TMonk

What if you manage to get in an accident with a car and are deemed at fault b/c you didn't have a brake???? @TimothyH's argument above is compelling IMO. **** happens and I've been re-compensated by drivers' insurance twice. I'd be several grand in the hole if I was riding brakeless and deemed at fault for that reason.

REDMASTA

if i'm hit by no fault of my own i'll worry about my health first and then deal with the person that hit me after.

don't want to turn this into a brakeless vs brakes thread. long as you ride safely within your abilities both are plenty safe. it's about how you ride, not what you ride with

TMonk

It is difficult to prevent a thread like this from divulging into a brakes vs brakeless thread. I'd like to add that I feel your perspective is a bit short sighted. Have you ever been in an accident with a car? Do you care about your property being compensated for if it is no fault of your own? Of course your health comes first, but what if your bike is totaled and all you have are scrapes and bruises?

I've had a few kerfuffles (<-- cute word) with cars and don't mess around with this stuff. If I as much as get brushed by a car and it causes me to tip over, I'm calling the cops and taking photos, not b/c I want to press charges, but because I need a police report to back up my insurance claim.

Also, I agree that fundamentally, it's about how you ride, not what you ride with. I'd also like to add that it's also about your environment/the world around you (read: cars), and that part you have no control over.

Bottom line: Good luck out there, stay safe, and cover your bases! It's a jungle out there on the road.

nightfly

Brake vs Brakeless is the religious argument of the forum.

No one has ever changed their mind on this because they read a really convincing post on the internet.

TimothyH

Almost meeting Jesus has changed people's mind.


-Tim-

jlafitte 

Ha good one!

TMonk

A true universal truth of the interwebz.

Another universal truth: We're still going to try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jlafitte 

This. The trike or balance bike we all started on had no brakes. A coaster brake is functionally the same as brakeless fixed. What is necessary is to know the limits of yourself and your equipment, and ride accordingly.

Same discussion among surfers regarding leash vs. no leash. Riding leashless is the quintessential experience but you better know what you're doing.

jlafitte 

This was years ago; I don't remember and am not inclined to try digging it up. It probably doesn't matter anyways since any judge could rule one way or the other.

TMonk

But if you get bit by a shark who thinks you're a seal and go to open a claim with said shark's insurance and then they learn that you were riding leashless and won't repair your half eaten leg, you're screwed!!!

TMonk

realistically, I bet most drivers (and even some cops) wouldn't take note of your bike and/or any brakeless legislature anyway, but still!

jlafitte 

^^ why I surf with a leash

ThermionicScott 

79pmooney

I was hit by a car riding my fix gear (with two good brakes) and got a $50,000 settlement. Brakes were not an issue in that crash, but - had I none and that became noticed, the insurance company could have let it go to court where I would have had a tough case, both with an illegal bike and obvious poor judgement. (Loading the jury with brakeless fix gear riders would be a tough one.)

Ben

ryan_rides

Ive been hit 11 times. All brakeless. All singlespeed (fixed). A few times were BMX. One time was my fault (BMX). A few years ago I was hit Christmas "Eve" (technically Christmas Day because it was after 1am.) I know I had my lights on because I would never ride without them on. I was riding home from my friends house. No drugs or alcohol involved just to clarify. The road had little to no traffic, two lane road each way, bike lanes, not much lighting. I was hit by an older man driving a lincoln town car. My rear triangle was smashed in on the non-drive side. I woke up in the hospital wondering why I was there. I had no memory of Christmas Eve all together. I yelled for a nurse. They told me I was hit by a car. I looked at my arms and I had cuts/scrapes/bruises even on my head and face. No broken bones. I asked where my bike was. They didn't know. I fell back asleep. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I didn't eat anything. I only woke up to pee in a bag and drink the juice that was on the food tray that was on my lap. I think i may have had jello or apple sauce. That's it. I remember my grandpa came to visit me in the hospital one time that I woke up. On the 4th day when I was okay to leave. I finally was able to walk to the restroom and pee. I still saw my family for Christmas. This accident had nothing to do with me being brakeless or not. Just an old man that shouldn't be driving at 1am. I was also hit in the mall parking lot on my way to go to my friends house (same friend and this accident was a few months before the one explained.) Two ladies in an SUV. They were talking and not paying attention while turning and hit me. Even if I did have brakes I would have been hit. I was okay. I was taken to the hospital because I had a large wound that just scabbed over prior to being hit by the lady. When I fell to the ground the whole scab ripped off. It was from road rash about the whole length of my shin from falling on slick pavement months before. I pressed charges. I won $$$. Nothing was brought up about my brakeless bike. I live in South Florida. The worst. Ride what you ride as long as you stay safe.

Gorillalove

One would think to have a minimum stopping distance as the rule not one that can be overcome by some oil on the tire.

REDMASTA

if only people could get as passionate about more rigorous training and requirements for operating a 1.5 ton land missile as they do about how we stop our 20lbs bicycles . look at how many pedestrians and motorists are killed each year in your state, it's ridiculous.

TMonk

As cyclists we're totally marginalized as well. Pedestrians hate us, motorists hate us... But in their defense, I hate bikes when I'm walking or driving too . So I get it.

seau grateau

TMonk

OK I'm actually going back to work now...

seamuis

Yea, honestly, I hate fellow cyclists with the same passion out on the road as I hate motorists. Of course, those cyclists can’t flatten me into the asphalt.

JohnDThompson 

The important thing to keep in mind is that from a legal and insurance perspective, it's not you who gets to decide who is at fault. If the police or insurance company decide that your lack of a recognized brake makes you liable, you're SOL.

REDMASTA

BoozyMcliverRot

Long of the short is that if the law requires a front,rear or both brakes that's what you need. If you run brakeless then you need to HTFU and act like an adult and deal with it. Cycling with cars is not fair, just as life. Nobody in this world would ride anything with wheels without brakes and expect to come out on top in the case of a collision.

That said,I've run brakeless for 17 years and only had 1 time being hit. It was the old ladies fault but I just got up and rode home. No injury. I was lucky. If the law got involved I would have made my peace with it and chalked it up to me not following the law.

seamuis

“Take my advice, be an adult and follow the law, even though I’ve never followed the law.”