Front Brakes (MTB)

[Stretch]

back for unexpected braking and front for controlled braking...on singletrack i usually use front just before an obstacle or turn if braking is required with slight accompaniment of the back...prob about a 80/20 split between the front and back....someone I know tried to argue that you should only use front on singletrack...which is almost impossible...and dont use your front on the corner..because that will lead to mayhem

 

your fron brake is your friend use it...also remember that braking with your back will send your tail out of control and hence make you loose balance and fluidity

[Paul Ruinaard]

Nice quote on why to brake in straight lines:

 

"Doing any race car type driving (like karting) will really help enforce the ‘brake before the corner’ technique. The tires only have so much traction, so if you’re using most of it to corner, there’s not much left for braking. Slow in, fast out is the saying."

 

There is a good Cedric Garcia book that shows also how to load the weight on to the front or back and dig the wheels in to the ground when you really want to stop. 

 

Only two contact points on a bike - pedals and bars. So push hard down on both and move your weight around accordingly is what he does. I tried it and was amazed at how much more traction it afforded the wheels.

 

So its not just a matter of pulling the levers. There's a lot more to it than that.

 

 

 

 

[Mousea]

I use both brakes, but probably a bit harder on the front.  The only time that I back off on the front brake is on a steep downhill when the risk of going over the bars is high.  Also in corners - that's a no no.  Using both brakes keeps the bike nicely balanced 

 

Also, front brake should ALWAYS be on the right - like a motorbike.  I feel very very strongly on this!  I rode my cousins bike a few months ago and his brakes were the wrong way around.  Long story short, I face planted breaking one of my front teeth out, chipping another, fracturing my skull where the teeth go in, breaking a finger and getting killer roasties on my face and knuckles.  All because the brakes were the wrong way around!

i have a deep hatred for the front brake being on the left!    

Left or right is a personal choice.

 

But it is wise to make sure before you grab a handful of Break which is which or.......

O you know already

[Dirkitech]

if you are eager to force yourself to learn when and how to use your front brake, find yourself a steep and rocky downhill section with very minor drops...

[ricochet_rabbit]

your hand with the greater dexterity should control the front brake. nothing like not having the control and grabbing a hand full of brake lever only to go over the bars and land on the obstacle you were trying to avoid. You will probably find that you drink from that hand too which means you have your weaker hand on the rear brake and not the front if you suddenly need to feather the brakes whilst drinking.

[NotSoBigBen]

your hand with the greater dexterity should control the front brake. nothing like not having the control and grabbing a hand full of brake lever only to go over the bars and land on the obstacle you were trying to avoid. You will probably find that you drink from that hand too which means you have your weaker hand on the rear brake and not the front if you suddenly need to feather the brakes whilst drinking.

I am ambisinister (equally clumsy with both hands) so just hope for the best

[V12man]

ricochet_rabbit, on 29 Oct 2014 - 4:05 PM, said:

your hand with the greater dexterity should control the front brake. nothing like not having the control and grabbing a hand full of brake lever only to go over the bars and land on the obstacle you were trying to avoid. You will probably find that you drink from that hand too which means you have your weaker hand on the rear brake and not the front if you suddenly need to feather the brakes whilst drinking.

Much easier just to not put all your fingers on the lever.... one finger for the front is enough for most things - and braking does not need much dexterity at all (unless you are completely one sided) just needs pressure sensitivity - and your non dominant hand should have more than your dominant hand - there are tests a neurologist can do to prove this to you apparently.

[NotSoBigBen]

Much easier just to not put all your fingers on the lever.... one finger for the front is enough for most things - and braking does not need much dexterity at all (unless you are completely one sided) just needs pressure sensitivity - and your non dominant hand should have more than your dominant hand - there are tests a neurologist can do to prove this to you apparently.

I once read in one of those 'go faster tips' articles that you will never be fast unless you use one finger braking and drop your heels .......

[Flashfozzy]

Much easier just to not put all your fingers on the lever.... one finger for the front is enough for most things

with the quality of the brakes we have now 1 or 2 fingers on both back and front is more than enough.

 

Most modern bikes have a larger front rotor than back therefore much more braking power and more control. Front is great USE it!

[Mar]

So much of advice, thanks people!

 

I use two fingers, gona hit the trails hard and practice the using front!

[Vangar]

Much easier just to not put all your fingers on the lever.... one finger for the front is enough for most things - and braking does not need much dexterity at all (unless you are completely one sided) just needs pressure sensitivity - and your non dominant hand should have more than your dominant hand - there are tests a neurologist can do to prove this to you apparently.

 

Yup definitely agree with that. My left hand is much better at controlling pressure on the front brake than my right which has a tendency to be grabby.

[Vangar]

So much of advice, thanks people!

 

I use two fingers, gona hit the trails hard and practice the using front!

 

Something I also had a bad habit of, it's taken me ages to get comfortable to switch to one finger braking. This video helped me a lot in getting my brake positions right

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUsUs67deic

[patches]

I was once at the PWC bike park and overheard the wife of a well known SA cyclist giving a women's skills class (I guess she herself is relatively well known).

 

She told her students that they should "never use the front brake. There is no need for it."

 

Ever since then I have run my bikes with only a rear brake!

[divernick]

I very seldom use my rear brakes for more than a bit of balance. Front has way more power. If you're not gentle with your rear brakes you'll just lock the wheel, ruining the tyres and destroying the trail. The key is to keep the wheels turning, maintaining traction and control.

 

That said...... Stay off the brakes, they'll just slow you down....

[nimthor]

From Gene Hamilton at http://betterride.net/ newsletter:

Mistake #2 Listening to all the "urban legends" that well intentioned riders repeat to their friends. The most common "urban legend" is "don't use your front brake, it will make you flip over". Well, on a steep hill your front brake is 80-100% of your stopping power so learning to use your front brake effectively (in conjunction with your rear) is an important core skill of riding.

On a mellow, paved downhill at a slow pace EASE on your front brake and come to stop. Repeat this exercise a few times, each time increasing your pressure on the front brake. You will be amazed at how quickly you can cut speed and/or stop with just the front brake. Spend some time learning how to use the front brake (again, other than in my drill above you will be using both brakes while riding) and your confidence will soar.

[Brian Fantana]

I think SA must be one of the countries that use the most MTB brake pads per rider.

 

At the Berg & Bush I was amazed to see how many riders skid and lock their rear wheels down steep descents.  It is absolutely ridiculous and it is a lot more dangerous to slowly skid down a steep trail than to let go of the brakes and ride down at speed.

 

Another thing is that many riders will use the brakes way less if they learn to corner properly.  I see many riders need to grab some brakes midway through a corner, because they are not looking at the exit of the corner, and their body is not dynamically transferred in order to negotiate the corner at speed.

 

In order to get most out of your braking you need to transfer your bodyweight while you apply the brakes.  If you lower your centre of gravity by lifting your behind off the saddle and lowering your torso, you can brake pretty hard with your front brake and you will not have any problems with skidding or OTB.

 

Brake modulation is also very important.

 

My advice:  Buy the book by Brian Lopes and Lee McCormack called : Mastering Mountain Bike Skills.  

 

Read.Apply in practice.Repeat