riding brakeless - how do you find it?
03-23-14, 07:31 PM
#26
~>~
You did understand that a "fixed" gear cannot by definition "coast" therefore "coaster brake" in this context is both meaningless & absurd.
Which specialty on the Velodrome do you prefer to hone your alleged "track feel"?
It's been awhile but both pursuit or Kilo were always good for serious gutting it out pain, didn't actually try to decelerate but it may have looked like it at the end.....no backpedaling involved.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 03-23-14 at 08:09 PM.
03-23-14, 07:55 PM
#27
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Yea me too,
Im more into backpressing pedals to help me "brake", but I think everybody ridding urban/downtown should have at least the front one. Not really critical if you live and ride outside an urban zone and you have room and space to ride and do your things.
But, in a dense urban zone ( car doors, people, dog, cars ... ) sometimes I just ****ing use my front brake instead of trying to pull off a super crazy skid move to avoid a collision when im already compacted between a car and the sidewalks. And yea skid take more time to stop than a brake if your stuck in between cars and can only go forward.
There as been 4-5 situations downtown where no brakes would have lead to a crash, and what you say, sorry man I don't have break and the skidding distance was too long to avoid you.
So that's why I keep my front brake, downtown riding with bumper to bumper traffic and nearly no space to even ride between cars and sidewalk ...
I had a couple of bad look from hardcore hardfixed #instagram #breakless ******bag but most of the time they have pokemon cards in their wheels and it will be a matter of time before learning brake vs skid breaking distance in a tight space when you cant slightly move a bit to the right or to the left.
You still get the track feel with a front brake, don't press it, use it as a backup solution, that's in your head.
And skidding on a track will mostly leads in a lot of pain and looking out like a total ****** by the way.
Im more into backpressing pedals to help me "brake", but I think everybody ridding urban/downtown should have at least the front one. Not really critical if you live and ride outside an urban zone and you have room and space to ride and do your things.
But, in a dense urban zone ( car doors, people, dog, cars ... ) sometimes I just ****ing use my front brake instead of trying to pull off a super crazy skid move to avoid a collision when im already compacted between a car and the sidewalks. And yea skid take more time to stop than a brake if your stuck in between cars and can only go forward.
There as been 4-5 situations downtown where no brakes would have lead to a crash, and what you say, sorry man I don't have break and the skidding distance was too long to avoid you.
So that's why I keep my front brake, downtown riding with bumper to bumper traffic and nearly no space to even ride between cars and sidewalk ...
I had a couple of bad look from hardcore hardfixed #instagram #breakless ******bag but most of the time they have pokemon cards in their wheels and it will be a matter of time before learning brake vs skid breaking distance in a tight space when you cant slightly move a bit to the right or to the left.
You still get the track feel with a front brake, don't press it, use it as a backup solution, that's in your head.
And skidding on a track will mostly leads in a lot of pain and looking out like a total ****** by the way.
03-23-14, 08:05 PM
#28
Pirate/Smuggler
Not necessarily. Only if the riders decide to do track stands, which is not mandatory, and not a very common tactic anymore.
Also, the majority of racing on the track is either mass start like point races or time trials like the kilo and pursuit, none of which involves decelerating.
Also, the majority of racing on the track is either mass start like point races or time trials like the kilo and pursuit, none of which involves decelerating.
03-23-14, 08:17 PM
#29
Pirate/Smuggler
Yea me too,
Im more into backpressing pedals to help me "brake", but I think everybody ridding urban/downtown should have at least the front one. Not really critical if you live and ride outside an urban zone and you have room and space to ride and do your things.
But, in a dense urban zone ( car doors, people, dog, cars ... ) sometimes I just ****ing use my front brake instead of trying to pull off a super crazy skid move to avoid a collision when im already compacted between a car and the sidewalks. And yea skid take more time to stop than a brake if your stuck in between cars and can only go forward.
There as been 4-5 situations downtown where no brakes would have lead to a crash, and what you say, sorry man I don't have break and the skidding distance was too long to avoid you.
So that's why I keep my front brake, downtown riding with bumper to bumper traffic and nearly no space to even ride between cars and sidewalk ...
I had a couple of bad look from hardcore hardfixed #instagram #breakless ******bag but most of the time they have pokemon cards in their wheels and it will be a matter of time before learning brake vs skid breaking distance in a tight space when you cant slightly move a bit to the right or to the left.
You still get the track feel with a front brake, don't press it, use it as a backup solution, that's in your head.
And skidding on a track will mostly leads in a lot of pain and looking out like a total ****** by the way.
Im more into backpressing pedals to help me "brake", but I think everybody ridding urban/downtown should have at least the front one. Not really critical if you live and ride outside an urban zone and you have room and space to ride and do your things.
But, in a dense urban zone ( car doors, people, dog, cars ... ) sometimes I just ****ing use my front brake instead of trying to pull off a super crazy skid move to avoid a collision when im already compacted between a car and the sidewalks. And yea skid take more time to stop than a brake if your stuck in between cars and can only go forward.
There as been 4-5 situations downtown where no brakes would have lead to a crash, and what you say, sorry man I don't have break and the skidding distance was too long to avoid you.
So that's why I keep my front brake, downtown riding with bumper to bumper traffic and nearly no space to even ride between cars and sidewalk ...
I had a couple of bad look from hardcore hardfixed #instagram #breakless ******bag but most of the time they have pokemon cards in their wheels and it will be a matter of time before learning brake vs skid breaking distance in a tight space when you cant slightly move a bit to the right or to the left.
You still get the track feel with a front brake, don't press it, use it as a backup solution, that's in your head.
And skidding on a track will mostly leads in a lot of pain and looking out like a total ****** by the way.
You're describing my daily commute. Which I've put in sufficient time to learn to negotiate with or without a brake. It took a couple of minor crashes but the learning curve was brief and just about another aspect of bike handling, as I see it.
03-23-14, 08:38 PM
#31
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Yea but not having a front brake is for pure cosmetics, to have a clean straight bars and a nice bike look.
Cause having a front break don't change the feels if you don't use it, but it's there when somebody just cut you off on foot and your pedal are not well positioned at this exact moment and just the time and space to do a 1/6 rotation to be able to lock them its too late. Its not about skills, its about accident and other people crossing the streets out of nowhere for no reason, things you cant control. 20+ years of NY bike messaging will not change the minimum distance of your stop in a straight line skid.
But im just talking for uban downtown riding.
Im riding brakeless with a backup front brake, so I like riding with no break, even if my bike got one.
Cause having a front break don't change the feels if you don't use it, but it's there when somebody just cut you off on foot and your pedal are not well positioned at this exact moment and just the time and space to do a 1/6 rotation to be able to lock them its too late. Its not about skills, its about accident and other people crossing the streets out of nowhere for no reason, things you cant control. 20+ years of NY bike messaging will not change the minimum distance of your stop in a straight line skid.
But im just talking for uban downtown riding.
Im riding brakeless with a backup front brake, so I like riding with no break, even if my bike got one.
Last edited by kungfu; 03-23-14 at 08:43 PM.
03-23-14, 10:18 PM
#33
Senior Member
i ride clipless with no brake. been dong it this way for a few years in nyc traffic. it makes it so you don't rely on stopping to avoid crashes. when i did ride with a front brake, i naturally put myself in possitions on the road with no other out besides being able to immediately stop.
if i had a brake on my bike for "emergencies only" i would end up use it all the time. it' not the same as taking it completely off.
it's harder to just zone out when you're riding brakeless. i prefer it, it's not for everyone, obviously.
if i had a brake on my bike for "emergencies only" i would end up use it all the time. it' not the same as taking it completely off.
it's harder to just zone out when you're riding brakeless. i prefer it, it's not for everyone, obviously.
03-23-14, 11:01 PM
#34
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Been riding fixed for 30+ years on the road, always with a front brake. I try not to use it, but when you're riding with any traffic at all the need will eventually turn up. Of course there is no need on the track, but IMO riding brakeless on the road is frivolous.
03-23-14, 11:22 PM
#35
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No it doesn't, and quite psyching yourself out.
Do you even know what you're talking about? Who the hell talks like that?
If you have the strength (and the balls, or the stupidity depending on the case), you move up track and pass the group. Otherwise, you simply let off the gas slightly and slip into the draft. Unless you're some talented noob on the up and up moving through lower racing categories, you won't be able to travel solo much faster than "the group" for very long.
The only things that get "rear ended" are cars on the road.
EDIT: Also "breaking away" implies that there is no group ahead and you are attacking off the front. I believe the term you are looking for is "bridging."
If you have the strength (and the balls, or the stupidity depending on the case), you move up track and pass the group. Otherwise, you simply let off the gas slightly and slip into the draft. Unless you're some talented noob on the up and up moving through lower racing categories, you won't be able to travel solo much faster than "the group" for very long.
The only things that get "rear ended" are cars on the road.
EDIT: Also "breaking away" implies that there is no group ahead and you are attacking off the front. I believe the term you are looking for is "bridging."
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Last edited by TMonk; 03-23-14 at 11:33 PM.
03-23-14, 11:33 PM
#36
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That's a good way to put it.
It should be clarified though: Riding brakeless on your fun, short ride, around town, showoff or dick around bike, cool, I get it. Id love to own a clean NJS build with taped up risers for show and jaunts around the block. However, doing long road rides brakeless is no fun IME.
It should be clarified though: Riding brakeless on your fun, short ride, around town, showoff or dick around bike, cool, I get it. Id love to own a clean NJS build with taped up risers for show and jaunts around the block. However, doing long road rides brakeless is no fun IME.
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03-23-14, 11:50 PM
#37
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Back pedaling on the track is a waste of energy that you may need to keep up with a breakaway or contest a sprint plus it can cause contact and crashes from behind you.
03-24-14, 12:00 AM
#38
Senior Member
when i was running 81gi i used a front brake, but i switched to 65gi, because i hated mashing up hills or after a light turns green. i took the brake off, 65gi is pretty easy to stop brakeless, i feel like i can stop as effectively as my schwinn's coaster brake.
im not recommending riding brakeless on the street, you can get ticketed or if you get hit by a car you might not get paid out if you didnt have a brake. im just saying it can be done safely and effectively, if thats what you want to do.
it helps to run an easier gear ratio. and of course learn how to ride with a brake and decide what gearing you like and THEN if you must, ride brakeless if you want to. just dont immediately jump into it because its "cool" and "badass" and cause an accident on the road. i'd say riding brakeless depends on your gearing, and how experienced you are. brake or not, its still possible to ride like an *******.
i go to the bar, my friends houses, the store, stuff like that. i dont go downtown and run every red light going 35 brakeless pretending to be a messenger. i dont run track gearing and bomb hills. i dont put my nuts on my stem. i just like to use a bike instead of a car for trips of only a couple miles, and once i tried my friends fixed gear i was hooked.
im not recommending riding brakeless on the street, you can get ticketed or if you get hit by a car you might not get paid out if you didnt have a brake. im just saying it can be done safely and effectively, if thats what you want to do.
it helps to run an easier gear ratio. and of course learn how to ride with a brake and decide what gearing you like and THEN if you must, ride brakeless if you want to. just dont immediately jump into it because its "cool" and "badass" and cause an accident on the road. i'd say riding brakeless depends on your gearing, and how experienced you are. brake or not, its still possible to ride like an *******.
i go to the bar, my friends houses, the store, stuff like that. i dont go downtown and run every red light going 35 brakeless pretending to be a messenger. i dont run track gearing and bomb hills. i dont put my nuts on my stem. i just like to use a bike instead of a car for trips of only a couple miles, and once i tried my friends fixed gear i was hooked.
03-24-14, 12:05 AM
#39
Senior Member
That's a good way to put it.
It should be clarified though: Riding brakeless on your fun, short ride, around town, showoff or dick around bike, cool, I get it. Id love to own a clean NJS build with taped up risers for show and jaunts around the block. However, doing long road rides brakeless is no fun IME.
It should be clarified though: Riding brakeless on your fun, short ride, around town, showoff or dick around bike, cool, I get it. Id love to own a clean NJS build with taped up risers for show and jaunts around the block. However, doing long road rides brakeless is no fun IME.
03-24-14, 12:30 AM
#40
Fresh Garbage
03-24-14, 08:42 AM
#41
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i ride clipless with no brake. been dong it this way for a few years in nyc traffic. it makes it so you don't rely on stopping to avoid crashes. when i did ride with a front brake, i naturally put myself in possitions on the road with no other out besides being able to immediately stop.
if i had a brake on my bike for "emergencies only" i would end up use it all the time. it' not the same as taking it completely off.
it's harder to just zone out when you're riding brakeless. i prefer it, it's not for everyone, obviously.
if i had a brake on my bike for "emergencies only" i would end up use it all the time. it' not the same as taking it completely off.
it's harder to just zone out when you're riding brakeless. i prefer it, it's not for everyone, obviously.
03-24-14, 09:18 AM
#42
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When I rode brakeless I just did it more conservatively than I would if I knew I has brakes. No bombing a hill at 35mph when I know there is a light at the bottom etc..etc.
03-24-14, 09:52 AM
#43
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Obviously there is always a risk involved but why increase the risk to you and to others especially in a big city. Yeah, I can get killed with my brake and helmet but there are also some situations where they can save my life.
03-24-14, 10:15 AM
#44
Pirate/Smuggler
03-24-14, 10:46 AM
#45
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03-24-14, 10:58 AM
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03-24-14, 11:33 AM
#47
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Life is just a series of calculated risks, as long as you aren't trying to be #fixiefamous and blasting red lights with sick whip skids, you are fine going brakeless in the city(granted this is my Portland advice, it's different if you live in SF or Seattle).
03-24-14, 11:41 AM
#48
Senior Member
i would tend to get lazy if i have that emergency brake option. so for me, brakeless seems to be safer.
03-24-14, 12:46 PM
#50
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I drive without a seatbelt for the exact same reason!
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