No Brakes ?

[J4CKO]

Keep seeing lots of the local junior Ninja's on unlit bikes, usually BMX's but I have also noticed they appear to have no visible means of braking,
not calipers and no levers on the bars, yet they seem to manage and I dont think they are riding fixed as they seem to adopt a louche canted over
gait freewheeling half stood up as the seat is so low.

Anyone else noticed this, am I missing something ?

 

[tyred]

Been there, done that, many years ago.

Just drag a heel or push the sole of your shoe up against the front wheel.

 

[fossyant]

It's the law of chav physics....... just like they seem perfectly happy riding on ice ?

We're going to be doing a 'safety' badge with our Beaver Scouts very soon, the usual Green Cross Code, waterways etc, but I'm offering a safety check for all the kids bikes - in a hope that I can sort a few out in the process.

 

[mgarl10024]

usually BMX's

A chap in work was explaining that his 12 year old has a BMX, and it's all about being 'cool'. The stunts, the looks, everything goes together to look cool. Therefore, no brakes, and certainly no reflectors.
The colleague laughed with me that if his son saw my bike - helmet, reflectors, lights, brakes... he'd never get on it for all the shame.

 

[J4CKO]

Surely on a BMX brakes are part of doing the stunts ?

Funny how when cycling being safe, making decent progress, Being comfortable, carrying anything and not getting covered in gritty water
are totally at odds with looking cool.

 

[gaz]

As i know a few BMX'ers and one that recently bought a frame with no brake mounts (they are sold like that :| )
What you do is put your foot under your saddle and on the tyre. This forces your shoe into the frame under your saddle and you can apply pressure to stop. I have seen people do this whilst on the road.

These kind of bmx's are normally used as flatland bikes which do not need brakes.

 

[fossyant]

Cool...hmm.

My son has a 20" MTB, with lights, computer etc, wears a helmet. Some kid on a scrappy BMX on estate took the 'mick' out of him for that.
But I said your faster than him so ignore him.

It's like this brakeless, retentionless fixie thing. I need two brakes, and SPD's to leg brake when some idiot pulls out in front of me at speed.

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

Many BMXs only have a rear brake which is mounted on the chainstays, so they may not be too visible.

Although this obviously won't be the case with no levers on the bars...