Confidence under braking

[Mikemerc]

Hi all,

Went for my first 'proper' ride today in the wet, 24 mile ride around North London into Herts.

Anyway, maybe it was just me being extra cautious (read paranoid) but I felt at speed under braking the bike seemed 'skittish' for want of a better word. Seemed like it as skipping around and I felt a lock up was imminent although it never happened.

I was thinking maybe it's down to the new components and more likely new rider, but wonder if there was a technique to braking that people find useful?

I've a new bike (my 1st bike a BMC Steetracer) so maybe it's new brake pads and tyres (Conti Ultra Sports) but probably just user error!

Maybe I'm just too used to braking with 4 wheels...

 

[Rob3rt]

In the wet, it is worth pulsing the brakes a bit before applying them fully and for a prolonged time to clear water from the rims. During prolonged braking you should also pulse the brakes occasionally to re-clear them as they will continually pick up water.

 

[Mikemerc]

Yeah that makes sense Rob3rt, good advice thanks

 

[derrick]

You just need to ride it more, getting used to the way they work, it's all about feel.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Braking is one of those skills best practiced in the park.
You'll be surprised how hard you can haul on the brakes ... everything you need to know is here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

 

[Hacienda71]

Your front brake is much more effective than the back. The back brake is much more likely to lock up the wheel, as some of us will have done deliberately as kids.
If I brake hard I tend to start with the front and apply the rear very slightly afterwards and not as firmly.

 

[Mikemerc]

Great stuff, I guess it was a fear of using the front brake as much as I should/could.

Bang up for tomorrow now, cheers chaps

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Braking is one of those skills best practiced in the park.
You'll be surprised how hard you can haul on the brakes ... everything you need to know is here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

Very good article - I learn't a lot there. I tend to use both but will now try to focus on using the front a lot more except in the circumstances described when it is not appropriate.

 

[GrasB]

Skittish in terms of grip maybe down to tyres. If you've got the stock tyres on the bike then ime they're fairly pants in the wet. Going for a gripper like GP4000 or Ultremo ZX will give more confidence, but for ultimate wet weather performance the Ultremo Aqua seems to be all on its own in clincher land.

 

[ColinJ]

There is always going to be less tyre grip in the wet so braking will be skittish if you overdo it. Allow yourself more braking time in the wet if you can.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I don't know what tyres you are on, but I have found that I am way more confident braking (or cornering) on the tyres I choose for the bike rather than the ones they came with originally. I did make a size change from 700x23c to 700x25c at the same time and whilst the tyres I chose are heavier they have much more grip braking & cornering than the old ones ever did.

Ops- just realised someone else has already mentioned the tyres thing as well...

 

[simmi]

If you can taste tarmac then you've probably braked too hard

 

[Mikemerc]

Great advice and thanks to all for their input.

Just got back from work, dry on the roads today but practised being more 'front biased' with the braking and whilst initially feeling strange soon became relatively comfortable.

I'll probably stick with the current tyres unless I really don't get what I want from them, and cheers simmi but I'll try to leave the Tarmac tasting for as long as possible!

Mike