Brake usage

[jane]

I have always used both front and rear brakes together but I have been told that I should mainly use the front brake. I am frightened of going over the handlebars if I mainly use the front brake. Any advice will be appreciated.

[Veronica]

Mountain or road?

The front brake does provide much more braking power than the rear.

If you're happy with how you're braking currently, why change, just because "somebody told you to."

Veronica

[spazzdog]

If you "feather" the back as you are squeezing the front, you'll be good... at least on the road. No sure what the technique is off-road.

The same technique is used on motorcycles, because if you "lock up" your back wheel, i.e. you clamp the brake... the bike is more likely to fishtail and go down.

spazz

[SadieKate]

If you "feather" the back as you are squeezing the front, you'll be good... at least on the road. No sure what the technique is off-road.Pretty much the same. The back brake slows you down, the front brakes stops you. So, they need to be used together and each feathered based on the terrain and speed. I'm surprised anyone told you to mainly use the front brakes. If you use today's linear V-brakes, you could defintely take a tumbler by only using the front brake.

Go out to the park or low traffic area and use each brake independently to see how they behave. If you have much speed, the back brake will slow you down but you can't stop quickly. The front brake can stop you easily but has to be feathered very gently for speed control.

[Bike Goddess]

Re front brake usage- I suggest you read Sheldon Brown on the subject. He explains the principles of why to use which brake when. I'd give you my opinion here, but I think it best for someone of his stature to explain. You can find him on the web by just typing in Sheldon Brown and then look under cycling articles. Hope that helps! :)

[LBTC]

when working on riding steeps on the mountain bike, I was being watched by a whole schwack of guys, including one with tons of experience. he saw my back wheel locking up and getting sideways and gave me the coolest advice (yes, by then I would realize I should use *less* brake in the rear, however, I was scared completely to do that :eek: ) He said "more front brake". and it worked!! it's great to practice on steeps in a safe environment - people you know and like, a hill that's not terribly long - a bowl is even better - and to practice getting down the hill in as much control as possible, both fast and slow. it's a great way to learn the braking techniques that will help you with all sorts of riding! it worked for me! :o

(but if you're talking about road, well, I can't say I get it. I haven't crashed yet (knock wood) but I have no idea if I do anything right out there!)

Namaste,
~T~

[Irulan]

LBTC - one of the drill we work on at camp is front braking. She ( she being Cindy Devine, world mtb hall of famer) has us go down these steep slopes using the front brake only. And she has us do slow races, using the front brake only.

and boy, if there' any rear wheel skidding,we get reamed inside and out...

irulan

[Fiona]

I also use both front and rear brakes together and apply equal pressure to each brake. I use my bicycle on the road and the only time I experience the rear wheel locking is if I make an emergency stop or try to stop when descending a very steep hill. I ease off the pressure on the rear brake slightly to unlock the wheel.
I don't feel safe if I only use the front brake.

[CorsairMac]

Mountain or road?

The front brake does provide much more braking power than the rear.

If you're happy with how you're braking currently, why change, just because "somebody told you to."

Veronica

I'm with V on this one - if you're happy with your current braking situation, does it matter what someone else thinks you should do? You're the one on the bike and you're the one that has to stop it, go with what has been working for you!

[SadieKate]

Not necessarily, Corsair. On the dirt, it can make a HUGE difference. Go have a few sessions with snow on some steep loose stuff. Yowee!

[Veronica]

On the dirt, it can make a HUGE difference. Go have a few sessions with snow on some steep loose stuff. Yowee!

Yep, that's why I was wondering if it was road or mountain. My answer really only applies to road.

V.

[SadieKate]

My own experience - when I learned to brake properly on dirt, I rode much faster.

[CorsairMac]

well I have stayed outta this one for the most part - coz I Only use the front brake EXCEPT on dirt. It comes from riding motorcycles where you just don't wanna use the back brake except as a backup (and even then I don't use it). The front brake is the primary and pretty much the only means of stopping so I just translated that to my bicycles. I even have the brakes switched so the front is on the right hand side, where it would be on the Harley.
and yes, when I was riding with Snow I realized the back brake was the better choice for MTBng and had no problems making that switch. V is right - the question is what application is she riding in although I know a lot of ppl that use the back or both on the road. My concern would be: if you're not used to using the front brake - you could go over the handlebars because of the unfamiliarity with the stopping power. I'd rather see someone stick with what they know and are familiar with especially in a clutch situation than try to switch coz someone said they should. Unless it's mashing vs spinning! ;)

[Veronica]

Personally, I prefer to just not use the brakes at all. :D

V.

[CorsairMac]

Personally, I prefer to just not use the brakes at all. :D

V.

ROFLMAO......and I wanna be Just like you when I grow up!!! ;)

[Irulan]

s, when I was riding with Snow I realized the back brake was the better choice for MTBng and had no problems making that switch. ;)


why would you think the back brake is a better choice for MTB? It's ineffective at best: skids & lockup when applied too hard, harder to finesse, The only reason I've heard that back brake is "better" is when people are ignorant of understanding how much more effective front brake usage is. The standard ignorant but well meaning way to teach mountain bike braking is to teach people to never use the front; that way they won't endo or do panic grabs. (in theory)

Case in point: my first year of camp, our coach asks, who here doesn't use the front brake? 28 out of 30 hand went up. It turns out most of us were taught to not use it for a variety of reasons, the primary one being to prevent endo-ing. Tsk, Tsk, tsk. We were all treated to a informative lecture on the proper use of the front brake. In mountain biking ( I can't speak for road at all) the front brake is 70% of your braking power. When you rely on your back brake, you are essentially dragging your bike to a stop, instead of just slowing it. Correct use of the front brake enables you to finesse many thing things, and have much more fine control over the bike.

Sure, using the front brake means creating a level of awareness and sensitivity to the brake/speed relationship. You just can't grab and squeeze the front like you can the back brake. It means learning the art of feathering, modulation and two finger braking. The rewards are improved control in technical areas, better cornering and steeing, and a more confident ride.

If you have having trouble with braking, look into having the reach adjusted on your brake levers. I brought the reach in on mine last year, and WOW what a difference it made on being able to do all of the above with nary a thought.

Irulan

[Veronica]

why would you think the back brake is a better choice for MTB? It's ineffective at best: skids & lockup when applied too hard, harder to finesse,

Irulan


Yep! The day I lost my front brakes mountain biking down Meridian Ridge on Diablo, I was thinking, with all my spare brain cells, why the front? And all the rear did was slide.

V.

[fixedgeargirl]

For me, the feathering and modulation on my mtb became possible when I got disk brakes. Made all the difference in the world. I lack the hand size/forearm strength/whatever to to finesse even v-brakes. With them, it was either full-on or completely off. Now I lack the terrain to test my skills...:rolleyes:.

[Irulan]

For me, the feathering and modulation on my mtb became possible when I got disk brakes. Made all the difference in the world. I lack the hand size/forearm strength/whatever to to finesse even v-brakes. With them, it was either full-on or completely off. Now I lack the terrain to test my skills...:rolleyes:.


Terrain aside, look at getting the reach on your brake levers adjusted. It's doen with a little tiny allen screw on the inside of the lever. Mine were done like this: we were lift served Dh-ing one day, and I was getting a lot of stress on my two right fingers ( front) We stopped for some other mechanical, and while one of the guys was fixing his wheel, the other guy suggested the adjustment and showed me how to do it. We brought the reach on my levers in a goo 3/8" maybe. I noticed the difference at the very next corner we came to: it was significant in how much easier braking became. I run V brakes, no discs here ( I wish.. ;-))

~Irulan

[SadieKate]

There is a pretty good variety of brake levers that have adjustable reach and/or are smaller.

I also have commute time toys for strength training.

http://www.rei.com/product/1314.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC

http://www.rei.com/product/1137.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC I use the blue version of this.

[snapdragen]

OK - the GripMaster I can kinda figure out...what the heck do you do with the ring? :confused:


There is a pretty good variety of brake levers that have adjustable reach and/or are smaller.

I also have commute time toys for strength training.

http://www.rei.com/product/1314.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC

http://www.rei.com/product/1137.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC I use the blue version of this.

[SadieKate]

OK - the GripMaster I can kinda figure out...what the heck do you do with the ring? :confused:Squeeze it, baby! :D

It strengthens your forearm when you squeeze with your hand.

The gripmaster strengthens the individual digits.

[fixedgeargirl]

look at getting the reach on your brake levers adjusted.

DH is a *retired* custom bike builder, and has always been really aware of brake reach for his lady clients. His buddies often used his shop to build/wrench on their own bikes and those of their SOs. More than once I've heard him *remind* his big, strong, muscular been-riding-for-a-hundred-years friends that their 115 lb. girlfriend needed the levers backed off :rolleyes:.

Feeling the modulation revelation of the disks also gave me more confidence in using the front brake (the whole panic-grab, endo thing being ingrained in my mind).

My dad's been squeezing a blue rubber donut for years!! He does it while he reads the paper to improve braking strength. His cousin uses the GripMaster to improve his finger strenth for competitive shooting.

[LBTC]

yup, brake lever positioning is a huge issue. I have teeny weenie hands so the stock levers would never be even close enough for me. Razorock levers all the way baby! They make a HUGE difference.

position is also key. for maximum power on the levers you want a nice straight line from your elbow to the knuckle of your middle finger when you're braking. no bend up at the wrists if you want maximum control and power and minimum fatigue. This would be a different position if you are primarily riding downhill (they'd be up quite high, maybe even straight out) or if you're doing more cross country riding (they'd be tipped further forward).

And as for that 2 finger braking that Irulan mentioned - you betcha! But if you're like me and sometimes you're on the brakes as an issue of simple fear/being psyched by the trail, you really know you can go faster, and you're only braking because you don't know how to let go when you're on that scary bit :eek: ...one finger braking is perfect. It will still slow you down, still give you the control you want, but you're still moving.

ah, the fine art of braking....such a delicate balance!

Namaste,
~T~

[Carole]

I was always taught not to use the front brake. I have always used the rear brake on the road and I have had no problems stopping. I weigh 190lbs so that might stop the rear wheel from locking up. The only time the rear wheel locks is if I use both front and rear brakes together because the weight is transferred from the rear wheel to the front wheel.

[snowtulip]

There are times you use the front, rear, and both. It all depends, and it's all about becoming comfortable. I use my rear quite a bit on flats (like the bosque) and use the front more in different mtb. terrain (mainly the more rocky stuff). More often than naught, I use both. It's also all about modulation. I don't think it's straightforward use this brake at this time. Different terrain call for different braking skills. It's all about control and learning how you best can control your riding on the mountain.

I had an air bubble in my front disk brakes this past weekend and all I had was my back brake for most of the ride. Luckily, I use both brakes in a variety of ways that it was not difficult to continue downhill and maintain control by modulating my back brake.

I've also rode with plenty of beginners that get discouraged from mountain biking because they endo, they're used to using the front brake all the time. I encourage using the rear to avoid discouragement and then as they are on the mountain more, they learn when to use either or both brakes.

So bottom line, it's not black and white...just maintain control and use the braking formula that works to do that. Practice.

[RoadRaven]

ummm... brakes?


:cool:

[jane]

I use both my brakes together but I find I apply the rear brake harder than the front because I am frightened of going over the handlebars. :eek:
I have noticed the rear tends to lock-up at times, I then ease off the rear and apply more pressure to the front brake.

[Carole]

I find when I have to stop in an emergency I use both front and rear brakes the same amount and I find it impossible to ease off the rear when the wheel locks up because I tend to freeze with panic.

[jane]

Thanks for the advice Irulan I applied both my brakes and the rear wheel started skidding straight away.
I then tried the rear only and again the wheel started skidding even when I was sitting back as far as I could! I was amazed at how little stopping power the rear brake has. It was impossible to use the rear brake without locking up the rear wheel.
I then tried using the front only and what a difference! It actually slowed me down!