Comments on: My Case for Middle Finger Braking http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555310 Brian Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:59:39 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555310 I seem to have naturally adopted that style too. The biggest problem is it results in "hand confusion" when it's 2 degrees out and you are wearing lobster claw gloves or full mittens. I seem to have naturally adopted that style too. The biggest problem is it results in “hand confusion” when it’s 2 degrees out and you are wearing lobster claw gloves or full mittens.

]]> By: Simon http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555216 Simon Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:56:26 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555216 Oddly enough on my town/city bike I brake with me index finger (although I think it's more a case of having to deal with a Nexus hub grip shift and short Deore V brake levers. On my MTB though it's middle finger all the way. The only annoying thing is that I lost feeling in part of my right middle finger since I sliced it down to the tendon trying to open a can of tuna (and then got 4 stitches). But definitely, flipping the bird give you way more control on the bars. Oddly enough on my town/city bike I brake with me index finger (although I think it’s more a case of having to deal with a Nexus hub grip shift and short Deore V brake levers.

On my MTB though it’s middle finger all the way. The only annoying thing is that I lost feeling in part of my right middle finger since I sliced it down to the tendon trying to open a can of tuna (and then got 4 stitches).

But definitely, flipping the bird give you way more control on the bars.

]]> By: curt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555186 curt Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:07:15 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555186 While reading your post, I tried to imagine how I brake, but it is so automatic that I couldn't really picture it in my mind. I rode last night and while descending happened to think about the question again. I looked down and saw... middle finger braking. :) So I guess that is how I've been doing it all along. One finger is more than adequate w/ hydraulic disc brakes, and like you said in your post it gives you a better grip on the bars with the rest of your hand. So here's a big middle finger to you, fatty! While reading your post, I tried to imagine how I brake, but it is so automatic that I couldn’t really picture it in my mind.

I rode last night and while descending happened to think about the question again. I looked down and saw… middle finger braking. :) So I guess that is how I’ve been doing it all along.

One finger is more than adequate w/ hydraulic disc brakes, and like you said in your post it gives you a better grip on the bars with the rest of your hand.

So here’s a big middle finger to you, fatty!

]]> By: John http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555091 John Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:35:53 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555091 I'm with David - I also had two-finger braking beaten out of me by a motorcycle instructor. Quote (for extra realism, imagine this being spoken in a Scottish accent): "Do you also drive your car with a brick under the brake pedal?" I’m with David – I also had two-finger braking beaten out of me by a motorcycle instructor.

Quote (for extra realism, imagine this being spoken in a Scottish accent): “Do you also drive your car with a brick under the brake pedal?”

]]> By: Harmon3 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555054 Harmon3 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:18:34 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555054 Same to you pal! Same to you pal!

]]> By: Geo http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555020 Geo Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:45:49 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555020 All of your "scientific" reasoning aside, we all know that you brake with the middle finger because you are just showing how you feel about all other cyclists on the course with you. All of your “scientific” reasoning aside, we all know that you brake with the middle finger because you are just showing how you feel about all other cyclists on the course with you.

]]> By: FliesOnly http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555009 FliesOnly Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:19:14 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555009 Honestly, you truly had me at: "The very best reason you should train yourself to be a middle-finger braker is that by doing so you will subtly be flipping the bird in pretty much every photo of you going downhill on a mountain bike, for the rest of your life." The only reason I kept reading is because I actually enjoy reading your stuff. Honestly, you truly had me at:
“The very best reason you should train yourself to be a middle-finger braker is that by doing so you will subtly be flipping the bird in pretty much every photo of you going downhill on a mountain bike, for the rest of your life.”

The only reason I kept reading is because I actually enjoy reading your stuff.

]]> By: Cali_Lady http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-555002 Cali_Lady Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:10:35 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-555002 And you obviously raised him well Colorado Mama! And you obviously raised him well Colorado Mama!

]]> By: Colorado Mama http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-554965 Colorado Mama Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:15:04 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-554965 Has anyone ever thought about why Fatty's mom doesn't comment more often even when he writes, "I was pretty sure there were a total of five females who checked this blog, with The Hammer and my mom being two of those people (and my mom checks only every couple of weeks or so). ? Well, it is because I am so proud of him for being him, for his love of family, and of people he hasn't even met, such as those in Zambia. A privilege to have such a son. Has anyone ever thought about why Fatty’s mom doesn’t comment more often even when he writes, “I was pretty sure there were a total of five females who checked this blog, with The Hammer and my mom being two of those people (and my mom checks only every couple of weeks or so). ?

Well, it is because I am so proud of him for being him, for his love of family, and of people he hasn’t even met, such as those in Zambia. A privilege to have such a son.

]]> By: Fuzz Martin http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/comment-page-1/#comment-554957 Fuzz Martin Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:07:27 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/02/08/my-case-for-middle-finger-braking/#comment-554957 A Better Off Dead quote!?! Awwwwwesome. A Better Off Dead quote!?! Awwwwwesome.

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