult of a city to ride brakeless in. Not compared to San Francisco or somewhere else with hills and traffic. And don't tell me that there aren't any serious FG riders going brakeless in San Fran...
06-04-10, 09:42 AM
#32
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If you still use the word 'noob' seriously, we're laughing at you for another reason too.
06-04-10, 09:45 AM
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I'm not urging anyone to put on a brake. I'm just saying a) that I don't know anyone who consistently rides 50+ miles at a time on a fixed gear who doesn't use a brake, and, b) that if I see someone riding brakeless I assume they're a clueless n00b and I'm nearly always right. I don't care what you do, but if you don't want people to assume you're a jackass hopping on an already badly dated trend (and you may well not care), the move is to put a brake on.
06-04-10, 09:51 AM
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I'm not urging anyone to put on a brake. I'm just saying a) that I don't know anyone who consistently rides 50+ miles at a time on a fixed gear who doesn't use a brake, and, b) that if I see someone riding brakeless I assume they're a clueless n00b and I'm nearly always right. I don't care what you do, but if you don't want people to assume you're a jackass hopping on an already badly dated trend (and you may well not care), the move is to put a brake on.
How about you read all of the posts first before hitting the reply button, noob.
06-04-10, 09:56 AM
#35
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Normally on my ~10 mile coummute I can manage my speed reduction and braking most or all of the way with my legs. This morning just 2 blocks from my house, it starts. Nothing too dramatic, just multiple inconveniences. I'm approaching a stop sign as a car is stopping at the stop sign opposite me. I still have ~100' to go so I slow and assume they will clear by the time I get there. They just sit there, so I wave them on as I continue to slow. I finally stop and step down, thus forcing their hand. They finally turn left in front of me. Later on it seemed all the stop signs I usually can roll through had car conflicts, so I stopped repeatedly. Plus the greenway leg of my commute was partly flooded/muddy (hike a bike). Finally, as I turned wide (because of my fixed crank) into my work parking lot, someone was leaving
I avoided a slow motion head-on by going wider almost into the curbline. Hopefully this afternoon will fare better...
06-04-10, 10:23 AM
#36
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One brake, both brakes or none at all; who really cares? Everyone needs to just get on their bikes and ride them. What works for one person may not be right for someone else, no big deal. This debate will go on til the end of time!
Not to mention - the brake debate hasn't got much to do with the original post!
Now go for a ride!
Not to mention - the brake debate hasn't got much to do with the original post!
Now go for a ride!
06-04-10, 10:39 AM
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Yes, I'm obviously using the word "noob" uber-seriously.
I couldn't care less what any of you—track champions and Super Randonneurs to a man, no doubt—ride. I'm just mocking an online culture where using the brake on your bicycle is thought to be so novel that it's worth starting a thread over. In the real world badass messengers generally ride mountain bikes and hardcore fixed gear riders tend to use at least one brake.
I couldn't care less what any of you—track champions and Super Randonneurs to a man, no doubt—ride. I'm just mocking an online culture where using the brake on your bicycle is thought to be so novel that it's worth starting a thread over. In the real world badass messengers generally ride mountain bikes and hardcore fixed gear riders tend to use at least one brake.
06-04-10, 11:46 AM
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Messengers are one thing, recreational riders and commuters are another. If i were a messenger id use one too, being on the bike all day is tiring enough.
06-04-10, 11:53 AM
#39
car dodger
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could ya'll take all this to your respective blogs please?
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06-04-10, 12:51 PM
#40
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The funny thing is that pretty much every serious fixed gear rider I know (defined by miles put on their bikes) rolls their eyes—often literally—at people who ride brakeless. Moral being that even if you don't like to use a brake put one on anyway, unless you want to look like a n00b.
06-04-10, 12:56 PM
#41
car dodger
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I've seen plenty of brakeless riders with skillz, and plenty without. I saw one kid come into the bike shop looking a new rear tire to replace his worn out (from skidding) old tire. His face was all marred up, he said he crashed into a car.
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"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
06-04-10, 03:59 PM
#42
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And again I must say that this is a thread about the inconveniences of traffic, not brakes vs. brake-less. Yet most of you are beating a dead horse that never even lived in this pasture. Personal preference is personal preference.
06-04-10, 04:38 PM
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One brake, both brakes or none at all; who really cares? Everyone needs to just get on their bikes and ride them. What works for one person may not be right for someone else, no big deal. This debate will go on til the end of time!
Not to mention - the brake debate hasn't got much to do with the original post!
Now go for a ride!
Not to mention - the brake debate hasn't got much to do with the original post!
Now go for a ride!
Bingo! as long as you can stop in time to keep yourself alive who gives a flying **** if you use a brake or not.
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You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
Last edited by ilikebikes; 06-04-10 at 04:46 PM.
06-04-10, 09:35 PM
#47
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But if I have a brake I cantz barpinz like those kool guyz in teh videoz.................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really though thats the only reason I personally see as to not have a front brake, if its your trick bike and you need to spin your bars. But I wont be looking down on anyone for not having one, maybe they like it better, maybe they like that it takes more effort, maybe they like that they have to pay that much more attention to whats ahead to anticipate their moves, maybe they had one and never used it... whatever.
ULTIMATELY...who cares, ride your bike.
ON TOPIC:
Traffic is annoying in the suburbs and neighborhoods and "exciting" in the city. I wish people would realize that if it looks like someone has been riding bikes for a while and looks like they use their bike for commuting (i.e. they arent riding a dual suspenion walmart mountain bike or a BMX on the road, they're on a road bike or such), that they are smart enough to be able to handle riding in some traffic. I am not going to get hit If I can help it. Also, I can drive and do drive a car, so I know how all those traffic laws and rules work. My closest calls have been when someone did something not typical for a driver because there was suddenly a bike, me, nearby. If I'm on the road somewhere in any kind of traffic, I know what I got myself into. If I didn't, I'd be on the sidewalk. I wouldn't be on the road if I didn't legally know I could be, so the fact that I am should mean I know what I'm doing.
Sorry for the repetitive ranting, I just had an argument with a friend about this.
ULTIMATELY...who cares, ride your bike.
ON TOPIC:
Traffic is annoying in the suburbs and neighborhoods and "exciting" in the city. I wish people would realize that if it looks like someone has been riding bikes for a while and looks like they use their bike for commuting (i.e. they arent riding a dual suspenion walmart mountain bike or a BMX on the road, they're on a road bike or such), that they are smart enough to be able to handle riding in some traffic. I am not going to get hit If I can help it. Also, I can drive and do drive a car, so I know how all those traffic laws and rules work. My closest calls have been when someone did something not typical for a driver because there was suddenly a bike, me, nearby. If I'm on the road somewhere in any kind of traffic, I know what I got myself into. If I didn't, I'd be on the sidewalk. I wouldn't be on the road if I didn't legally know I could be, so the fact that I am should mean I know what I'm doing.
Sorry for the repetitive ranting, I just had an argument with a friend about this.
06-05-10, 03:25 AM
#48
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06-05-10, 06:52 AM
#49
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I treat all motor vehicle drivers as if its me behind the wheel, that way I see them all as crazy drivers and keep myself alive.
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You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
06-05-10, 01:28 PM
#50
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I had to ride to work this morning with my eyes open the whole way. Ugh, usually, I can make it with my eyes shut the whole time, but today there were cars everywhere, and kids crossing the road here and there. It sucked! It totally ruined the zen of riding with my eyes shut. Hopefully I can keep my eyes closed on the way home! Wish me luck everyone!