Meet the Flintstones

[hencio]

Heading down the Custis trail into Rosslyn, I followed an interesting bike commuter this morning. He rode careful and in control. He rang his bell for pedestrians, and used handsignals when passing. However, I was taken aback when I saw that he was putting foot down ala Fred Flintstone at every stop. I wanted to stop him, scold him, then fix his brakes. But for some reason, I could not stop watching the show. As it turns out, the guy works in the same building as me. I see his bike almost everyday and I’m wondering how long he has been riding in like this. I told him I was behind him on the Custis and let him know that it wasn’t real safe to head down that hill with little or no brakes. I extended an offer to fix them or loan him the tools to do so. He said thanks for the offer and told me that he didn’t have a lot of time to work on his bike. Besides, since his trip home is uphill, he didn’t have to rely on brakes. Now I am notorious for not having time to work on my bike, but this guy takes the cake. I’m tempted to go down to the garage and fix his bike.

Topic

[dcv]

@OneEighth 13661 wrote:

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.

I totally agree and thanks. And don’t think i haven’t noticed your Specialized S-Works, sweet.

[OneEighth]

Thanks!

[JeffC]

@OneEighth 13661 wrote:

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.

I agree for the most part that you should not have to ride your brakes if you anticipate things, pay attention, leave enough space in front of you, coast when needed etc. Same thing applies when I drive a car. I don’t ride my brakes but if I had a fixie in the kind of hilly terrain I encounter around here, I would really want a front brake for the emergencies on downhill slopes (like Quinn St) so good on you for having one.

[culimerc]

@dcv 13658 wrote:

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

I’m heading west. I usually see you somewhere between Vienna and Va Ave. Tall guy on an orange Salsa Vaya with 1 orange pannier.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]623[/ATTACH]

[DaveK]

@dcv 13616 wrote:

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

Was that you I saw snapping a pic next to the scenic Arlington Wastewater Treatment Facility on Saturday? There can’t be that many Cinelli track bikes outside of Columbia Heights. I was riding the loop with my wife, I think rode through your pic. Was wearing a Bike Arlington jersey. Very nice bike!

[dcv]

@DaveK 13828 wrote:

Was that you I saw snapping a pic next to the scenic Arlington Wastewater Treatment Facility on Saturday? There can’t be that many Cinelli track bikes outside of Columbia Heights. I was riding the loop with my wife, I think rode through your pic. Was wearing a Bike Arlington jersey. Very nice bike!

yep – that was me, you caught me taking some photos for the “guess where ride pict” thread. i remember you and your wife, i think you were riding really nice road bikes? did i remember right? i hope i called my pass afterwards, if not i’m sorry.

[DaveK]

@dcv 13855 wrote:

yep – that was me, you caught me taking some photos for the “guess where ride pict” thread. i remember you and your wife, i think you were riding really nice road bikes? did i remember right? i hope i called my pass afterwards, if not i’m sorry.

I was riding my Cannondale (see here) and she rides a tiny Giant (ha) OCR. I didn’t notice anyone not calling a pass but I was taking it easy and just enjoying the weather. If I was in Cat 6 commuter racing mode I might not have been able to resist hanging on your wheel went you went by. It didn’t dawn on me that I recognized your bike until I was down somewhere under Route 1 in the tunnel/underpass/fishing pier/hobo cave.

[baiskeli]

@dcv 13659 wrote:

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

[ATTACH=CONFIG]621[/ATTACH]

True, but that’s how Fred Flintsone got around without a chain.

[WillStewart]

@dcv 13616 wrote:

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

Nice track bike, no reason for flames (assuming your pedal brakes work). Looks like you have effective commuting tires, can you share what they are?

[dcv]

@DaveK 13856 wrote:

I was riding my Cannondale (see here) and she rides a tiny Giant (ha) OCR. I didn’t notice anyone not calling a pass but I was taking it easy and just enjoying the weather. If I was in Cat 6 commuter racing mode I might not have been able to resist hanging on your wheel went you went by. It didn’t dawn on me that I recognized your bike until I was down somewhere under Route 1 in the tunnel/underpass/fishing pier/hobo cave.

you have a beautiful bike, always loved cannondales – my holy grail is an old cannondale track in the light metallic blue. i ride the arlington loop often – hope to see you out there again.

[dcv]

@WillStewart 13864 wrote:

Nice track bike, no reason for flames (assuming your pedal brakes work). Looks like you have effective commuting tires, can you share what they are?

thanks – these are continental gatorskins, no complaints – have been solid.

[dcv]

@culimerc 13724 wrote:

I’m heading west. I usually see you somewhere between Vienna and Va Ave. Tall guy on an orange Salsa Vaya with 1 orange pannier.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]623[/ATTACH]

Culimerc I saw you yesterday morning, recognized the orange. It’s amazing that you can recognize bikes going the opposite direction, everything is a blur to me at that speed – the only reason I saw you was because I was looking for an orange bike.

[CapsCyclists]

My jaw was on the floor reading this. I can’t imagine riding without brake pads… I had a close call when a car turned onto the road without looking and my rear break pad gave out so I had to use the front break.. I ended up flipping head over heels over my handlebars, but I didnt hit the car. I totally would have hit the car and probably gone through the car window.

[Author]

Replies