Brakes on a Coker?

i think it would work well...just find someone witha coker with brake
and try it before spending the money

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I don't know how much that would help...it might help a little, but I
think its a little bit unnecessary if you can just static mount, and
anyone can static mount with practice.

<threadjack>
I'm thinkin about getting a brake for my coker. would it be possible
to mount the brake lever on my GB4 handle, instead of needing to get a
new seat post with a brake mount on it? then my hand would already be
in the right position anyway, I wouldn't need to reach under and grab
it.
</threadjack>

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It doesn't work the same way, because with the brake applied the frame
cannot move freely about the wheel. In order for the frame to go from
angled back to vertical with the brake applied the wheel (and cranks)
would have rotate forward.

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ThisGuyIKnow said:

It doesn't work the same way, because with the brake applied the frame
cannot move freely about the wheel. In order for the frame to go from
angled back to vertical with the brake applied the wheel (and cranks)
would have rotate forward.

ooh, thats a good point...so it wouldn't just hold the wheel still, it
would hold the wheel still in relation to the frame and seat. and
while you're mounting, you -need- the frame/seat to move up over the
wheel.

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ThisGuyIKnow said:

It doesn't work the same way, because with the brake applied the frame
cannot move freely about the wheel. In order for the frame to go from
angled back to vertical with the brake applied the wheel (and cranks)
would have rotate forward.

Ahh I knew if I asked someone would have the answer! THANKS
I was just wondering if there was any other benefit to brakes on a
coker but I guess not so with that I think my legs are good enough for
slowing down and dont see a current need for the brakes.(unless someone
can tell/show me why)

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Brakes are for going down hill more easily

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ThisGuyIKnow said:

Brakes are for going down hill more easily

I think I would rather get the leg workout, i like the feel of the
torque when going down hill and trying to hold it back

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You obviously haven't yet had the pleasure of riding down any *long* or
*steep* hills. The ones where you either get sore later, or get
rubber-legged trying to hold the uni back. If you do this regularly,
you'll really appreciate a brake. Roseville hills = small/easy. Try
riding up and down El Dorado Hills, Auburn or similar for good
examples.

My commute (Carmichael to Rancho Cordova) is pretty flat; no brake
needed. But I like having it there for those occasions when I'm on the
big hills.

You should be able to mount using the brake. It wouldn't be any
different than a regular static mount, depending how much you let the
wheel move when doing one of those. But I don't know anyone who does it
that way.

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It may be useful to have a brake for really steep grades, but in
general, you can go down some pretty steep inclines without a brake as
long as you look well ahead, and let the wheel 'roll' under you. If
you're tensing all the way down a hill, your legs will feel like jelly
at the bottom, and you really will need a brake. Braking should be
done in bursts, so yank hard on your handle and put as much pressure on
the pedal to slow down when you need to (eg around cornesrs), but when
just going straight, look ahead, relax, and let the wheel roll. Your
legs will thank you, and you might not need a brake.

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johnfoss said:

You should be able to mount using the brake. It wouldn't be any
different than a regular static mount, depending how much you let the
wheel move when doing one of those. But I don't know anyone who does it
that way.

But in a static mount the pedals stay more or less horizontal, and the
seat post moves about 45 degrees. To static mount with the brake
activated the pedals would have to roll 45 degrees forward as the
seatpost moves to vertical.

Obviously it would be possible, but would actually be harder than a
regual static mount, since the pedals and seatpost would have to move
together.

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Daytripper63 said:

What all do you use your brakes for on your uni? BESIDES STOPPING or
SLOWING DOWN?

I never use my brake for stopping or slowing down...that's the quickest
path to a flight over the front bar. I apply it at the start of a hill
so I can remain at the speed I'm already traveling. The advantage of
the brake is it allows you to maintain a smooth pedaling cadence down
the hill, versus fighting the hill in half pedal increments.

And yes, it can be beneficial when trying to remount on a steep
downhill, although there is a certain touch you need to develop. Or at
least I did. The first few times I tried it, my key learning was I
needed to try it a few more times.

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James_Potter said:

I don't know how much that would help...it might help a little, but I
think its a little bit unnecessary if you can just static mount, and
anyone can static mount with practice.

<threadjack>
I'm thinkin about getting a brake for my coker. would it be possible
to mount the brake lever on my GB4 handle, instead of needing to get a
new seat post with a brake mount on it? then my hand would already be
in the right position anyway, I wouldn't need to reach under and grab
it.
</threadjack>

Here's how I did it. I brazed on a short piece of tubing for the brake
lever to the GB handle. It works great the lever position works well
with either hand, but the lever sticks out and is the first thing to
hit the ground when droped. I had a shorter lever that didn't but I
didn't like the reach of the lever so I put this one back on. (since I
have a V brake I can switch levers)

I am planning to extend one or both of the handles and put a bumper on
the end to prevent breaking my lever but for now I an just being extra
carefull not to drop it.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: brake.jpg |
|Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/10510 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

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While walking around.

One of the handiest things about a brake is actually when walking or
standing still, holding the seat. Being able to lock the wheel with
one hand gives vastly more control when standing on a pavement talking
to people or waiting to cross etc.

I now get a little shot of frustration when walking or standing with
another uni, sans brake - I reach my fingers under the saddle handle
and meet thin air, as the wheel slides away, forcing some kind of
effort to be applied just to hold the thing at a stop.

It's useful for riding down hills too. 🙂

Sam

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ThisGuyIKnow said:

But in a static mount the pedals stay more or less horizontal, and the
seat post moves about 45 degrees. To static mount with the brake
activated the pedals would have to roll 45 degrees forward as the
seatpost moves to vertical.

That's right; not preferred over a regular static mount, but probably
doable.

For Gizmoduck:
I know you like to go fast, but on the long and/or steep hills I'm
thinking of (such as in San Francisco), we're talking rolling up to 60+
kph in a very short distance! I don't like pedaling fast *and* holding
the wheel back at the same time. I'm sure more practice can make it
easier, but I like to keep it below my personal running speed on a long
downhill. 🙂

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johnfoss said:

For Gizmoduck:
I know you like to go fast, but on the long and/or steep hills I'm
thinking of (such as in San Francisco), we're talking rolling up to 60+
kph in a very short distance! I don't like pedaling fast *and* holding
the wheel back at the same time. I'm sure more practice can make it
easier, but I like to keep it below my personal running speed on a long
downhill. 🙂

True, but most downhills down to about 6-8% grades can be successfully
'rolled' if the road is wide and you can look well enough ahead. Short
cranks help too 🙂

I like to think more like a bicyclist when riding a Coker- you would
not consider falling at all, as there is no way you can run out of it
if you UPD off a bike.

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i have a coker without a brake, but i have used one with a brake before,
in fact, thats how i learnt to mount: doing kind of a rolling mount and
slamming the brakes on to lock up the wheel sending the frame and seat
(with me on top of it!) upwards, to above the wheel. this may only work
for short, light people like myself, but it helped.

now i can freemount easily and dont really see how a brake can be
useful because it locks up too easily and sends you careering down the
hill (you were trying to gracefully ride down) on your head/rear end.

Cheers,

Max

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