Braking on a road bike

[Markymark]

I've done a few thousand miles commuting on my hybrid the last couple of years in central London. I've now just taken delivery of my first roadbike. Its amzing but am struggling with the braking and hand positions.

If I ride on the hoods, I can apply the brakes but they seem nowhere near as effective as my hybrid which just comes to an abrupt stop. I assume its also becuase I've only done 40 miles and they need time to wear in, but any advice? Some have said that this is the nature of road bikes and you just need to be more pre-emptive.

 

[ColinJ]

Brakes on road bikes should be really effective. If they are not, then they need looking at!

Do you think pro cyclists hurtling down Alpine descents at over 100 km/hr are worried about their brakes?

Make sure that your wheel rims are clean. Adjust your brakes so you pull the levers some way before the brake blocks start to bite on the rims - that gives your fingers greater leverage than if the blocks are very close to the rims to start with. Don't slacken the brakes off too much though - you do not want the levers to pull back as far as the bars!

 

[Born2die]

I find on the hoods I don't get much stopping power but if I drop into the drops I can use all the pressure they have its just leverage. There are some excellent guides around re braking and hand positions.

http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/drop-bar-hand-positions-introduction.html

 

[Markymark]

I find on the hoods I don't get much stopping power but if I drop into the drops I can use all the pressure they have its just leverage. There are some excellent guides around re braking and hand positions.

http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/drop-bar-hand-positions-introduction.html

That's a good link, thanks. I think I am trying to brake too much over the top by pressing down rather than squeezing on the side - if that makes any sense!! I'll give it a whirl over the weekend.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have braked so hard on my road bike when a car pulled in front of me that I did and endo and ended up standing in the middle of the road with the bike behind me. The roads at the time were wet as well. The hydraulic discs on my MTB would allow you to do this as well just with less pressure on the brake levers.

 

[Sittingduck]

make sure the rims are clean and you have decent brake pads, eg. Koolstop Salmon or Swiss stop.

 

[Born2die]

That's a good link, thanks. I think I am trying to brake too much over the top by pressing down rather than squeezing on the side - if that makes any sense!! I'll give it a whirl over the weekend.

At 1st I found myself pressing down too now it's become second nature to squeeze after adjusting hand position I have quite big strong hands though being a piano payer.

 

[Biker Joe]

I don't know what brake calipers you have on your bike but I have the budget 'Tectro' calipers on mine and I find that I need a fair bit more pressure to operate them than on the Shimano calipers.
I shall indeed be upgrading them at some point.

 

[I like Skol]

I have Tektro caliper brakes on my road bike with (I assume) their OEM pads and ALWAYS brake from the hoods. I can't imagine wanting stronger brakes in the wet or dry and can lift my rear wheel if wanted. I do however have quite big and strong hands so it might just be me that is a bit of a gorilla?

 

[Biker Joe]

I have Tektro caliper brakes on my road bike with (I assume) their OEM pads and ALWAYS brake from the hoods. I can't imagine wanting stronger brakes in the wet or dry and can lift my rear wheel if wanted. I do however have quite big and strong hands so it might just be me that is a bit of a gorilla?

I didn't mean to imply that the Tektro brakes on my bike don't work well, just that I find I require more pressure to operate them than with the Shimano brakes on other bikes I've had.
Might just be me requiring more Weetabix.

 

[Sittingduck]

Proper Shimano calipers are much more effective than some Tektro ones, in my experience at least. The Tektro ones I once had felt spongy...

 

[Born2die]

I don't like the tektro on my bike going to swap ads 1st to swissstop see if that makes a Difference I just find them really wooden

 

[potsy]

it might just be me that is a bit of a gorilla?

*keeps quiet*

I struggle with braking from the hoods due to having little girly hands

 

[Louch]

I just upgraded to Swisstop. Now stop on a dime. Massive change

 

[HLaB]

My hands aren't particularly big but like the posted article I like to brake from the hoods, having the brake set up right and technique facilitate it.