[Closed] Do i really need a front brake...? In swinley.

You'll probably die (maybe while riding Swinley or maybe in many years time in old age).

I've ridden most of Swinely on a BMX (so no front brake) with a pathetic excuse for a rear brake and lived to tell the tale, and know someone who went for 6 months without a front brake, just a V-rear and coped fine, if anything he's now too f***ing fast and I can't keep up.

i tried this in th elakes once due to it failing mid ride

From experience I would put the back on the front if I only had one brake to use.

Never been to Swinley so no idea re steepness but the rear does not slow you down much and it certainly wont stop you- was steep in places obviously

Try pushing the pads out, and resetting the brake! Straighten the rotor or otherwise fix the problem.

Riding with only one brake is a silly idea!!

yh, i don't pull my front brake much, it just happens that i have 3 front brakes to chose from (2 avids and 1 stroker trail) and they are all ****ed...

Never been to Swinley so no idea re steepness

Junky, it is all of teh gnaaaarrrr radnezz.

You need body armour and at LEAST 6" of travel. For the car park. 😉

No major downhills in Swinley, so in that respect i'd not be worried, but if someone comes the other way on one of the bi-directional trails it's unlikely to end well!

From experience I would put the back on the front if I only had one brake to use.

IDK, my rear failed in the Peaks, which led to more front brake being used, and I've the scars to prove it.

Shortcut, i have spent much of the day doing that, they were fine until i pulled them, might have another go at putting one of the avids on... GOD i need some SHIMANOS

Have you tried a little dab of brake fluid on the pistons (obviously use the right fluid for your brakes), that usualy gets the pistons retracting properly.

don't have any of this fluid.. 🙁

Take a little fluid out of one of your non working brakes. You only need a little to lube the pistons. 😉

spray some WD 40 on the rotors. the'll stop squeeking then! 😛

I've done a lap of Llandegla red with no brakes (not,not working.....missing).And survived.Quite good fun tbh.

A few years ago I went to Puddletown Forest for some "DH" with my then teenage son. With a singlespeed jump bike, rear brake only and street tyre he left me standing, and me on a 'hardcore' hardtail! similar thing happened in the Purbecks when he saw a 40 something bloke trying to go down Godlingston hill fast on an expensive full suss. "I'm gonna have him" son said, and handed the guy his ass on a plate half way down. Don't like having one brake myself though but I'm not used to it.

How do i even get fluid out of avid elixirs... never tried.

I lube sticky pistons with GT85 - works fine on Maguras.

Do not put gt85 on brakes - it could attack your seals.

Oh know where on GT 85 and brake seals

I think 2 brakes is a good idea. I rarely use the rear brake its the front that has the power.......

just go to halfords tomorrow on the way, there's one in Bracknell and one in Winnersh, or any other bike shop/car shop/garage, you just need some dot4 and a cotton bud from boots failing that a bit of tightly rolled tissue, just use enough to wet the seals and pump out/push back the pistons a few times.

NEVER LUBE BRAKE PISTONS WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CORRECT FLUID UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER TELLS YOU TO (e.g. SRAM sell a dot compatible grease which will work if smear it on the piston seals before assembly).

i've managed to get it to stop squealing, but its still rubbing.
As long as the noise is relatively quiet i don't mind that much, i'm used to rubbing brakes while cycling.
If it start squealing, i'm taking my avid which is in need of a bleed, but should be ok
will do the dot4 thing some other time, as i'm going by train, so won't be passing these places.

Thanks for the suggestions guys,
and btw don't buy hayes stroker trails, they drive you nuts-this is what they are like a few weeks after a service.
😀

There may not be any 'true' DH sections at Swinley but there are several bits you'd want to ride fast. I'd prefer having a front to a back.

Well i won't be going that fast as both my brakes rub, just the front rubs more.. 😛

Anyone want to buy some Avid elixir cr mags, by far my favourite brake (out of the ones i own) ?

They just need new internals for the levers,

See: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-avid-elixir-cr-mag-brake-set

Open to offers..
Email in Profile

Cheers

Just go with a rear brake only and use it excessively, skidding into all the corners. Everyone else seems to so you'll fit right in 😆

Last time I rode with just the rear brake, I came off and massively sprained my wrist 😆

if i only had one brake i'd put it on front

The sand may help wear the rub away 😉

seriously, buy some spares, fix your bike

trainer on the front tyre seems to be the accepted alternative to a brake for the bmx riders around here.

if i only had one brake i'd put it on front

+1

i only use the rear for scrubbing off a little speed before entering corners i've misjudged my speed when approaching.... the front gets used for everything, especially when pointing down!

Well I survived, and only fell off once, which i think is a record for me 😀

We like updates ! Perhaps you should design a T-Shirt, "I conquered Swinley with just a rear brake" well clearly something more snappy than that.