Singlespeed with one brake...

single speed with rear brake = same stopping power as brakeless fixed

the most you can do on either bike, is lock the rear wheel up.

Both also carry similar risk for total failure of ability to brake, ie/ chain snap, or rear brake fail.

so - brakeless riders cant say much about this set up. because they are doing the same, although, a rear brake probably gives more controlled braking in the right hands.

Yep i'd be much more comfortable with this set up than a brakeless fixed, as you say you've got much more control over your braking this way.

How the fuck is rear brake better than front??

Read Sheldon Brown on brakes.

I don't think anyone here is saying that a rear is better than a front.

Read the thread. Some people are.

I must've skipped over those, they obviously lack common sense =P

Actually, I just read Ed's post about the coaster brake bike, I see no problem with that as I have one and never use the front brake, i'm never really going any faster than 15mph on it though so with some bikes it's fine

[bike radar] Can't be sure from the pic but looks like she might not have bar ends either. Not a good idea - can cause some pretty horrible injuries if you fall off and land on your side with your bars digging into you [/bike radar]

single speed with rear brake = same stopping power as brakeless fixed

the most you can do on either bike, is lock the rear wheel up.

Both also carry similar risk for total failure of ability to brake, ie/ chain snap, or rear brake fail.

exactly

How the fuck is rear brake better than front??

Read Sheldon Brown on brakes.

you can turn and hard brake with rear brake more effectively than you can with hard front braking and turning.

but that doesn't mean its "better". front is "better" for stopping in a straight line.

you should have two brakes.

Please read the thread I started on the subject for my views and opinion, can't be arsed to repeat myself.

General overview of my opinion:

Rear brake SS ok
Fixed brakeless ok (assuming you can control it properly)
Front brake SS just plain retarded for the reasons stated in my thread.

Please read the thread I started on the subject for my views and opinion, can't be arsed to repeat myself.

General overview of my opinion:

Rear brake SS ok
Fixed brakeless ok (assuming you can control it properly)
Front brake SS just plain retarded for the reasons stated in my thread.

hmmmm. i think you're missing the point... it's can be OK but in general it is not, 90% of the time it is definetly not ok, but in rare occasions certain riders on certain bikes in certain towns can get away with it BUT leeds is not like flat london and she isn't riding by herself safely but in a pack with fast riders through traffic with some brakeless (experienced and in control) riders and others with front brakes or even 2 - she needs the backup of another brake if she is going to continue riding singlespeed and not fixed.

hmmmm. i think you're missing the point... it's can be OK but in general it is not, 90% of the time it is definetly not ok, but in rare occasions certain riders on certain bikes in certain towns can get away with it BUT leeds is not like flat london and she isn't riding by herself safely but in a pack with fast riders through traffic with some brakeless (experienced and in control) riders and others with front brakes or even 2 - she needs the backup of another brake if she is going to continue riding singlespeed and not fixed.

No **you're **missing the point, which I made in that thread, in many different ways, many times, therefore i'm not going to be repeating the whole lengthy debate again.
From what you're telling me in this thread, the problem seems to be her lack of riding skill, not her brake set-up.
As you just stated that the brakeless riders she rides with are experienced, and in the same situation riding with enough control over their bikes; where you are suggesting she is not.

#yawn#

for the love of satan, stop

I dont see a problem with a rear break only ss as long as the break is fully functioning even though the bike isnt road legal with only one breaking mechanism. Dutch bikes with no caliper breaks use only the rear wheel for stopping. However if shes riding in close proximity to traffic and other riders then as somebody already said physics dictates that you wont stop as quickly with a back break as you will with a front.

Maybe use the analogy of hitting a wall. An instant stop.

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James, i think the point is that it's fine for you, but i dont think anyone should recomend things on this site just because they do them, particualrly brakeless or one brake singlespeed.

With skill and an awareness of the risks then you personally might be able to ride like that but someone may jump in, read this thread and decide that its a good idea with NO riding skill.

General overview of my opinion:

Rear brake SS ok
Fixed brakeless ok (assuming you can control it properly)
Front brake SS just plain retarded for the reasons stated in my thread.

..and all this is moot since it's varies on how much experience the cyclist have.

Like I said, my opinion, not necessarily what I would advise everyone else to do.
If you struggle to anticipate the road ahead, have shit bike handling skills, and generally have difficulty keeping your bike in a straight line, maybe you should run two brakes, an additional disk brake, a full face helmet, and a dainese body armour suit just in case.

tom; i listened to you... my front break cable snapped. im not doing it through choice

why are you doing it then?

my cable snapped

How did I know this was Chloe's bike?

What happened to the colour?

erm, i sprayed it?

my cable snapped

so instead of replacing the cable you decided to remove the front lever and caliper?

hmm. interesting. i guess you're hoping that lightning doesn't strike twice and the other cable snaps.

So instead of replacing the brake cable, you resprayed it instead? Or something?

so instead of replacing the cable you decided to remove the front lever and caliper?

hmm. interesting. i guess you're hoping that lightning doesn't strike twice and the other cable snaps.

Repped