2008-06-20 - Rider Down, New brake lever + wet weather

Bit of backstory:
I'm chilling out at about 15 mph on my SS, it is raining.

Cabbie in front decides to turn right,

• he brakes, I brake
  
• Rear wheel locks, bike slides to the left.
  
• Realizing impending stackage, Rookie releases rear brake
  
• Bike straightens up
  
• Front brake isn't enough to stop poor Fillmore
  
• Front brake lever takes impact into taxi,
  
  

Rookie gets road rash and an angry cabbie.
Anyway, the obvious damage is the front brake's lever has popped the plastic bit that holds the pin in. (basically the lever point)

Lessons / problems 1,

• I need to re-learn my stopping distances
  

• 2, I need a new brake handle

• 3, there might be further damage (buckled wheel, frame stress, stretched cabling?)

Luckily: Bike is 6 weeks old, therefore has a free service due (hurrah!) I have insurance (double hurrah!) So, as I need to get a new lever, and ideally would like a mechanic to check the rest of the bike over, the service seems a great idea. How much, presuming all that needs to be done is one new brake lever, should I expect to pay for one, the lever itself, and two, the installation?

Finally, would better tires have saved me? (Bontrager Select)

what brake / brake pads?

Stock Lemond Fillmore:

Alloy dual pivot w/Tektro alloy levers

ride fix?

fixed didn't help you or that ped' on monday

Use straight bars and bar ends. That way you dent cabbie and ride off waving at him/her/it.

Toodle pip

Live & learn

ride fix?

+1!

I had a similar situation, except the guy pulled out of a side road in front of me when i had right of way. I ran into the side of him, would have been able to stop in the dry but the roads were greasy from a day's dreary drizzle.

Would have been much worse if I hadn't been riding fixed - I had the wheels locked up in full control and was slowing as much as it was possible to stop in those conditions. With just brake pads to slow me, I would have just slammed into the side of the cab barely slower than when I first realised he was pulling out.

I have a geared bike that I just don't ride in the wet because it goes faster and stops slower. I'm praying for the day that the fixed three-speed hub is manufactured again!

If you were riding fixed, the experience of locking up the back and having it slide out to one side wouldn't be as scary. It's easier to control than you think, and you're not that likely to stack because of it (at least I never have and I've pulled some monstrous skids in the wet).

:)

fixed didn't help you or that ped' on monday

he was asking for a flying lesson and i gave it to him...

seriously though would have been worst if i was on my gear bike...( I ride slower on my fix...)

Yeah, I realized / had previously realized that wet weather would be much better fixed.

I just hadn't got round to putting a sprocket on, oh well, serves me right.

Any idea how much the repair of a tektro (i.e replace) brake lever should cost?

I just switched my Fillmore drops and levers for a riser bar and Diatech levers. The (pristine) levers I took off are cluttering the place up - you can have them for nothing if you like.

Tokyo drift style Powerslides and bar spins.. get you out of any tight situation!

Filmores have oversized bars, best looking at BMX bits (riser and levers) and check the MTB sites for a shorter angled stem (around 90mm)
then stick a 17t cog on the other side of the hub....

Yeah, I realized / had previously realized that wet weather would be much better fixed.

I just hadn't got round to putting a sprocket on, oh well, serves me right.

Any idea how much the repair of a tektro (i.e replace) brake lever should cost?

Tektro levers arent worth much at all, although some of them are very good quality they tend to only be obtained through coming on a complete bike.

Any decent bike shop would have a spare lying around, and give it to you fitted for around £6

The type of bike shop which likes to max the £ invloved, will pick a brand new £15 lever off the peg, and charge you another £15 for fitting it. So £30 altogether.

Cheers for the replies guys

Skeleton - Thank you for the rough estimate, I'll bear that in mind

Sharkstar - Thank you for the offer mate, but as I'm not london based (Portsmouth) and also I've discovered the front wheel needs re-truing, so from a time point of view, just gonna cough up at the LBS on Monday.

Also,

Are there any fixed riders in Portsmouth out there? (Hello?)

I spotted a plug once but it was SS, as was a home conversion.
I did see a Pompino once, but as it was being pushed rather than ridden, I think it was more of a fashion accessory than a bike.

you can get a lever on ebay. i got a pair of tektros for a tenner a while ago.
they're really easy to fit yourself. sheldon brown probably tells you how.

http://www.torontocycles.com/Selling/Rotors.html

Pairs of levers are listed halfway down the page for $22. I bought these and postage to the UK was mere pennies.

get in there rookie!
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread7202.html#post205344

Hi Rookie,

Just typed in Portsmouth Fixed Gear and it lead me to you. I live in Portsmouth. What are you riding and is this your main bike? I've been looking out for fixed or single speed riders in Pompey and only seen about half dozen. Thought it would be good to get a few people who think less is more on the old gear situation, together for a bit of a ride. Pompey to Hayling? Glass of the old amber nectar in the Ship, Langstone? Do you know anyone else in Pompey riding fixed who would be up for this?

Gidders

If you can afford it, go fixed at the rear and get a disc hub up front for the ultimate stopping power no matter the weather.

I think any modern dual-pivot brake can provide much more than the usable braking power required, especially in the wet.

Only benefits of disc I can think of is rim wear & long descents wear rims can heat up and pop your tyres.

If you can afford it, go fixed at the rear and get a disc hub up front for the ultimate stopping power no matter the weather.

AWESOME stopping power. Road bikes with Disc brakes are overkill but excellent modulation

I think any modern dual-pivot brake can provide much more than the usable braking power required, especially in the wet.

Only benefits of disc I can think of is rim wear & long descents wear rims can heat up and pop your tyres.

na-uh. It's the other way around. calipers provide better stopping in the dry, but are weak in the wet. Disc brakes are pretty consistent wet or dry, but don't cool down quick enough to be used on long descents. They only fail when they get too hot and frazzle the pads.

now go sit on the naughty step.

Cheers for the replies guys

Skeleton - Thank you for the rough estimate, I'll bear that in mind

Sharkstar - Thank you for the offer mate, but as I'm not london based (Portsmouth) and also I've discovered the front wheel needs re-truing, so from a time point of view, just gonna cough up at the LBS on Monday.

Also,

Are there any fixed riders in Portsmouth out there? (Hello?)

I spotted a plug once but it was SS, as was a home conversion.
I did see a Pompino once, but as it was being pushed rather than ridden, I think it was more of a fashion accessory than a bike.

So was it an Aqua cab that you head-butted?

I'm in Pompey, in the process of getting my first fixed (been lurking here for a while). My weekly commute to Leeds is putting a bit of a spanner in that plan tho.

brakes are for pussy's. freewheel with no-brakes (pty ltd)