Re: Can Disk Brakes flip you over the handle bars?

[Tom Sherman]

Doug Cimper wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>>
>> I think you should read the FAQ item first at:
>>
>> http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/over-the-bars.html
>>
>> before giving the usual endless pitch about the superiority of
>> recumbents. Going over the bars, especially with disk brakes, is
>> highly unlikely to be caused by locking the front wheel, but rather
>> follows the scenario described in the FAQ.
>>
>
> The problem with the concept of "bracing with the arms" to use the front
> brake of an upright bicycle is that--by nature--most crashes are
> basically unanticipated. That's why there's crashes.
> [...]

On a recumbent bicycle, the rider does not need to brace with his/her
arms to keep from going over the bars, as his/her legs are naturally in
a position to provide the required bracing.

The above would be obvious to someone who has actually ridden a properly
designed recumbent in real world settings.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Zebee Johnstone]

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Thu, 01 May 2008 22:28:25 -0500
Tom Sherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On a recumbent bicycle, the rider does not need to brace with his/her
> arms to keep from going over the bars, as his/her legs are naturally in
> a position to provide the required bracing.

And on a recumbent with a hinged stem (such as my Bacchetta Giro)
bracing with the hands is a Bad Idea!

(as I found out on the test ride.....)

Zebee

 

[Tom Sherman]

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Thu, 01 May 2008 22:28:25 -0500
> Tom Sherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On a recumbent bicycle, the rider does not need to brace with his/her
>> arms to keep from going over the bars, as his/her legs are naturally in
>> a position to provide the required bracing.
>
> And on a recumbent with a hinged stem (such as my Bacchetta Giro)
> bracing with the hands is a Bad Idea!
>
> (as I found out on the test ride.....)
>
I have had to brake very hard when cut off by idiot cagers while
descending fast (70+ kph) on my RANS Rocket with a Flip-It® hinged
handlebar riser, and the bars did not move forward. And I can move the
bars forward and back with one little finger while at rest.

I have had the same experience on several other short-wheelbase
recumbents with hinged risers. Basically, freely hinged handlebars can
NOT restrain the rider from moving forward until they hit their forward
stop, which is farther than the rider can reach while seated. So the
legs and friction between the rider and the seat have to be providing
all the restraining force to keep the rider on the bike while braking.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful