Riding Brakeless, For or Against

[lodge]

I know this thread has been done before but after the "how low can you go" thread provoked such a strong response to slammed seats and riding brakeless I thought it was worth debating again.


Love or hate it lets here it.

[billstup]

I need at least 2 brakes to stop, I might even put a coster back on 

[Dark Diggler]

Anyone whoe races O/S (then or now) does it every time it rains  

[CD17]

I can understand it for riding Vert, but thats about it.

[Bigfrawg]

i dont understand this whole no brake thing , how do you stop ? i'm guessing you jam your foot against the tyre , but why ? is it a weight thing ?

[billstup]

It stops you from pulling out of a trick, or slowing down 

[joestup]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

[lodge]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

How you finding riding brakeless Joe?

[Flatcap]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

How you finding riding brakeless Joe?

His Dad is stood wagging his finger at him in a dissaproving way!

Daz.

[Gary72]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

How you finding riding brakeless Joe?

After watching him on tuesday I'd say he is getting on fine, 3 of us trying tyre taps and Joe pulls them brakeless just to rub our noses in it

[billstup]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

How you finding riding brakeless Joe?

His Dad is stood wagging his finger at him in a dissaproving way!

Daz.

Daz you know me too well  

I have told him that if he has no brake then he`s not allowed out in the street on his bike, but he got around it by taking it off when he was at a skatepark  

And to make it worse it`s a mint Fly brake, and he still hasn`t got it back yet  

[Bushwacked]

I'm going to sound very old and sensible saying this but I'm against it - think its dangerous not to the rider but to people around them.

Seen too many close calls at Skateparks - someone changes their line at the last moment, incoming rider unable to stop. Wham!!!

 

[jedi]

i dont get out the way for brakeless 

[Gary72]

Sorry forgot to answer the original question, overall I say against brakeless. Been to rOm and seen the kids riding round brakeless, some of them should still have stabilisers let alone take there brakes off and they ride to and from the park.
There are some great riders that can do it and make it look good. Suppose it's the age old argument 'How do you get experience without doing it'

[Flatcap]

most people have no brakes to be like everyone else
athough at the moment im riding brakeless but thats only as i have broke mine and its at my mates house lol
 

How you finding riding brakeless Joe?

His Dad is stood wagging his finger at him in a dissaproving way!

Daz.

Daz you know me too well  

I have told him that if he has no brake then he`s not allowed out in the street on his bike, but he got around it by taking it off when he was at a skatepark  

And to make it worse it`s a mint Fly brake, and he still hasn`t got it back yet  

 

[pickle]

i'm against it.......just don't see the need.  i know people say that it stops them pulling out or slowing down for tricks but just don't pull your lever!  i've been to a few parks with my lad on his skate board when there where kids there with no brakes......they were worst riders than me (and that's saying something!) so i asked them why didn't have brakes...their answer was "because that's how people have them"    i told him to put a fookinjg brake on or he'll get killed riding around the streets like that!

yes i sounded old and just like my dad 

[JT71]

well I run two brakes, however I believe for the new school kids riding brakeless probably teaches them better bike control and judgement of the spped they are doing and the spped they require.

Mark Atkins will be along saying how it wants to execute the next brakeless rider that runs into him in a few minutes I expect, but perosonally I've never had any issues or even close shaves with brakeless riders, let's face it, they aren't reckless are they, they don't want to get hurt anymore than anyone else.

So I'm neither for it or against it, however I'm pro-choice, if it's your choice then go for it, if not who cares, it's ALL good.

[pickle]

i hear what your saying Joe.....but if i come off my bike and hurt myself, that's my fault......if someone runs into me without brakes and i get hurt....that isn't! 

mind you saying that, the good riders that do it are fooking superb!  and a joy to watch 

still think nose picks look much better with a front brake (ALEX) 

[harris]

its bloody dangerous  and should be a law to get brakes back on even in private venus
there is no real need not to have them even if they dont use them .

[streetjudge]

its bloody dangerous  and should be a law to get brakes back on even in private venus
there is no real need not to have them even if they dont use them .

brakes or no brakes, it's all good, no brakes makes biking more like skateboarding and means new levels of bike control need to be developed

freestyle!

[harris]

i disagree , even with the urge to pull them suckers, they can/should still be attached.
they can be working only a little but will stop you safer.

[evamedia]

Ashley Charles, no brakes, ridiculous control

Personally, I don't have many tricks, and I'd lose most of them without a back brake, so I'm keeping mine

[pickle]

Personally, I don't have many tricks, and I'd lose most of them without a back brake, so I'm keeping mine

amen to that!   

[SaMAlex]

Im all about 2 brakes but I can kinda see some point in having none. It makes things simple, only one way to try stuff and thats to commit (eg, disasters to 180 ... should I pull the front brake?)

I also really like the idea of having no levers. I ALWAYS have my finger on my rear lever but it would be better if I didnt, no question. Apart from it getting in the way when you tweak tricks, there is always the chance it will catch you when you crash or when on your clothes to make you crash.

Then there is the brake Tourettes. Im very guilty of rolling up to something and thinking Im going to fast. I give the brake a little check, maybe a nice little skid ... and then find im going too slow! 

But above all, I leave both brakes on because, like Evamidea said:

I don't have many tricks, and I'd lose most of them without brakes

still think nose picks look much better with a front brake (ALEX) 

Oh, and thanks for the props, but you dont see many front brakes around these days.
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King

[streetjudge]

plus points

1. neat looking bike
2. no levers to catch your hands/clothes on
3. lighter bike (although not by much)
4. need to learn new way of riding

negative points

1. unsafe - more likely to crash or loop out
2. need to learn new way of riding