Singlespeed with one brake...

can we please discuss why this..

is not safe. i need to convince a local rider that she is an idiot for riding singlespeed with only a rear brake in leeds and i am getting no-where...

utfs.

I would but I ride ss with a rear brake only.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread17566.html

you can't stop as quickly, thus endangering their own life and others. everyone think you wannabe fixie skidder prick. if they don't listen, it not your fault.

Velo libre fail, compare the title of the thread you linked to the photo above.

It LOOKS shit. That should work for most fixie skidder hipster impersonators.

Velo libre fail, compare the title of the thread you linked to the photo above.

i would think it still appropriate.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread17566.html

thanks!

does my head in. you don't need to understand physics to see why it's not efficient, just riding like that must be scary as fuck (unless you tootle on the flats or in amsterdam - the only get-out clause)

because it's for wannabes without the guts to follow through and actually get a fixed.

edit: oh fuck it's a back brake! that's just retarded!

p.s i searched but didn't use 'SS' so came up with nothing

yeah, it was pretty hard to find.

it's funny reading peoples post saying it's ok as long as your brakes don't fail. that's the whole point! it's not ok!
i can say from first hand experience how any kind of failure on traffic filled roads is scary as shit, why run the risk? its not inconvenient to have 2 brakes in anyway...

i used to run one brake on my bmx and even ride on my mates freewheel brakeless bmxs, but bmx's dont quite gather speed on 20" wheels like a 700c road bike, you can be up to 20mph with almost no effort on the vaguest of hills and i hate the thought of losing teeth on the tarmac because 1 brake lever looked better than 2, i worry about all these new fixie kids jumping on brakeless bike and one brake singlespeeds and breaking their faces or even losing their lives.

god i am getting old. maybe i should write to the daily mail

re. velo libre - touche - i just wasn't sure there was a post already so made a specific one to this persons setup.

i remember once riding a mountain bike down a hilly carpark to t junction - both brakes failed at same time and i zoomed across the road in a vale of vertigo and had an out of body experience. or not, but it was fucking scary. check ya brakes.

cool, forwarded her links to both threads am sure she can make her own choice, i get enough jip for not riding with a helmet from my girlfriend so horses for courses right... just wanted to point her in the direction of reason and be aware of the facts.

:)

Just in case that one break fail, you have the second one - simple :)

Hmmmm, is it possible that she just do not know how to fit the front brake? the cable looks a little bit odd and long too. What about the handlebar tape?

I am asking because I am that kind of woman who did not know how to maintain the bike, so I used to keep it as it was even if it was unsafe. I was too shy to ask/ too lazy to learn/ too stupid. I am learning slowly now. It may be the issue with your friend.

What do you think?

rear brake is fine, better than front, my missus ride coaster-only for half a year, she's pretty fast on the bike too.

However if you think he's not experienced enough, go for it.

wait is there no lever? do you just pull the cable real hard to brake?

+1 :)

No, there is a lever, it's just not fully on the picture :)

ahh i see the glint of sunlight on these gleaming bars obscured my vision.

i still prefer my idea tho, like an emergency rip cord on a parachute

For me, two reasons:
1) Two independent braking systems means you always have a backup if one fails
2) When braking, the mass of the bike + rider is moved toward the front of the bike, due to inertia. This has the effect of diminishing the stopping power of the rear brake and increasing stopping distance - a problem in an emergency.

i still prefer my idea tho, like an emergency rip cord on a parachute

Especially on the busy road during the rush hours - bright yellow parachute :)

No squeaky brakes though!

If you are going to have one brake - its better to have it on the front as a rear brake used on its own will tend to skid when braking hard, whereas a front brake wont. There are two reasons why someone would ride without two brakes.

1. Sheer ignorance and inability to understand the risk it involves.
   
2. Has thought things through but is a fashion victim willing to risk lives to follow the latest trend.
   

Especially on the busy road during the rush hours - bright yellow parachute :)

No squeaky brakes though!

oh yeh deff i reckon i only need to brake once a day so a one use parachute brake would be best just re pack it when you get where your going. I cant see any concievable problems with a parachute trailing behind your bike going through central london.

t could deff be packed into a saddle bag or maybe if you feel your going to be braking a lot have one in a saddle bag a few in the rear paniers and one in a back pack. I wold ride brakless with that shit!

if your only brake is a rear brake and you need to stop while going fast, your back wheel will just lock up and you have will have to decide what is the least painful way of getting through what's going to happen in the next 2 seconds. I know how hilly parts of Leeds are as well.

If she doesn't listen, she will find out one day. What is her excuse for not putting one on?