Global-flat.com Board

English => Parts & Bikes => Topic started by: 0cool on January 26, 2013, 08:45:40 AM

Title: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: 0cool on January 26, 2013, 08:45:40 AM
So i just got into flatland, and I notice the difference in brake setups. Some have both front and back brakes, some have front only, and vice versa.


Obviously it must boil down to preference, HOWEVER....I'm curious as to why you all have the current setup that you have.


I just purchased a Colony Apprentice off someone from craigslist (has front and back brakes) and curious if it's a good start.


All opinions are appreciated!
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: K.Wong on January 26, 2013, 08:58:01 AM
yes, it's way better to have both front and rear brakes if you are just starting out - your shoes, feet, ankles, shins and knees will thank you for that; and in the long run it's safer and less hassle from the 5/o if you ride to your spot.

i know of a case where a bmx street rider has to make resitution to a motorcyclist that has collided into him as the abitriage judge found the street rider is at fault as he was riding a brake-less bike.
the reasoning was that such specific bikes are meant for specific areas/ indoor type riding, not on roads and pavements as there is no means for the rider to stop "properly"...
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: Phatman on January 26, 2013, 02:28:23 PM
As mentioned, its always good to have brakes when starting out. Ive ridden Flatland on & off for years, im no pro but i ride brakeless street & it seems to have come across to Flat too. I will admit its alot harder riding brakeless but im used to controlling the bike without brakes so im getting there. Keep the brakes for now & as you start progressing you will find out what tricks you prefer & if you need brakes for them. So you might drop the back brake eventually or maybe even both in time.
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: tod miller on January 26, 2013, 03:46:05 PM
I still run both brakes because when I want to ride brakeless I just don't pull the brake lever. >:D
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: Mr.Archon on January 26, 2013, 05:06:13 PM
I ride brakeless..but it took me 5-6 years of riding to realize that maybe my shoes and tires would last way longer if i had brakes instead of footjamming all the time haha. but s a beginner you should riding brakes they're an excellent learning tool and will help you avoid some of the skill road blocks that you would face as a beginner riding brakeless
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: LOU4130 on January 26, 2013, 05:17:23 PM
I agree with the general consensus already stated. Run both brakes as a beginner...eventually you may find you dont use the rear brake as much and may choose to remove it for simplicity..eventually you may not even want to run the front as well...all depends where your style leads you and your preference. Alot fo riders will do what Tod said and just "not pull the lever". Others will argue why have the levers in the way if you rarely use the brakes. But like you said in your original post, it all comes down to preference!


I was running fronts only for a long while...but i missed doing the tricks i really liked like decades (there are brakeless decades, but not for me lol) and such. So now im running both again :)
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: Budz on February 01, 2013, 05:02:15 PM
I still run both brakes because when I want to ride brakeless I just don't pull the brake lever. >:D
Yup! Its nice to have options. =)
Nice find on the Colony Apprentice also. Thats a much nicer ride than most get to start out on.
Flatland is hard...just have fun and enjoy the ride.
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: Ultraman Zoffy on February 01, 2013, 05:47:53 PM
Front only for me for a few reasons... don't need rears for the tricks I find myself doing nowadays, messed up fingers in my right hand which were getting worse using a lever on that side, setup simplicity... but probably the biggest reason I'll run at least one brake at all times is just plain old traffic safety. Getting mashed by a Muni bus or sued by a pedestrian because I was keeping up with the BMX Joneses is something I don't ever want to have to explain in a hospital or judicial court. =P
Title: Re: Brakes..F AND B? F Only? B Only?
Post by: Isop on February 03, 2013, 12:18:29 AM
It really does just come down to preference and what facilitates your style / trick set. I've ridden full brakes for almost 20 years but will be switching to front only in the near future. Some people argue that riding brakeless will help you learn tricks "cleaner" or make you a better rider or whatever, or brakeless makes you commit more. All of which are valid to a degree, IMO Some people ride brakelss because they're weight wienies or they just don't like wiring them up on a build.  Some just switch it up to keep things fresh. I mean, if you find yourself not using rear, why keep them? Or vice versa. Whilhelm rides full brakes, mathias rides none. 6 to 1, half a dozen to the other. I would suggest a full set for newer riders, though, as others have suggested.