This is almost as good as the Hammye quote William Karsten uses as a tag.

Why then you've got it! (I was looking for one with just a single gum rubber bug whip brake, but didn't find it right away)

I don't know who's got more balls, those who eschew brakes, or those who admit to liking them on this forum. Geez, this is worse than "which messenger bag to buy".

We aren't debating brakes, we're debating aesthetics. And if you haven't figured it out by now, on this forum aesthetics trumps brakes, helmets, stash pockets, Chrome vs. Bailey, manpris, pie, Jameson's, Phil, steel frames and bullhorns.

Oh, wait: aesthetics is all of those things! Damn.

It's kinda hard to ride on the hoods when you only have one hood.

And it's kind hard to ride on the drops when you've got bullhorns.

...

In my opinion rural riding and riding in city traffic are far different things when you look at how useful or necessary a brake may be.

Yeah, a front brake is ugly compared to none. But you know what's really ugly? Fenders! and I wouldn't be caught without them on my primary bike in the messy seasons!

Brake now or break later.

To me this is a clean,minimal, just enough to get the job done brake setup.

i ride with a front brake now im messengering because ive needed it when im rushing, thinking about where im going and doing dangerous riding. sometime you just need to rest you legs as well, or if a car pulls infront of you and you need to slam on your brake. buit especially if your nackered and need a rest from leg work.

if i was riding around the city, being a commuter or just not messengering then i'd ride brakeless. but rushing? i'd rather not take the risk.

General reply to the whole thread about the brake thing.....

Hmmm. I think they can look good, and can be useful for some. Meh; personal preferance, right?

I'm kinda' fond of my brake setup. Mix of new and old. Newish Campy caliper, with and older Scott/Mathauser lever. Good cable and kevlar housing. Ti and alu hardware on the stuff, 'cause hey, good deal on the stuff off of E-bay, so why not? Fixie blingle-brake. Or something.

nice bike....great pics....whats the alt?

longmont, co. looking towards long's peak; some great trail (for riding/hiking, and snowplay) head up there, half an hour from me and up about another 3,000 feet. long's tops out at over 14,000 feet.