Current Projects chat and miscellany

Braking power of the front is far greater than the rear. The more brake you use (front and/or rear), the further forward your center of 'gravity' moves, the more effective your front becomes, the less effective the rear becomes - meaning in an emergency stop situation your rear is next to useless.

In a braking situation the use of rear + front over just front is only of additional benefit if traction would have been lost on the front wheel.

In this instance the guy's gone over the bars, the limit has therefore not been front wheel traction, the addition of a rear brake would surely have made no difference whatsoever?

the bloke that just got flipped over is simply an inexperienced cyclist.

it's really horses for courses, some people are pretty experience enough to run just 1 brakes, some aren't, especially brakeless rider are pretty good at controlling their speed and braking using just a fixed wheel.

+1 to Prime heretic.

I only run a front brake on my single speed, but I've been doing it for years, and cycling in general for years longer. I don't recommend it for everyone or for all situations, but if the circumstances are right, it's your call. Even on my geared road bike, I usually use the front for most of my braking.

I'm not 90% of the cyclists out there and probably not even 99% for that matter, so I'm not advising this for anyone. Oh, and as for the fashion bit, sure the one brake looks better than two, but I'll take my style points elsewhere.

It depends on: a) the skill of the rider, b) the circumstances, c) the quality of the components, d) a helmet for when the first three aren't going your way.

project: nagasawa 60cm

don't have this monster....yet but i have plan for it already

note the braze ons? this was a keirin pro's training bike...even has water bottle inserts...... all lugs pure nagasawa njs

Rear brakes are good for slowing down gently/controlling speed evenly (or in case the front goes wrong) but in emergency stops they don't do anything.

tight frame + long cranks + large toeclips =...

its 165 cranks and i got huge feet, toe overlap is only a problem when you go really slow, so go fast :)

the bars were 7€ bars, gonna replace them when i can get some lighter ones soon

Braking power of the front is far greater than the rear. The more brake you use (front and/or rear), the further forward your center of 'gravity' moves, the more effective your front becomes, the less effective the rear becomes - meaning in an emergency stop situation your rear is next to useless.

In a braking situation the use of rear + front over just front is only of additional benefit if traction would have been lost on the front wheel.

In this instance the guy's gone over the bars, the limit has therefore not been front wheel traction, the addition of a rear brake would surely have made no difference whatsoever?

The front break is the most powerful for stopping and even Sheldon Brown details that in this article. However, I still think using the rear is important in some situations. If it is raining or icy, it can be easy to lock up a wheel when braking with a single brake. If it is the front that locks, this will almost definitely cause you to stack your bike, especially if you are turning a corner. It's up to you and you know how well you ride, but I think a rear brake is a must on all non-fixed bikes.

+1 to Prime heretic.

I only run a front brake on my single speed, but I've been doing it for years, and cycling in general for years longer. I don't recommend it for everyone or for all situations, but if the circumstances are right, it's your call. Even on my geared road bike, I usually use the front for most of my braking.

I'm not 90% of the cyclists out there and probably not even 99% for that matter, so I'm not advising this for anyone. Oh, and as for the fashion bit, sure the one brake looks better than two, but I'll take my style points elsewhere.

It depends on: a) the skill of the rider, b) the circumstances, c) the quality of the components, d) a helmet for when the first three aren't going your way.

I ridden months on a geared racer without a fully functioning rear brake. Whether it is dangerous or not is debatable. However when the front brake cable goes you won't be putting your feet on the floor when rolling (v.slowly) down hills.

I ridden months on a geared racer without a fully functioning rear brake. Whether it is dangerous or not is debatable. However when the front brake cable goes you won't be putting your feet on the floor when rolling (v.slowly) down hills.

I don't see how you can be comfortable hurtling down box hill or the like with only a front brake. If the hill has any type of cornering it will be even worse.

+1 to Prime hereti & sirvelo

When my bike was geared I only used to use the front brake too. I live out in a fairly rural area so don't have to worry about traffic much either which is good. When I move down to London at the end of the summer then I will either install a rear brake or go fixed...

I don't see how you can be comfortable hurtling down box hill or the like with only a front brake. If the hill has any type of cornering it will be even worse.

Because I had one very shite brake, I didn't hurtle down any hills. I knew the braking was shite and rode accordingly.

If you're only breaking (sharply) with one brake then you're either doing it wrong or doing an endo or a skid.

I'd not like to be without my back brake.

please someone put a project up to stop this brake debate (which has been done to death).

Haha - I second that!

i did but it must have been a rear brake project

You get that off that rene guy from Ocean cycles in Osaka?

project: nagasawa 60cm

don't have this monster....yet but i have plan for it already

note the braze ons? this was a keirin pro's training bike...even has water bottle inserts...... all lugs pure nagasawa njs

OK forumengers, I've been slowly but surely converting my OTP Charge for a while now and I'm pretty happy with it. However, my student loan arrives in the next few days and I'm kind of at a loss on what to waste it on. I've hit a brick wall in terms of spending money on shit I don't need.
I'm thinking a Miche Supertype seatpost, so that my Brooks will look EVEN MORE OUT OF PLACE. I know, don't tell me.
Sorry it's not driveside (almost all the drivetrain stuff is stock Charge), and sorry about the slack chain.
So what else do people think would look good? Silver/Black hopefully. I am totally aware that this is a really cuntish post and makes me mad-crazy fakenger but I need some ideas.

Also, I know you can't see it but does anyone know what manufacturer the white sprockets with cut outs in them are from? I've seen them in the cabinet in BLB (and on my rear wheel) but I'm non the wiser to what they are?

Erm, a Miche Supertype seatpost?

I really don't think you need another setback seatpost...

I'd drop it on a chainset.

Erm, a Miche Supertype seatpost?

I really don't think you need another setback seatpost...

I'd drop it on a chainset.

I didn't think the Supertype was that setback? Ah well, killed that idea.

I just accidentally bought some new wheels. Pics when they're built.

Now I need a new frame for my foxy pink Gran Compes.

I quite want this one, anyone want to lend me $1000?

that is such a tight idea. got a pic of the deal finished?

Here's what I'm doing at te moment. Something a little different to the norm...

I'm running a front Hope XC hub on the rear of my fixed wheel bike with an ISO cog from 'London Fixie Bike' bolted to the disc mounts. My friend made me a special axle and spacer, so the hub runs in a 120mm spaced frame with perfect chain alignment and uses track nuts instead of a QR skewer. I'm also running a set of wethepeople royal BMX cranks upfront with a 43 tooth Profile imperial sprocket, which seems to work well.

Also a slightly different wheelbuild...It's a 3leading, 3 trailing snowflake with a single twist for each pair of spokes. Never seen it done before, just thought I'd give it ago. Seems pretty reasonable so far!

Here are a few pictures:

Sorry, the wheel's clearly only half built in this photo...

I know it's not the average setup for a fixed wheel bike, but I can't see any disadvantages over the conventinal, screw-on cogs, but there are many, obvious advantages!

that is such a tight idea. got a pic of the deal finished?

I didn't think the Supertype was that setback? Ah well, killed that idea.

it look like the same amount of setback frankly, the charge one is straight until to the top where the clamp is set back further, the Miche one gradually curve up to the clamp.

if I were you, just get the seatpost only, nothing else, there's nothing worse than living on little when you already spend half your loan on bike stuff! don't make the same mistake as me, I end up eating rices for the next 4 weeks due to spending too much on useless stuff.

as for the colour - my old bike should give you some idea;

key fail

I was unlocking my bike when I took that photo!