Whats with all the newbies all wanting to ride brakeless?

When I started riding brake-less, It made me a more aware and safer rider!? Hold on thats not right... wait... Oh yes it is! D'oh!

Surely this should be more about the way people who ride brake-less.... ride? Someone could have a brake and not use it at all?

Track bikes without brakes have been around on the street, way longer than you think and will remain there far longer than you could ever imagine...

thats true... i run a brake but hardly use it, but me skids stops arn't down enough to warrant me to ride without one.
Basically its there for emergencies and surprises...which im fine about. Eventually ill perhaps have a bike with no brakes...but not yet

andypancake When I started riding brake-less, It made me a more aware and safer rider!? Hold on thats not right... wait... Oh yes it is! D'oh!

Surely this should be more about the way people who ride brake-less.... ride? Someone could have a brake and not use it at all?

Track bikes without brakes have been around on the street, way longer than you think and will remain there far longer than you could ever imagine...

+1
im a far better rider now i have no brake

...

so who is going to throw a spanner in the works by posting
the ted shred video. go on i dare you.

peejay78 "accept[b][/b] the risk"

you of all people.

NOOOO for shame...

but yeah, i feel as if i'm slightly less gung-ho brakeless

Lets not talk about ted shred.

People talking about riding brakeless like pip mentioned reminds me of all the SS riders how start out thinking one brake is fine. Its the biggest misconception of fixed wheel/ss riding, and its going to end in tears.

Everything ends in tear eventually, so enjoy everything while you can... go on take a risk!
I dare you...

ooooh we're off to C+ land, just like i forewarned.

"a brake? why? am i a moron?"
"a brake? why not? are you a moron?"
"a brake? oh i don't know, i wax and wane"

Sounds like a haiku

peejay78 ooooh we're off to C+ land, just like i forewarned.
"a brake? why? am i a moron?"
"a brake? why not? are you a moron?"
"a brake? oh i don't know, i wax and wane"

hehe

But! Am I more or less likely to run a red light riding brakeless?!?!
Longer stopping distance at speed x but I might be travelling slower to make up for this.. or I might not.. or I might.
Should I wear a helmet? Should I wear two if I'm riding brakeless?

did someone say they were going to wax me?

no.

Am I mistaken, or is brakeless riding already technically regulated in that a bike is supposed (by law) to have two braking mechanisms?

I may be wrong though...

pj i rode brakeless to the bikeshop to buy a brake because i just built a bike and i didn't have one.

i damn near sh*t myself.

Been there, felt the same way!

When I got myself a fuji, waited one week for the front brake to arrive. Of course I tried brakeless riding, it was fun but boy I wouldnt do it EVER again.

No no no, newbies should just wear a Downhill pressure suit and full-face helmet, for safety reasons:) no brakes are needed

bracestower Am I mistaken, or is brakeless riding already technically regulated in that a bike is supposed (by law) to have two braking mechanisms?

I may be wrong though...

Legally speaking you're quite right. Bikes should have two seperate braking mechanism, minimum handlebar width of 350mm (Though that's from memory so may not be the exact figure) And if it's dated after 1985 a rear red reflector and amber reflectors on the pedals.

Not likely to happen really...

I love tyhe reflctor laws, most Audax riders and light up like a Oxford street but they are illigal becasue if they have clipless then no refectors.

It does raise an interesting question though wheather if you where hit at night, with lights on but non of the refectors or handlebars less than 350 mm could the lawyer wiggle their way out of it or would the judge be able to dissmiss that line of argument? ( I have no idea how the law works but I guess as a judge even if you thing the law is silly if that is what it (the law) says there is nowt you can do about it).

Apparently you also need a bell now as well.

Riding without one risks a £1000 fine.

roland Apparently you also need a bell now as well.

Riding without one risks a £1000 fine.

Where did you get that from? Theres no legal requirement to fit a bell AFAIK. Bells are only mandatory if you're selling new bicycles. I know some local authorities have been trying to make bells mandatory, but they're pretty much useless in noisy urban enviroments anyway and against the ipod generation.

'bout the only place you're legally supposed to have a bell is if you're on a canal towpath as its a quasi private space these days (British Waterways requires that you also have a special licence to ride on the towpaths too).

Object17 [quote]bracestower Am I mistaken, or is brakeless riding already technically regulated in that a bike is supposed (by law) to have two braking mechanisms?

I may be wrong though...

Legally speaking you're quite right. Bikes should have two seperate braking mechanism, minimum handlebar width of 350mm (Though that's from memory so may not be the exact figure) And if it's dated after 1985 a rear red reflector and amber reflectors on the pedals.

Not likely to happen really...[/quote]

I thought the law was that new bikes had to be sold like that, not that all bikes should have them.

Just double checked. I'm afriad it's right. The only thing I didn't mention is that all new bikes must be sold with bells, though they can legally be removed once you own the bike. Craziness.

But splutter, time trials and criteriums are raced on streets regularly. Should those racers have reflectors on their Time pedals? Reflectors in their carbon tri spoke wheels?

Sounds pretty ridiculous to me.

took my fuji out for it;s first real run to work this morning and taking my usual shortcut around the back of Elephant and Castle roundabout. I'm pretty happy with that shimano I fitted at the weekend.. because I needed it... big time!!!! Not even looked into going brakeless.

Interesting article here on some points of the law.

One good quote is

"Cycling is intoxicating, it gives a natural high but it's also a very sociable activity and those who partake in the weekend 'pub run' will attest that cycling is easier after the odd drink or two."

http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php