Brake usage

**Irulan** · 05-10-2005, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by CorsairMac

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** · 05-10-2005, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Irulan

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** · 05-11-2005, 09:05 AM

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...

.

**Irulan** · 05-11-2005, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by 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...

.

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** · 05-11-2005, 09:57 AM

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?...P_CLIMBING_TOC

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

**snapdragen** · 05-11-2005, 10:26 AM

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

Originally Posted by 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?...P_CLIMBING_TOC

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

**SadieKate** · 05-11-2005, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by snapdragen

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

Squeeze it, baby!

It strengthens your forearm when you squeeze with your hand.

The gripmaster strengthens the individual digits.

**fixedgeargirl** · 05-11-2005, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Irulan

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

.

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** · 05-11-2005, 10:01 PM

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

...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** · 05-13-2005, 03:28 PM

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** · 05-13-2005, 07:16 PM

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** · 05-13-2005, 07:29 PM

ummm... brakes?

**jane** · 06-24-2005, 06:47 PM

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.

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** · 11-03-2005, 11:15 PM

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** · 12-30-2005, 12:03 PM

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!

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