OMG - No brakes.

[Angelfishsolo]

Rebuild my bike last night (very long story, better off not asking) and took it out for a test ride this morning. Apart from a few gear tweaks all felt well. It was raining quite heavily and so I expected the brakes to be below par. It was only when I began to descend a very steep gravel track that I realised that I had no brakes at all. Feet dragging on the floor trying to stop my self from gaining speed almost flung me over the bars as my foot (thank god for steel toecaps) hit a rock. Managed to bring it to a halt somehow. Nursed it home and discovered that I managed to get either oil or petrol (or a combo of both) on the rims. Very scary experience indeed and one I hope not to have to repeat.

 

[Sittingduck]

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Yep that about sums it up!

 

[Tharg2007]

i bet your face was a picture

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I can only imagine. I was still pale when I I got home (about 1.5 miles further on).

i bet your face was a picture

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Confession Time

Gave the bike a good clean last weekend, including the rims and checking the brake blocks of course (V-brakes). Went for a test ride up the road and it was only when I tried to slow down that I remembered that I hadn't yet hooked the noodle (or whatever you call it) at the front back up, which was a very worrying experience.

Luckily, I had done the back one so I could at least stop but it felt so strange and scarey. This was all low speed on a flat bit of road in a cul-de-sac and felt bad enough .. I don't even want to think about how you felt, Angelfishsolo.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

It is so easily done, that is the scary part, on V-brakes especially.

I have recovered from the shock now and am able to see the funny side. The strange thing is had I taken my usual route home I would have been on a busy downhill road instead of a gravel and stone track.

Gave the bike a good clean last weekend, including the rims and checking the brake blocks of course (V-brakes). Went for a test ride up the road and it was only when I tried to slow down that I remembered that I hadn't yet hooked the noodle (or whatever you call it) at the front back up, which was a very worrying experience.

Luckily, I had done the back one so I could at least stop but it felt so strange and scarey. This was all low speed on a flat bit of road in a cul-de-sac and felt bad enough .. I don't even want to think about how you felt, Angelfishsolo.

 

[tyred]

I wouldn't fancy that yet virtually all the bikes I had as kid had little or no brakes and it didn't worry me at the time. It was the same for my friends. Nobody bothered to fix brakes then. But I suppose there was less traffic on the roads then.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Very true. I remember allowing myself to fall off in order to stop at times. No helmets back then either and bugger all bike maintenance either

I wouldn't fancy that yet virtually all the bikes I had as kid had little or no brakes and it didn't worry me at the time. It was the same for my friends. Nobody bothered to fix brakes then. But I suppose there was less traffic on the roads then.

 

[HLaB]

I decided tonight that the left bracket that attaches my pannier rack to my seat stay was interfering with the new problem solver unit I fitted so I removed the bracket as I didn't want a similar thing happening to me, I wouldn't like to be without brakes.

 

[wafflycat]

i bet your face was a picture

I expect his pants were too.... but in a different way!