[baud147258]

I've done a lot of riding without holding handlebars, so that's how I learned this.

Another limits is that you've got a delay to reach the brakes, which can make it dangerous for others in addition to yourself. And I agree that having your center of gravity moved up really mess up your stability.

[maskros]

Only if you've got a stupid racing bike with only hand brakes. Coaster/foot/back-pedal brakes are standard issue around these parts, and I wouldn't ever want to ride a bike without one.

[JoeAltmaier]

Depends on how you ride. An adult in the US, you're on a road bike bent over the bars and going 15-20mph. Hands on the brakes at all times. I do a ride every summer with 20,000 like-minded people and if you see even one bike with coaster brakes all week its unusual.

[maskros]

Europe is full of city bikes with coaster brakes. Everybody here has a bike, not just the hard-core bikers.

[baud147258]

I've rarely seen coaster brakes, especially among the non hard-core bikers here in Paris.

[JoeAltmaier]

I don't know if all 20,000 people are hard-core. Its just that road bikes are very, very common. Kids bikes might have coaster breaks, sure. But hardly anybody over 15 has one.

[komali2]

You don't have hipsters in your town?

[JoeAltmaier]

they ride fat -tire or fixie bikes :)

[perl4ever]

Brakes on rear wheels only are relatively ineffective, so I don't understand why you would prefer them. Unless there is such a thing as a front wheel pedal brake, which I have never heard of.

[maaaats]

Why is hand brakes stupid? Much better control/modulation, especially with hydraulic disc brakes.

[maskros]

Rim brakes either grip too hard or not enough, and sometimes don't work very well in rain, and need regular maintenance and replacement. Coaster brake supplemented by hand brakes for emergency stops just feels safer and more in control in traffic situations.

[komali2]

Unless your feet are on the pedals wrong...

[baud147258]

> stupid racing bike with only hand brakes

Or cheap basic road bike.