Brakeless riding in Birmingham?

Possible? Sensible?

Reading a lot of the London posts and looking at people's bikes, there are a lot of brakeless bikes, due I imagine to central london being fairly flat.

However, in Birmingham where you can count flat roads on one hand this would surely be a terrible idea no?

Do any of you ride brakeless? If so, how the hell do you stop when going down hill?

HTFU. go Brakeless if you want, if you're worried which by this post you seem to be, spend £20 on a brake.Little to discuss.

Hi Samluk84, there are a few brakeless riders in Brum, Barry goes through tyres like nobody's business skidding though.

And ignore Tenderloin, in Birmingham we're a bit friendlier than that. Did you come to last critical mass? Thats the place to meet everyone.

Tendertool

N3il - had every intention of coming down, sadly bike still not fixed after my crash (see earlier post) - hoping to make July Mass, should have got repairs sorted by that stage.

Gutted, havent ridden for 3 weeks!!

I would say put a brake on your bike, and just don't use it for 3 months. If you can do that without getting squished whip it off for good, otherwise just keep it on their. Safety>aesthetics.

Lol, I'll always keep brakes on my bike - was just interested to see if anyone braved it in Birmingham. The thought of trying to skid stop down hill in Harborne for example fills me with dread!

Neil you are right, I do go through tyres like nobodys business. I have never rode with a brake and don't ever intend to do so, possibly because I have no fear of traffic. I've only ever came off twice due to myself being an absolute douche, if you decide to go brakeless be prepared for some hair rasing moments. If you aren't so confident on your bike yet, stick a brake on but don't use it and tbf you wont get compo if you get hit and don't have a brake on ;)

If you've got to ask then don't go brakeless.

I would say put a brake on your bike, and just don't use it for 3 months. If you can do that without getting squished whip it off for good, otherwise just keep it on their. Safety>aesthetics.

+1

No offence but riding brakeless is fucking retarded, as well as being illegal.

i don't know brum that well, but i probably wouldn't ride round brakeless. riding round cov i rely on my front brake to slow me down quicker.

maybe it depends on how confident you are at stopping quickly using just resistance of the cranks/skidding.

i don't know brum that well, but i probably wouldn't ride round brakeless. riding round cov i rely on my front brake to slow me down quicker.

maybe it depends on how confident you are at stopping quickly using just resistance of the cranks/skidding.

If you're from Coventry your opinion is invalid sorry ;)

If you're from Coventry your opinion is invalid sorry ;)

Shut it ex cov boy ;)

No offence but riding brakeless is fucking retarded, as well as being illegal.

too true, but all it takes is anticipation..been riding without a brake on one of my bikes for 6+ years without incident. Boss the road.

Hi everyone.
I'm going to ride a 60 mile route tomorrow in black bibs and possibly a White jersey.
What does everyone think?

If you're from Coventry your opinion is invalid sorry ;)

(:

YouTube - ‪Bomb Bay! With Ted Shred‬‏

+1

Had no intention of trying it out - was just curious to see if the practise is widely adopted in Birmingham relative to London where I can see it being loads easier.

Bored at work. Musing etc.

I will always keep brakes on my bike, for all the obvious - not just legal - reasons.

I would say put a brake on your bike, and just don't use it for 3 months. If you can do that without getting squished whip it off for good, otherwise just keep it on their. Safety>aesthetics.

Wot Neil said. Better to have it and not use it then to need it and not have it...you know? Some journeys I rely on my brake loads/some journeys I don't use it at all, depends.

Dan!

If you're from Coventry your opinion is invalid sorry ;)

Haha excellent!

Didn't realise this was in the brm thread. Also apologies for sounding off like a twat, I blame lack of sleep/revision.

Riding brakeless is dumb and for hipsters who think it's cool...

too true, but all it takes is anticipation..been riding without a brake on one of my bikes for 6+ years without incident. Boss the road.

What a load of complete and utter bollocks.

Ride brakeless if you really feel you must, but don't try to justify it. Six years of no incident doesn't make it any less of a twattish thing to do.

No offence but you're all cunts.

ftfy.

Brakes allow you to go faster. Just because you can ride without brakes, doesn't mean you should.