Brakes?

Ok, so after Trixie Dix the other night, I was standing outside the Beigel shop with everyone munching on a lovely chocolate fudge slice.

At which point I noticed that of the 9 bicycles outside, there were a total of 2 brakes (one of which was on my bike). This got me thinking is this percentage representative of the forum, or just of the bar spinny kids on the rooftop?

So I thought we could have a poll? Let's not turn this into a rights or wrongs of stopping, jumping red lights etc. Just a simple poll so that we can see.

Do you have a brake on your main bike?

2 in fact

fixed 1
free wheel 2

.

I don't think it matters at all, I was just surprised I was in such a minority. Looking at the poll so far, I'm guessing the Trixie Kids are a bit of a skew on the charts.

damn you quick editing bastard ;-)

Does "No, NoBrakes**™ " mean Pro brakes?
**

of course.

i have "brake". not "brakes", but also not "nobrakes".

this is going to cost me a lot of sleep. should i have more than one? or more than two? surely more brakes is better?

I think this requires algebra.

I am due to pick up my new bike tomorrow.
I don't want to run NoBrakes(TM), but it is looking increasingly like I am going to be due to lack of brake lever.

I wish I could skid with confidence!

fixed main bike -no brakkki
polo fixed bike - uno, rear brake

my granny has no brakes..... do you wana try it?

i had some potato wedges.

Bikes - 3
Brakes - 0

No brake, only recently because I vow that I should able to control skidding properly with confident before I move to brakeless.

but people in the forum generally have at least one brake on their bike, it's a lots faster.

I am due to pick up my new bike tomorrow.
I don't want to run NoBrakes(TM), but it is looking increasingly like I am going to be due to lack of brake lever.

I wish I could skid with confidence!

I've a few to choose from!

but the forum generally have two brakes

Huh?

edited it, when I said two brakes, I was referring to fixed wheel and front brakes equal two brakes in my head!

Ah ok that statement just confused the hell outta me, I was like whaaa?!

it's a lots faster.

That's the main thing I noticed. When I had a brake on there, I'm a lot more confident. Although I'm perfectly happy skidding to a stop..brakes just work better really. So for now brakes...but it's a on-off relationship with them really.

I've never noticed it myself, but my mate Charles says he's been battered by a few brakeless riders having to stop suddenly and sliding their real wheel out (and into him) to do so. Is this a common practice?

That's the main thing I noticed. When I had a brake on there, I'm a lot more confident. Although I'm perfectly happy skidding to a stop..brakes just work better really. So for now brakes...but it's a on-off relationship with them really.

I like to use skip stops as well, probably more so than skids as I find they scrub speed off quicker personally, or a combination of the two.

I ride with a brake but tend to use it in emergencies only (although some days I use it all the time. depends on my mood). I've noticed that in the wet sometimes I just don't slow down with a skid. That's when the old Sidey-ways Skid™ comes in handy.

Slowing down with a brake is more controlled than skidding and more efficient that slowing down with legs. No wasting time trying to anticipate, can just use brake if it happens and if it doesn't happen then haven't had to slow down.

Saying that, I don't use brakes myself as the majority of my riding is in the New Forest where there is very low traffic, no traffic lights and very few junctions so very little need to ever slow down or stop.