RIDING BRAKELESS

Some fixed-gear riders think brakes are not strictly necessary, and brakeless riding has an almost cult status in some places, based on the perception by some riders of the experience of riding in a state of intense concentration or ‘flow’ where brakes are thought not to be needed. The brake cables are also a hindrance when doing tricks like barspins.

Other riders dismiss riding on roads without brakes as an unnecessary affectation, based on image rather than practicality. Furthermore, riding brakeless can be very dangerous, and may jeopardize the chances of a successful insurance claim in the event of an accident and, in some jurisdictions, is against the law.

It is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike by resisting the turning cranks, and a rider can also lock the rear wheel and skid to slow down or completely stop on a fixed-gear bicycle, a maneuver sometimes known as a skid stop. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or until the rider desires to continue pedalling again at a slower speed. The technique requires a little practice and using it while cornering is generally considered dangerous. As with the technique of resisting the cranks, the maximum deceleration of this method of slowing is also significantly lower than using a front brake. A wet surface further reduces the effectiveness of this method, almost to the point of not reducing speed at all. The use of any bike without brakes on public roads is illegal in many places, but the wording is often something along the lines of “…must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person operating the cycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean pavement…” which some have argued allows the use of the legs and gears. The retail sale of bikes without brakes is banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – but with an exception for the “track bicycle” (…a bicycle designed and intended for sale as a competitive machine having tubular tires, single crank-to-wheel ratio, and no free-wheeling feature b

Submitted by Punchblade