The Ultimate Brakeless/Front/Rear/How many brakes? thread

I'm afraid I'm rather dogged. as i have said, front brake = 75% stopping power comp to back. This is because it is nearly impossible to skid a front tyre, and when skidding you're not braking terribly efficiantly.

you're comparing apples and pears.

whether the front brake has 75% stopping power compared to a back brake has no relevance to the comparative stopping power of a front brake versus a fixed rear wheel. it's a completely different thing! a fixed rear wheel can apply much more stopping power than a rear brake, and i would say it's equal to the stopping power of a front brake with an experienced rider.

and if you insist on applying stopping power to only one wheel, it's much more stable applying it to the back than the front.

that make sense?

I demand you all sell your bikes to Dogsballs for 5dorrah and shut up debating something that you'll never agree on.

Failing that, quit your jobs. Go get on your bikes and ride the damned things within your own acceptable limits.

:) go emilie

you're comparing apples and pears.

whether the front brake has 75% stopping power compared to a back brake has no relevance to the comparative stopping power of a front brake versus a fixed rear wheel. it's a completely different thing! a fixed rear wheel can apply much more stopping power than a rear brake, and i would say it's equal to the stopping power of a front brake with an experienced rider.

and if you insist on applying stopping power to only one wheel, it's much more stable applying it to the back than the front.

that make sense?

Not really. I grant that in the right hands/feet a fixed rear wheel can supply slightly more stopping power than a rear brake, as the 'biting point' before the wheel goes into a skid can be controlled more readily, but this is still nothing compared to the speed at whcih you can stop with a front brake. Feathering a back brake stops you quicker than stopping fixed with legs as well. a skid is a terribly inefficiant way of slowing a bike, and in not allowing a back wheel to lock up, you inevitably need more distance than you do to stop with ss front brake. This could go on for ever, but I assure you I'm right.

I assure you I'm right.

well, errr... you would say that! ;p

Mugs, do you ride singlespeed with one brake?

nope, i don't even ride a bike. awfully dangerous things.

mugs is a brompton rider with a flouro vest. argument ended!

Cheers Skully

nope, i don't even ride a bike. awfully dangerous things.

so we're both defending something we don't personally endorse.

slow day at work....

this is by far my favorite thread ever

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hst0nogIYeg&feature=related"]YouTube
- Mabo Skid[/ame]

A single speed 700c bike with one brake looks good only to those people you shouldn't listen too.

I'm with Mugs on this one. I'd put more faith in a single front brake than a brakeless fixed wheel. Actually I'll go one better, I'd put more faith in one back brake than a brakeless fixed wheel. I can POSSIBLY control the amount of force I apply a rear brake with my hand quicker than I can control the resistance of my feet against the pedals (or locking them up) and besides by using a rear brake I'm less likely to go into a skid so I'll stop better.

I think you should all have 80 different brakes on your bikes. You bloody hooligans!

:D

Slightly related:

Ted Shred (famous San Fran SS & NoBrakes rider) is in the booklet of the Pedal DVD.

Who else found the packaging/accompanying booklet wildly misleading to the content of the actual documentary? I was expecting a hipster-filled NYC fixie romp.

Thankfully it was considerably more engaging and useful than that.

its prolly more dangerous than fixed/no brake

Also the last point is just stupid. Beause someone is cycling like a massive tool does not make it ok for you to ride like a less massive tool. I'm not saying you are a tool but you get my point.

Yeah, that's the 'ad hominen tu quoque' thing again. Well spotted!

Who's bike is this, BTW

Plus every day I see people riding that do things much worse, running red lights, taking mobile phone calls whilst riding, riding with Mp3 players on.

Yeah, that's the 'ad hominen tu quoque' thing again.

Not quite, but you are right that his argument is still a logical fallacy, but it is more an appeal to the popular or argumentum ad populum - of the type: 'everyone is doing it so why can't I'

You could argue that he is using 'ad hominen mihi quoque'

(these people ride like cunts so why can't I also ride like a cunt)

[laughs wryly to himself and strokes the leather elbow pathces on his jacket]

Here is some controversy.

I think riding brakless fixed is far more dangerous than riding a freewheel with a single good front brake.
Surely simple laws of physics dictates this to be so?

But the most dangerous thing you can do, aside from riding with your eyes shut is riding whilst listening to music. Now that I just don't get

I give this thread the Wankerger of the year award. its fucking April!

Let there be killing.

But the most dangerous thing you can do, aside from riding with your eyes shut is riding whilst listening to music. Now that I just don't get

Better tell this guy...

this is by far my favorite thread ever

It just got better nimby:

Tynan's gone all prep' school Latin Master on us.

And mikec's just pulled in the iPod question ...

Yeah and what about jumping red lights? Is this OK? What does everyone think on this matter?

Also, should I be wearing a helmet on my slave bike? I notice not many jazzy dudes bother but I want to be safe ...

please every one tell me what to do cos I can't decide ...

also, can anyone recommend any tyres?

lol yes very good.
OK. Mp3 players so you cant hear the approaching car/motor bike/bus

Also, should I be wearing a helmet on my slave bike? I notice not many jazzy dudes bother but I want to be safe ...

The original slaves did not wear helmets - and to show respect I will also ride 'to freedom' (figuratively speaking) naked up stairs.

I ride brakeless whilst listening to music. I just expect that one day I'm not going to make it to my destination :]