crackrocksteady

no Brakes, no helmet, no lights, no reflectors, no toe straps, no tape, no problem.

hairnet

it so cool seeing guys stop with their foot on the tire when they're really good at it. On a group ride last night I was talking with this one guy but then I got to see his stopping ability down this steep hill. It was late at night, no cars, but the group wanted to regroup at the light. After slowing the bike as best as he could with skips, back pedaling, and other tactics, he then jumped onto his top tube and mashed his other foot onto the rear tire. Mane, he had a cool expression on his face the whole time. Conversely, a few noobie brakeless riders looked terrified on the hill and I thought they were going to kill someone (themselves).

JohnDThompson 

Loser.

A Real Man would have ceramic balls.

hairnet

Just check his bearings. And does this mean 1/2 the roadies with $5k bike are men?

squeegeesunny 

CF frame, CF fork, CF crankset, CF waterbottle mount, CF seatpost, CF balls.

Veloria

The first fixed gear bike I rode was brakeless, as it was a borrowed track bike. I rode it very slowly, and not on the main roads. It was a good way to learn how to ride fixed gear, but I would not do it for transportation. I now have a bike of my own, with front brake.

Squirrelli

You're so cool.

calbob76

no brakes

caloso

Brakes front and rear.

jakerock

no brakes!

jhaber

Street bike = brakeless
Mountain Bike = front and rear brake

I wish I had gotten a machined front wheel so I could put a break on now though. I know I still could but it would make my rim look bad.

Davidxvx

I have road drops with a front brake, for longer/practical rides, and Nitto ADB-X without brakes for most other riding. It's pretty easy to swap with a removable faceplate.

Shortsocks

One rig - front brake (75k + group rallies)
2nd rig- no brake (riding around town, night riding, everyday)

I used my first rig ( with a brake) for the longest time. I'd use my brake once in a while. But Noe. My 2nd rig, without a brake, I ride way more often and enjoy it quite a bit more. More in touch with my surroundings without the brake.

Socks

Sixty Fiver

If my psychic abilities were just a little more developed I'd know when I was about to become road kill and not need a brake.

And this makes no sense to me as winter is when I use my front brake so little I could actually take it off...

"I ride brakeless for the majority of the year. In winter, I have a front brake."

oldfixguy

Front brake, clips and straps, helmet, lights front and rear. I run fenders, too. Like others, I'm also comfortable with how "in touch" I am with my environment.

Please use a front brake on public roads. There are already enough idiots in cars. We don't need to pile on.

Scrodzilla

My Madison (48/18) has a brake, my Premium Brew (48/20) does not.

Not quite certain how I'll be gearing the Leader I'm currently gathering parts for so I'm not sure if I'll have a brake on that or not.

Young Version

In the last few days, I've started riding brakeless. It's a little intimidating, but I'm getting used to it.

The realization that I'm riding with no brakes, no reflectors, and no helmet does sound kinda silly, but I have another bike for commuting.

dsh

My sweet fixie has one brake, but that is only because I don't know how to skid so.

Deshi

I cant fit a brake on any of my bikes. The Pinarello is not drilled and there is not enough room to drill if I wanted and the Pake, im running the max tire size in the fork so every brake iv tried, rubs the tire.

pot holder

no breaks for me. i understand and accept the dangers of not having a break and let the new jacks know that they need to also.

whether you want to run a break or not it's up to you, doesn't make you look cooler or like a sissy. dood can ride with knee and elbow pads and i still wouldn't care.

i get more concerned about people who don't use lights. even if you're riding a wallie world mountain bike USE A GOTDAMN LIGHT. i learned my lesson about not using a front light when i almost got clipped by a car who didn't see me and landed in someones front yard from having to make a split decision dodge.

/rant

dsh

Agreed that lights are more important than brakes and helmets combined.

ianjk

Brake.

Saves me $50+ a week on tires.

Plus I can ride faster.

T_R_O_N

I began riding brake less the day I bought my mercier from a really awesome guy.
He could see I was a novice and gave me a front brake, however, I have been riding this bike for nearly a year now and have never put that brake on....

I spent nearly three weeks riding in front of my house practicing skipping skidding and all the other variations of stopping on a track bike. After doing all of this, I then began to take baby steps riding around this crazy city. I eventually got to the point where skipping/skidding had become second nature, much like when a skater masters the ollie.

I enjoy riding brake less, but that doesn't mean i have not had several close calls where I though i was about to check out of this plane of existence. ( let that be a disclaimer; riding brake less is fun, but there are times when a brake could have saved me from chin checking a brand new bmw. I probably shouldn't have been SAF at the time, but I digress, DONT RIDE BRAKE LESS UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED FOR EPIC DEATH YO)


Off topic/riveting tale : I got a good laugh when i was riding my track bike on a bike path and a roadie comes zooming past me snidely saying that doesn't belong here ( my bike) under his breath. I then proceeded to catch up to him then said WHOOOSH as i passed him, skidding into the turn i had to make. I thought it was cool.

Dr. Banzai

Mad brakes yo.

I'm brakeless *****!

osiris419

I ride brakeless at the moment just cause I didn't buy a brake setup yet, it gets a little scary sometimes. But where I live you don't want to stop or you'll end up getting jacked for your bike. Just get through as fast as possible and don't look behind you.