I am not a child. But, I am still convinced that foot brakes are the way to go for bicycling. I'm sure there is a perfectly sophisticated explanation for why big time adult bikers need hand brakes- but I think it is counter-intuitive.
Where did this come from? My Dad sent out an email to the family updating us on our biggest loser competition (we're all trying to lose weight)- I'm losing by the way, and not in a good way. In the email, Dad casually mentions that he is cleaning out the garage and our bikes will be shipped to charity by next week unless we claim them. I selfishly really kind of want my bike, but am still trying to figure out a proper justification for why I need it more than some charitable organization. I mention to Jason my ethical dillemma and how much I like my bike because it has foot brakes and a nice cushy seat. He does that half-laugh to my foot brake comment and asks if it's a kids bike. And so it begins.
It is not a kids bike. It is for smart adults like me who are used to braking with their feet. Every other moving mechanism we utilize on solid ground has a foot brake. Cars- foot brake. Skates- foot brake. Go-carts- foot brake. Skiing- foot brake (really you just fall or stop moving- but if you're skilled- you use your feet). You see my point- our brains are wired to STOP with our FEET. SO- why is it childish for a person who is an experienced driver to want their bike to have foot brakes? I don't know. Yes, perhaps we started with foot brakes on the kid bikes- but why did we change? I don't brake the car with my hands now that I'm a grown-up, do I?
It isn't a big deal. But I think I'm now a little self-conscious about the foot brake bike and I resent that! It makes sense to brake with your foot. I tried the hand brakes- they were never as effective as the foot brakes (you had to squeeze too long and hard and help out with your feet- if you were to be in close call- chances are you would just throw your feet to the ground) and I always had my feet wanting to do something...
What do you think? foot brake or hand brake?
and yes, i just wrote an entire blog on bike brakes.
