The Ultimate Brakeless/Front/Rear/How many brakes? thread

If your chain snapped it would most likely recoil into you/your back wheel/ frame and cause the mother of all wipeouts.

Although i'll probably spend out on a decent track chain soon, when funds allow, maybe a nice izumi or something, and then actually bother to clean it when it gets covered in crap from bad weather.
Don't fucking do it. Think about how you ride your bike and the additional abuse that you put it through (with your dumb ass tricks, haha, you loser). .
You'd be better off getting a decent BMX chain and replacing it every other month.

Unless your chain breaks...

I've broken loads of chains (well two in the last 6 months) while riding, all (both) at very slow speeds cranking it up a hill. Torque!

Don't fucking do it. Think about how you ride your bike and the additional abuse that you put it through (with your dumb ass tricks, haha, you loser). .
You'd be better off getting a decent BMX chain and replacing it every other month.

Fair enough, i'll just stick with my gold nitride coated Kmc bmx chain then, they seem to last quite well, about 5-6 months it seems before stretching/falling apart, although to be fair if the last one hadn't had to suffer a really harsh winter, and then not get cleaned or lubed, it probably would have lasted longer lol. Still 5-6 months was pretty impressive considering the shit it suffered.

I've broken wind several time while cranking up hill.

I've broken wind several time while cranking up hill.

Nasty stuff.....any injuries sustained?

I've broken wind several time while cranking up hill.

As long as you didn't pull a skid afterwards.

Nasty stuff.....any pants stained?

;)

As long as you didn't pull a skid afterwards.

Not a problem.

brakes shmakes.... ride it like you stole it ;)

I ride fixed with two brakes, don't use the back one much. May take it off one day but seeing as my frame came drilled and with cable guides (Genesis Flyer) it would probably look uglier without a brake than with. I'd definitely cope without, but I find the more ways of stopping I have the faster I dare to go :)

Plus on my really quite hilly commute I'd find fixed with no brakes scary and a bit impractical.

brakes are for fakes.

it is a legal requirement to have control of both wheels of your bike.
if you really don't understand why, please pause to consider that there may be something you've overlooked / not thought of.... ask yourself: what if all those engineers and mechanics over the 100 years of evolving bicycles were actually right !
is it responsible to start talking about physics and justifying your illegal, dangerous actions?
if you succeed in convincing some poor innocent who then dies because they swallowed your preaching, how will you feel then?
No brake, no brain. we all need to spread this message.
if you have no front brake on your fixed wheel, the motorist who hits you cannot be prosecuted. if you have perpetuated the fallacy that its okay to ride without adequite control mechanisms, you share the blame for the consequences of that fallacy.
grow up and become aware of your responsibility to promote safety and to oppose ignorance.
sorry to preach, but it really fucking pisses me off !xx

ooh get her!All pissed off.

I'm a new convert to fixed-gear cycling, having recently bought a Specialized Tricross single-speed, faffed about for a month with the freewheel, and finally gone over full-time to 42:18 fixed, with lots of hill riding on the North Downs. I'm still a little nervous on the road, and well aware of my limits.

Novice though I am, I've quickly come over to Sheldon Brown's view that rear brakes are of very limited use, and it's better for cyclists to learn how to control their machines in other ways. That goes for single-speed and geared bikes as well as fixed.

As for bikes fitted with freewheels, I think it irresponsible for riders to remove their rear brakes. Never mind the law; common sense should dictate that the brakes be left on and used where necessary (i.e., at least in emergency situations).

If you ride brakeless, what happens when your chain breaks? Has it ever happened to anyone?

Surely that is the reason you are supposed to have an alternative means of stoppage. "Always take one more safety measure than you think you will need."

If you ride brakeless, what happens when your chain breaks? Has it ever happened to anyone?

Surely that is the reason you are supposed to have an alternative means of stoppage. "Always take one more safety measure than you think you will need."

Indeed

FootJam in the backwheel bmx stylee, safest option in that situation, I've had 2 chains snap on me in the last 8 months, one of them endured a whole winter of abuse and shit on the roads though, and the other was just a cheap shitty chain, that I shouldn't have bought, both times I managed to stop safely without incident.
Although i'll probably spend out on a decent track chain soon, when funds allow, maybe a nice izumi or something, and then actually bother to clean it when it gets covered in crap from bad weather.

I haz brakeless innit.

Just to keep this one going...there is a lot of talk of physics with not much of it being right! (geeks see centripetal force) here comes the science! A little back brake first before applying front forces the front wheel down in to the black stuff harder (increasing surface contact area by squishing the tyre) increasing the grip and braking force you can apply to the front, while still allowing you to keeping you centre of gravity closer to the pivot point (the rear axe!) I am new to SS and fixed and coming form motorbike riding I won't be with out a back brake...if your mincing round the flatlands of London then you might get away day to day with front only....but the one time you need it might be you last (or someone else's!!).
I guess that makes rear brakes like insurance? Humm..So...If I'm happy with my ability to drive and sure my car is in good working order I don't really need insurance???
Also...I am building a SS now and I want a back brake for the aesthetic of having a polished Alloy brake and white cable running down my gloss black frame setting it off just lovely!
.....in though the nose and out through the mouth and.... end :)

No, but it does happen and I wouldn't want to have no other way to stop if it did.

but what if the brakes cable break? what if both tyres come off the wheel? what if the saddle spontaeously disappear and the seatpost end up solomising your arse?

all those are likely outcome but very fucking rare.

all those are likely outcome but very fucking rare.

Is this an oxymoron?

nope, but maybe a contradiction in terms.

an oxymoron is deliberate and used for rhetorical effect.

solomising your arse
biblical buggery?

was just wondering what do people do with unused back brakes after a build??

Keep it for your second build.....

I run a sanctuary just outside Barnes.
Feel free to drop yours off with us, they live very happily on a diet of grease and vintage rims.
We're trying to get breeding pairs, but the supply of fronts is sporadic at best

grease and vintage rims!! living the dream more like it, my front one is chafing on itself and eating on untrue beater wheels