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  • I dinny really want a bunfight either.
    I suppose if i explain my reasons for running just a front brake better it might help.
    The first bike i used with only a front brake was a bmx. My bmx originally had 2 brakes and i tried using a gyro so i could do barspins etc but didn't like the performance. I realised i din't really use the rear brake for much (certainly not for any tricks) so i took it off. I found i could stop my bike just as well using a front brake alone and so i ran with this set up for a while.

    Around this time i converted a road bike to s/s and as it had crap side pull calipers on it i removed these and fitted a more modern, more functional front brake to it.
    I only fitted a front brake as i liked the simple look of having only the 1 short cable (note i didn't even know about fix wheel bikes/fix culture at this time) and because it meant that my 2 bikes were set up very similarly.
    I like my bikes to look really simple. When i buy a bmx frame i generally cut the brake lugs and cable guides off before i even build it. It is for this simple look that i stick to steel frames, traditional double triangle frames and simple colours.

    I rode both my bikes with a front brake for a long while and as far as i was concerned i was able to control my bike well and have never - even on the shorter wheelbased bmx - had any problems keeping the back wheel on the ground never mind going over the bars.

    Since then i progressed to or decided upon riding brakeless on my bmx.
    I converted several other road bikes and mountain bikes - for road use -to s/s and kept the set up the same, front brake only and i still have never had a problem with rear wheel lift.

    I have not removed the rear brake from the Genesis as i built it from a frame set.
    I am aware that now that fixed wheel bikes are in fashion people may presume i am pretending or jumping on a bandwagon but i can assure you that is not the case.

    By the way, i also ride a motorbike and i am aware that i do about 80-90% of braking with the front brake.

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