Meet the Flintstones

[JeffC]

Scary but I still would not fix it for him unless he specifically gave you the ok. I’ve seen my life flash in front of me a few times headed downhill at the Quinn St crossing. With the wall on your left as you head downhill you only have a second or two to make up your mind to continue through or brake hard. Cars there are always looking downhill at the traffic headed up Lee Hwy, they rarely (except for locals used to it) look up at the bikers coming down. A few times I’ve slammed on my brakes only stopping just before my front tire got to the street. To do that without brakes is a bit crazy.

[dcv]

@JeffC 13563 wrote:

Scary but I still would not fix it for him unless he specifically gave you the ok. I’ve seen my life flash in front of me a few times headed downhill at the Quinn St crossing. With the wall on your left as you head downhill you only have a second or two to make up your mind to continue through or brake hard. Cars there are always looking downhill at the traffic headed up Lee Hwy, they rarely (except for locals used to it) look up at the bikers coming down. A few times I’ve slammed on my brakes only stopping just before my front tire got to the street. To do that without brakes is a bit crazy.

i hate that intersection, it’s so dangerous. I fell there once, skidding in the rain when a guy slowly rolled through the stop sign looking downhill the whole time. The jerk saw me as he accelerated uphill inches from me on the ground, and just kept going.

[baiskeli]

@hencio 13544 wrote:

Besides, since his trip home is uphill, he didn’t have to rely on brakes.

That’s a great formula for sliding downhill backwards at a stop!

[PotomacCyclist]

Wow, it had never even occurred to me to ride a bike without working brakes. I guess I like living too much.

[dcv]

This is my bike, no joke. Let the flames begin

[PotomacCyclist]

But doesn’t that bike at least have coaster brakes? If so, then that’s different from not having any brakes at all.

[hencio]

UPDATE: Saw the bike in the garage this morning. New pads all around!

[dcv]

@PotomacCyclist 13617 wrote:

But doesn’t that bike at least have coaster brakes? If so, then that’s different from not having any brakes at all.

no coaster brakes, it’s a fixed gear. i stop by backwards pressure on the pedals.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Scorcher.

[hencio]

@JeffC 13563 wrote:

Cars there are always looking downhill at the traffic headed up Lee Hwy

I always assume that there is a car on Quinn ready to mow me down. Looking left (and right) is a must before proceeding. Doing that without brake is crazy.

[culimerc]

I see 2 or 3 regular commuters on track bikes on my commute. I just dont have the legs for it. Plus I’ve tried carrying a pack and it just messes with my back, panniers are a must for me.

I do ride a fixie every so often just to keep me humble, but I rock the front brake.

DCV- do you commute in on the WOD, from Vienna towards FC about 7:20 in the AM?? I see a guy who’s got 2 or 3 different *nice* track bikes that he uses as commuters.

[baiskeli]

@dcv 13616 wrote:

This is my bike, no joke. Let the flames begin

Yeah, but you don’t brake by dragging your shoes on the ground.

[dcv]

@culimerc 13629 wrote:

I see 2 or 3 regular commuters on track bikes on my commute. I just dont have the legs for it. Plus I’ve tried carrying a pack and it just messes with my back, panniers are a must for me.

I do ride a fixie every so often just to keep me humble, but I rock the front brake.

DCV- do you commute in on the WOD, from Vienna towards FC about 7:20 in the AM?? I see a guy who’s got 2 or 3 different *nice* track bikes that he uses as commuters.

yep, that’s me. what do you ride? have we talked before on the trail?

[dcv]

@baiskeli 13654 wrote:

Yeah, but you don’t brake by dragging your shoes on the ground.

not unless i throw a chain, or i’d have to do this….

[ATTACH=CONFIG]621[/ATTACH]

[OneEighth]

Honestly, if you ride well, you don’t don’t have to ride your brakes.
The only reason my fixies have front brakes is for emergencies…or for whenever I’m just too tired/lazy to fight the pedals anymore.
I like your Cinelli. Nice and subtle.

Glad Mr. Flintstone fixed his brakes. Wouldn’t want someone careening into me or anyone else because of simple neglect.

[Author]

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