Brakeless

Better than going around the roundabout the wrong way from the petrol station without headlights and being pulled over with flashing lights in a quiet neighbourhood and not having a real reason for doing that. :P

I haven't raced Crane, but most times I've ridden with him its felt like a race, he is probably faster than you so I would stop running your mouth ;)

Doubt it :)

Brakes FTW!

+1
both my bikes are brakeless, perhaps Im still too inexperienced compared to some of the hardcore brakeless riders, but Im about to add them ...its just too dangerous IMO

my bike is breakless, there i said it!!! but i dont ride like a twat, stop at lights (most of the time) and try not to ride through dense traffic, isnt it like guns? although saying that, fiddy still hasnt brought me that break up to norths yet.,...;)

Brakes are fine. Brakeless is fine. It's fine.

Oh, by the way, ThicKVit, posting a picture of someone with Down's Syndrome for 'humour' is crass and tasteless. But not surprising.

+1
both my bikes are brakeless, perhaps Im still too inexperienced compared to some of the hardcore brakeless riders, but Im about to add them ...its just too dangerous IMO

The main thing is, a front brake will stop you quicker than a skid/skip, no matter how good you are at stopping with your legs. I like what Sheldon said about running brakeless on the road:

"If you do it, and have any sense of self-preservation at all, it will cause you to go much slower than you otherwise could"

I think that's true, at least riding in traffic. No matter how well you read the road, if you ride quickly then the time will eventually come when you need to stop NOW. That's the time you will be grateful for the break.

I can totally see why if you mainly ride for tricks or whatever you would not want a front brake, but otherwise, on the road, I can't see why you wouldn't.

Oh, by the way, ThicKVit, posting a picture of someone with Down's Syndrome for 'humour' is crass and tasteless. But not surprising.

There's been worse than that posted for "humour"

I'm definitely getting a front brake for the pug.

I'm definitely getting a front brake for the pug.

That should go without saying!

The Crane fellow, what is his gearing, does he ride fixed. 30 mph on a fixed gear must take a while to get to.

Frankly as long as you don't ride like a twit, I couldn't care less if you're brakeless, brakeful, or parachuted.

Hmm, parachutes, actually that's a better idea. Thanks Egg.

Ha! You'll be very brakeful of it!

There's been worse than that posted for "humour"

QV has deleted his post which I think is the right decision.

QV has deleted his post which I think is the right decision.

Anything to cheer you up will ;)

Anything to cheer you up will ;)

Anything? Really?

This is exactly how i felt yesterday when i was brakeless. i know exactly what you mean.

but in your previous post you said you can't skid.
seriously dude, what are you going to do if you hit a steep hill where you can't slow your pedal stroke or if you have to break sooner than anticipated? put some brakes on before you end up seriously injured or worse.

Great thread.

Ed, didn't you ride flats on the pista, without straps?

Great thread.

Ed, didn't you ride flats on the pista, without straps?

I did last year, coming from an MTB background, I hasn't thought about the foot retention at the time until someone mentioned it.

How about brakeless in the rain? If I am riding any faster than a gentle roll, then a skid does absolutely nothing for at least 5 metres, I just slide forward at the same speed albeit in less control of the bike than if I were to keep pedalling. How exactly is it possible to ride at any useful pace?

doctor doolittle, what's your secret?

So, um, why are you here? Did I miss something..?!

Uhm, cycling community, rides etc.
Not strictly Fixed Gear though is it? =)
Are you being racist?

Haven't been cycling long mate, so I don't know much. It has been a nice learning curve since I've been here.

How about brakeless in the rain?

If you're serious, a simple change of tyres usually work, i.e. gatorskins, they're a bugger in the dry (too grippy) but in wet it have reasonable enough grip.

^seriously? Ive found gatorskins to be all round the worst choice of rear tire for Brakless riding, just about ok in the dry, but a whole lotta nothing in the rain, as festy said you just slide. I must say, I have been totally loving rolling brakeless through the slightly less wet months, but think im going to whack a brake on for the winter....sometimes i just cant be arsed....