Back brakes worth the weight?

[djembi]

I have realised that I rarely use my back brakes and so I have been experimenting with loosing some weight as a result.
By removing the pads and using the back brakes on an emergency basis only ( a bit noisy and leaves some scratches in the rims) saves me 12 gms but I'm wondering about removing the brakes totally. Does anyone have any advice?

[djembi]

I don't think 12 gms is such a small weight, people spend hundreds of pound to save this sort of weight and by taking the pads of its free ( I could even sell them)

[Antloony]

Why not take your front ones out to. When you want to stop just slap your cleats on the deck and press hard. (Another advantage to be gained here, you'll wear down said cleats thus shaving off another gram or 2 )

[Andrew G]

Shoes are heavier than brake blocks so keep the blocks and lose the shoes.

[Antloony]

Great idea Andrew, just super glue your cleats directly to your feet. Hey presto, instant loss of more weight.

I might cut the legs off my longs to make them lighter.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Get a unicycle - dispense with all those heavy unnecessary items like brakes, gears, handlebars, even a surplus wheel - job done

[Ivor]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]Get a unicycle

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

It'd be good training

[Mike I]

Ditch gears, cassette, one chainring, heavy freewheel mechanism and rear brake. Sorted.

A unicycle sounds attractive, but you need to factor in the weight of the flaming torches which, by law, you have to juggle whenever you ride one.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I once overtokk a guy riding one on the BHF London-Brighton. Hope he made it OK - the descent down to Moulescombe must have been interesting.

[Ivor]

well at least he didn't overtake you.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

That was a relief

[George]

Don't worry about saving weight.

Just train Harder

[Robh]

[quote="George"]Just train Harder

[Ivor]

Or better still keep the brakes and ride naked: http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/lon ... -3067.html