Branson down

[raleighnut]

If he's got really expensive 'floating' discs then they can 'chatter' and bash the pistons back in the calipers so need pumping up before they will work, I've known this to happen on motorbikes.

 

[Paulus]

If he's got really expensive 'floating' discs then they can 'chatter' and bash the pistons back in the calipers so need pumping up before they will work, I've known this to happen on motorbikes.

He does mention on the slightly over hyped article about gripping the levers even tighter. No mention of pumping the levers to try and get some kind of pressure, so you could well be right.

 

[raleighnut]

He does mention on the slightly over hyped article about gripping the levers even tighter. No mention of pumping the levers to try and get some kind of pressure, so you could well be right.

Err

I gripped both brakes as tight as I could (later learning I should have tried taking one hand off the brake and then squeezing it again)

 

[Arrowfoot]

Must be a hydraulic disc brake. He must have pulled it straight and held it there.

 

[TissoT]

I guess he will be flying solo in his next space rocket mission if he's got his hands on the controls.

Little worrying if he cant control a bike downhill.
May be his gloves being on back to front restricted his hand movement's

 

[Dogtrousers]

What is the link about?

 

[PeteXXX]

Both brakes failing smacks of sabotage to me!

I wonder if there's someone who doesn't like him..

 

[mjr]

"There is no question that wearing helmets saved our lives".
Another day, another bold claim. Perhaps learning how to ride a bike safely would be a better idea than relying on a flimsy bike helmet when it all goes wrong.
Both sets of brakes failed? Find that hard to believe. Something not adding up here.

And I am pretty sure this is at least the second time he has made such a "saved my life" claim. Came off on a speed bump last time, I think. I suspect some skills training (and a good mechanic if he really had both brakes fail) would do him more good.

 

[nickyboy]

His brakes didn't fail

He just rode too fast around a corner and crashed into another cyclist and used "brakes failed" as an excuse

 

[fossyant]

Got to laugh at the big-ing up of doing an extra "10km" though (although next sentence it had gone up to 15km).

 

[Rusty Nails]

There is no doubt the bloke is a walking self-publicity campaign, but tbf it is quite good going for a 71 yr old to take part in a 70+ km hilly ride, at presumably something more than a leisurely pace, especially as part of a multi-day sporting challenge.

He may be a prize numpty and no one is claiming he is a world class athlete, but not liking him is not really a good reason for just more slagging him off.

 

[fossyant]

There is no doubt the bloke is a walking self-publicity campaign, but tbf it is quite good going for a 71 yr old to take part in a 70+ km hilly ride, at presumably something more than a leisurely pace, especially as part of a multi-day sporting challenge.

He may be a prize numpty and no one is claiming he is a world class athlete, but not liking him is not really a good reason for just more slagging him off.

I think his 'tale' is just that. A tall tale.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I think his 'tale' is just that. A tall tale.

Why? Because he is Branson?

He clearly fell, but loves publicity and possibly may be exaggerating the reasons for the fall....or possibly not, but is the rest of his story a tall tale?

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Why is he hated so much?

Seems to me he is a smart guy, that and a bit of luck, and did alright for himself.

 

[Brandane]

Why is he hated so much?

Personally, I have no hate for him. I admire what he has done, from his record label producing Tubular Bells, to his airline(s), train franchise, etc.. But all that doesn't earn him exemption from criticism when he becomes a serial bike crasher, and then makes stupid claims about what saved his life.