Protecing a brake handle

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 9:00 am

I assume it's better to not use heel straps while freeriding, especially for beginners. But I have decided to use brakes since I'll be mostly riding on dirt roads/tracks no wider than 12 feet. Just saw Jukeit's post on a brake holster to keep the handle from dragging during falls, but with a brake cable attached to the leg and no heel straps (looks like Jukeit's using straps in the photo) I would think the cable could snap under tension during falls. Haven't thought of another way to protect a brake handle when heel straps aren't used, but maybe it could be wrapped or padded... Any ideas?

WSG7 · Post by **WSG7** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:43 am

I'd use heel straps to be honest

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:02 am

I'd heard falling at 35 kph while attached to a board could be problematic...

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:18 pm

Much safer to be attached to the board than not. The board acts as a kind of brace and keeps your legs the right way round, and it also prevents the board hitting you or anyone else at 35 kph.

belac · Post by **belac** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 2:01 pm

If you raid an old vacume cleaner you could pullout the automatic self cable coiling device and place this next to the mounted break with the wire going thru it. Thus if you think your about to crash just take your foot out and press down on a button to whip that nasty cable out the way so you can crash with confidence.

I call it the breakwhipulator : patent pending.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 2:02 pm

Thanks Brennig. Better get a pair, or at least try it with bungee cords. Will MBS straps fit a Trampa binding?

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 2:06 pm

Good luck with the patent Belac!

jukeit · Post by **jukeit** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:04 pm

Hi Bill,

The straps I use to hold the cable is velcro. I lightly strap it such that if I let go of the brake the velcro holds, but will not hold if I separate from the board (i.e., the brake will tear away from the loosely strapped velcro).

However, I like the idea of heelstraps. Would be like falling on a snowboard which is much more familiar territory for me. I think I'll give that a try.

_Kryten_ · Post by **_Kryten_** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:50 pm

I would use heels my view is if you trimming down a dirt track at 20mph + you a stone or a small ditch and a foot comes out your in for some trouble aspecialy if your on your own

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 11:27 am

Bought some heel straps but the board unfortunately arrived with a leaking hydraulic brake, so have yet to try it. Thanks again.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:23 pm

Just to clarify, the board didn't arrive in the mail with a leaking brake but only a couple days later, when I arrived home after picking it up.

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Protecing a brake handle

Protecing a brake handle

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