Mark W Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'd been planning on doing this for a while, and now it's finally happened it seems to have coincided with some more 'fun' chats about what is/isn't trials riding and all that kinda thing. The whole brakeless/street thing generally seems to get people chatting about stuff so I thought it'd be interesting to see what the riders themselves had to say about it. As a result, I've done a sort of 5-6 question mini-interview thing with Ali, Rowan, Stan, Sean Watson and Flipp/Aener/pseudonym-of-choice to see why they ride or rode brakeless. If you've got a minute and want to find out more, it's here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Having spoken to most of these guys and given it a bash on and off myself over the last year or so, it's definitely something everyone should do for at least a few committed rides. Having good bike control and being able to use brakes are such very different things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cai Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Very cool! Loved Ali's and Rowan's brakeless videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 All those vids were mental. On the point of riding brake-less improving your riding I can agree with that for sure. Years ago I was riding some crappy rocks with Dave Kerr and he suggested I tried doing the sections without touching my brakes because I was using them too much. I was like, f**k off how can you do that? so he did it to show me. I tried it out and gained more 2 wheel skill in the next hour than for years before, I know its not quite what yer on about but it shows that everyone can benefit from realising that trials isn't all about how good yer brakes are. I think to do the sorta stuff these guys are doing you really have to be pretty good already though. Watching Rowan riding southerndown brakeless was a right eye opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I know its not quite what yer on about but it shows that everyone can benefit from realising that trials isn't all about how good yer brakes are. I reckon that's exactly what he's on about I really enjoyed that, was just annoyed that my laptops sound is broken so it gave me a good enough reason not to watch all those videos again. As I said on Facebook though, you should definitely answer the questions yourself too - it would be good to get your own view on things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 you should definitely answer the questions yourself too - it would be good to get your own view on things. +1 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 It's not about me though, so I don't particularly want to directly put my views on there because of that (although I suppose I have indirectly through the choice of people I've interviewed...). Equally, interviewing myself on my own site would be pretty shameful, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Prepare to receive an email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalopS Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Brilliant update Was a good read. Hopefully It will make people understand a little better why we ride ( ) brakeless. I'm going to go enjoy 5 videos in a row now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Borneo Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Really liked this article and I reckon it gives a good insight into riding brakeless. Do find most brakeless videos a bit hit n miss though. Really liked that 001 though. Been watchin a load of videos since getting back on my bike and I was really stoked on all the riding in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Mallinson Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Loved that! Great Sean Watson quote in there aswell: Get weird on your bikes! (Which is now my signature) Edited January 18, 2012 by Miles Mallinson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andeee Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Would be interesting to see brakeless riding in comps/natural just to see what level it would take it up to. Nice site, vids and interviews Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I tried to enter one once but it was deemed "too dangerous" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Equally, interviewing myself on my own site would be pretty shameful, haha. Post your answers on here then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryallmaster Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Great post Mark. Really enjoyed reading all the riders comments and views. Cheers for sharing dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maladie Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think that brakeless riding provides a great watch, and it's always interesting to see what new lines the brakeless guys come up with. I don't think, however, that it is something i would want to try myself. My bmx doesn't need them ..but i would surely die on my mod without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) I tried to enter one once but it was deemed "too dangerous" GHETTO COMP! I think that brakeless riding provides a great watch, and it's always interesting to see what new lines the brakeless guys come up with. I don't think, however, that it is something i would want to try myself. My bmx doesn't need them ..but i would surely die on my mod without them. I find this also, because I have never had a bmx with brakes that actually work I never use it (the brake not the bike) yet I can do Abubaccas, tyre taps and fufanu's which I could never do on a trials bike brakeless, maybe something to do with the gearing? Edit: or the chainstay length? Edited January 19, 2012 by Matt Vandart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Just sounds like commitment issues It'll take a little while to get that initial feel for things but once you start learning how the bike reacts to stuff it soon twigs. Take the brakes off the bike so you can't go back without going home and go out for a good hour or two, you'll start to pick it up pretty sharpish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 So i am just being a minge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Only a little It's a pretty fair shout to be uneasy with the concept, after all it's a pretty counter-intuitive thing to do (hence why so many people see it as "wrong") but as with anything if you just break it down into steps and take each one at your own pace then you'll see progress and reap the rewards. As has been said, it isn't for everyone, but it's well worth a shot and even if you don't stick with it, the time you spend brakeless will teach you far more about body position/weight distribution etc than the same time with brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'm not overly die-hard about brakeless riding as I very much enjoy a lot of what can be done using brakes, however I spent a summer riding brakeless and after that time felt my time was up so went back to the brakes. I loved having brakes back on, but now find myself really missing brakeless riding. I love how it makes everything exciting and it changes how you ride. I think there is a very strong argument for doing it to gain certain skills that'll help if you choose to go back to brakes. I know I have a much better understanding of when brakes are needed and when they're not and on occasion find myself having done a line fairly instinctively to look at my hands and having not realised that I was riding deathgrip. It does allow you to ride very naturally and the feeling of brakeless gaps and ups is lovely. I have a very strong hatred of Maguras and riding a MK 1 Fourplay I have no choice of rear disc, so with my want to ride part-time brakeless again I'm keen on getting a second 24" this year so that I can have the best of both worlds as I really enjoy both styles of riding and wouldn't necessarily do just one 100% of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think that brakeless riding provides a great watch, and it's always interesting to see what new lines the brakeless guys come up with. I don't think, however, that it is something i would want to try myself. My bmx doesn't need them ..but i would surely die on my mod without them. Flipp and this dude seem to get on OK In some ways, out of a 20" and a 26" trialsy sort of bike I think the massive rear tyre on a mod can help you a bit. On a 24, it seems like the bike always wants to roll and never really sits still. I had a quite brakeless bash on the 20" bitch-bike we've got built up here, and having a big, soft, squidgy rear tyre helps a reasonable amount for doing backhops and generally controlling the bike. It still doesn't make things easy, but it might make it a little less off-putting I find this also, because I have never had a bmx with brakes that actually work I never use it (the brake not the bike) yet I can do Abubaccas, tyre taps and fufanu's which I could never do on a trials bike brakeless, maybe something to do with the gearing? Potentially... There's quite a few differences between the two types of bike I suppose. I actually find fufanus and stuff like a bit easier on my 24 compared to my BMX, but I think that's 'cos on my BMX I used to run a harder than normal gear, so running a slightly lighter gear on my 24 might make it a bit more controllable. I'm not overly die-hard about brakeless riding as I very much enjoy a lot of what can be done using brakes, however I spent a summer riding brakeless and after that time felt my time was up so went back to the brakes. I loved having brakes back on, but now find myself really missing brakeless riding. I love how it makes everything exciting and it changes how you ride. I sometimes miss not having brakes, and there are things I'd quite like to try with brakes, but at the same time I just sort of hate how my bike feels when I do things if I've got brakes. I'm so used to it now for backhops and stuff like that that I actually find it harder to balance with brakes on again. It seems to effectively move the pivot point you're going around (as your brake/frame sort of forces the tyre around with it when your bike moves, whereas when you're brakeless it's more independent), which in turn dicks me. I've never had a particularly nice style with doing trials stuff, and that definitely doesn't help me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I got 28/14 on my bmx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azarathal Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Mark the guy in that video rides and looks as if he has brakes, mental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cai Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 After having a good read through 'CleanZine' and watching all the video's I've decided to do this: If I die riding brakeless I've told my family to blame you Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.