c double

Brakeless.. 7 years on the fixed gear, last 3 years without a brake. 47 * 18 gearing
Just rode a 76 mile ride on Sunday through major city's, Boston, Cambrige, and friggin lynn!! I was fine.. I really think having a brake again would make me careless..
I am so focused without it.
https://www.strava.com/activities/504966180

Yeehova

My World Sport Conversion has no brakes. I only use it for shorter rides, but I haven't had any problem brakeless with it.

gmm213

A new girl at my work says her boyfriend takes off his back brake to go faster? I have no idea the rationale behind that. I dont have my rear on simply because I dont use it and its a cleaner look. But making you go faster, I literally had to ask WTF at that one.

hardboiled718

^ it's not going to make you go faster, the only way it would is if the rim was bent and was rubbing the brake

seau grateau

Shavin' grams bro.

Mumonkan

tell her to lose the zero and get with the hero

jacobsever

No brakes.
No helmet.
No care.

steve-in-kville 

Can't stop. Don't want to.

(.... eventually someone was gonna say it!)

steve-in-kville 

Seriously, even fixed I run both brakes. Yeah, the bike looks cleaner with just a front brake but my commute is anything but flat.

ypsetihw

you would not be allowed on our group ride without brakes, as it should be. FG is fine, but you must be able to keep up and you must have brakes. period. YOU are the one making things "hairy," not them.

79pmooney

An observation here. I have never met anyone with my miles and years of riding fix gears who has done it without brakes. Not even half my time and miles. (That half would be 20 years and 50,000 miles.)

And my pet peeve - brakeless fix gear riders who draft me, especially unasked. If one takes me out and injures me when I hit the brakes, I'll seriously consider a suit for:

§ 811.485, Following too closely:

(1) A person commits the offense of following too closely if the person does any of the following:

(a) Drives a motor vehicle so as to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon, and condition of, the highway.


And while a bicycle is not a motor vehicle, under Oregon law, it is a vehicle and the same laws apply except where noted.

§ 814.400, Application of vehicle laws to bicycles

(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a public way is subject to the provisions applicable to and has the same rights and duties as the driver of any other vehicle concerning operating on highways, vehicle equipment and abandoned vehicles, except:
(a) Those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.
(b) When otherwise specifically provided under the vehicle code.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section:
(a) A bicycle is a vehicle for purposes of the vehicle code; and
(b) When the term vehicle is used the term shall be deemed to be applicable to bicycles.

(3) The provisions of the vehicle code relating to the operation of bicycles do not relieve a bicyclist or motorist from the duty to exercise due care.


Ben

Carcosa

This old debate again.

When I lived in a flat city and rode 75 GI, I rode brakeless. It was fun to be that guy.

Now I live in a city with real hills, do a lot of group rides with geared folks, ride 81 GI and do so with a front brake. I like being this guy these days.

Going down hills fast rules.

If I geared down to 70ish I'd think about not running a front brake, but probably still would run one even though I hate how it looks on a modern-style track bike.

That said, I have a 80s track bike not drilled for a brake and it will never seen one. I just won't be a dumb@ss when riding it, which is 90 percent of life.

jacobsever

Very very different scene out here, lol.



This is the group that does gathered rides every Sunday. They even hashtag their stuff "brakeless". I only see one brake out of those seven bikes.
These aren't casual rides in the city either. They're like 50+ mile, fast paced, with lots of climbing.

seau grateau

Depends on the group. I can imagine an all-fixed group ride could be friendly and copacetic, but if you show up to a geared roadie ride on a brakeless track bike, you'll probably have problems.

Carcosa

Take it all back. Sign me up for that ride.

SquidPuppet

Brakeless in the right conditions seems OK to me, but a brakeless pace line just seems

TMonk

Sorry to single you out, but this attitude drives me crazy. This is probably the worst rationale possible for riding brakeless.

If you get into a serious crash for any reason, you'll be paying attention whether or not you ride geared, single, road, mtn, brakeless, or whatever. Of course it's best to be attentive from the get-go, but many people (myself included) need to learn things the hard way.

I started brakeless and then started riding with brakes a year or two in.

gmm213

My old lady might not like that one lol

There goes this thread.

This is my lifes motto

seau grateau

+1 Saying riding with a brake makes you careless is like saying wearing a seatbelt when you drive makes you careless.

TMonk

that's a great analogy

jacobsever

Tbh, the only times I've gotten injured while skateboarding is at skateparks that require pads/helmets. When I'm skating in the street, I know my limits and my abilities. When I'm forced to wear pads, I feel like I'm invincible, and I attempt things I probably shouldn't be trying. I've fractured many wrists because of that.

Pretty similar concepts.

TMonk

sure, just realize that there is nothing instrinsic to you feeling invincible when you have proper protective equipment - it's just a fault of your own mind.

TMonk

for the record I have nothing against people riding brakeless, just don't fool yourself with some wack rationale.

EDIT: that sounds/feels a little harsh , lemme try again:

I don't mind brakeless bikes and riders, it's just the excuses that (mostly) bother me. It's OK to do it just because you like it .

SquidPuppet

I understand exactly where Jacobsever is coming from. If I ride a motorcycle in jeans and a sweatshirt I ride super conservatively. But if I wear a full leather suit with built in body armor, the speed and extreme lean angles just happen. It's just how stupid male brains work.

TMonk

I do understand it, I'm just being a tough critic. It's not a good excuse!