Total Newbie Needs Help!

[JennyPi]

NO to the front brake question. That can make you endo, especially going down hill. You want to use both brakes, maybe slighly more emphasis on the back as you begin braking, but both in conjunction.

I had a "fishtail" when I was a newbie, where my back wheel slid from side to side while braking going fast downhill. Really scary. I was only rear braking at that point, and was really lucky not to fall. I asked here how to avoid that situation in the future, and was told use both brakes, hands on the drops while descending, feather the brakes, and bring my weight back so the rear wheel is making full contact. This has worked well.

Enjoy your bike! Hope this helps

Had that happen to me once. I was flying on a downhill path and there were a million acorns scattered right in my way. I had to think quick ... so, with my front brake, I braked harder than I have ever done before. Short story: my front wheel practically locked, back wheel came up, sending me over my handlebars, and landing a nice frontal face skid on the pavement. Good thing there was a bathroom about 15 ft from where I landed. And inside, behold, a mirror (to look at my face in)!

Yes, back brakes are nice

[Grog]

Had that happen to me once. I was flying on a downhill path and there were a million acorns scattered right in my way. I had to think quick ... so, with my front brake, I braked harder than I have ever done before. Short story: my front wheel practically locked, back wheel came up, sending me over my handlebars, and landing a nice frontal face skid on the pavement. Good thing there was a bathroom about 15 ft from where I landed. And inside, behold, a mirror (to look at my face in)!

Yes, back brakes are nice

I do not mean this to come out as rude, Jenny, but your example is exactly what a few of us above meant when saying that one has to become more familiar with the front brake. Please, please practice using your front brake and positioning your body so your rear wheel does NOT go up and you don't fly and land on your face ever again. Practice using both brakes at the same time, in the ways describe above and also very expertly by PscyclePath.

You are lucky you are able to to tell the story - and not disabled permanently from this accident. Please, please, please, learn proper braking technique so it doesn't happen...

[sfitz]

Hi, this is the first time i owned a road bike. I love spin class and riding bikes with my children. Now i have joined team in training to raise money for the leukemia and lymphoma society and entered in a triathlon. I would love any advice anyone has for me. after taking my road bike out today I am a little unsure about the gears. When i should be in what gear, should I be training in a hard gear, how many miles i should be training to get ready for my tri. As you can tell I have many questions. This is my first endurance event of any kind. If anyone has completed a olympic distace tri and has any advice at all i would so appriciate it.

[Grog]

Hi, this is the first time i owned a road bike. I love spin class and riding bikes with my children. Now i have joined team in training to raise money for the leukemia and lymphoma society and entered in a triathlon. I would love any advice anyone has for me. after taking my road bike out today I am a little unsure about the gears. When i should be in what gear, should I be training in a hard gear, how many miles i should be training to get ready for my tri. As you can tell I have many questions. This is my first endurance event of any kind. If anyone has completed a olympic distace tri and has any advice at all i would so appriciate it.

Hi Sfitz, and welcome to TE!

You're asking a lot of hard questions! There are many threads about gears, I suggest perhaps starting with a forum advanced search (see upper right corner of the forum screen) with the keyword "gear" for starters... And there is a whole section on triathlons, you might want to have a look down there, too!

Welcome!