Front or Back Brake?

[QuestionableCarro]

Just interested guys what brake you use the majority of time.

Perhaps you feel comfortable reaching for the back brake when at high speed or you are rather trusting of your anchors and arent afraid of hitting down hard on the front?

Its just tonight I was going pretty damn hard in relatively dry conditions and had to brake hard to make a turn that I hadnt seen. Hard on the front and then gradually into the back brake.

When I gave it a little thought I realised that this is what I do all the time

I am going to have to learn to reverse this concept because the tyres that I am getting on the Trek are rather slick (Bolingers? cant remember) and reckon slamming hard on the front anchors in the wet wouldnt be the best of ideas!

Anybody brake the same or is back braking at high speed the more orthodox?

 

[RedBike]

Both?
Although the front will naturally provide more stopping power.

Front is less likely to slide and more powerful but if it does slide then you're off.
Back doesn't have the power but a slide can easily be recovered from.

 

[Wigsie]

I am going to have to learn to reverse this concept because the tyres that I am getting on the Trek are rather slick (Bolingers? cant remember)

For an extra £50 you can upgrade to the Moet et Chandon ..

Sorry, Red is right with ratio's. When I first strated riding I was heavier on rear before i gradually moved across to slightly more biased to the front brake although generally used both. Like a lot of things its really down to personal preference, what you are more comfortable with use (as long as it stops you in time).

 

[Joe24]

Always the front for me. I have only got a front brake on my bike though, but even on the road bike id just use the front brake, unless i really needed that bit extra stopping power.
Just because the tyre is slick doesnt mean it has no grip, if that was the case you wouldnt be able to courner at any speed.
You cant slam really hard on, but you can still slam the brakes on. Ive not had my wheel slip out from under me and ive braked very hard for things in wet conditions, and very slippy ones.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Front mostly unless wet or slippy conditions, then a bit of both.

 

[QuestionableCarro]

Ah!

So there are a few front men out there? Applying both at the same time is something I would never think of.

Like I said earlier its somthing I never thought about until today...its amazing the sorts of things that go through your head when you are our riding alone for so long

(only getting the bolinger thing now! Anyone remember the brand trek use? Cant be arsed googling it)

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ah!
(only getting the bolinger thing now! Anyone remember the brand trek use? Cant be arsed googling it)

Bontrager...

 

[garrilla]

On slow stops, front only,
On fast stops, front followed by back
on really fast stops, both followed by feet and prayers

 

[coopman]

i tend to use front for stopping and rear for taking edge off my speed if required, but never both at same time.

 

[QuestionableCarro]

Thanks "Bontrager" tyres thats the one.

Are the stock tyres good in the Trek 7.3 FX?

To tell you the truth guys Iam stil really stuck between the two bikes (Marin Larkspur and Trek 7.3) and need to make my mind up before the LBS guy goes insane.

If anyone has ridden these bikes before please drop me a line.

 

[HLaB]

I tend to use both the rear for control and the front when I actually want to stop.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Years of motorcycling mean I am conditioned to using both, with a distinct emphasis on the front. Rightly or wrongly, on my road bike I am comforted by relieving at least some of the stresses from a carbon steerer.

 

[Radius]

Almost exclusively front, with back for added help (or when doing difficult manoeuvers on the MTB on the rare occasion I'm messing about on it)

 

[Joe24]

Almost exclusively front, with back for added help (or when doing difficult manoeuvers on the MTB on the rare occasion I'm messing about on it)

When you do stoppies, you just use the front? Is that what your saying?
Why dont you do that on your road bike?

 

[Radius]

No i mean I use the back if I'm doing some thing where I need the back wheel to stop moving, not the front. Some people might call it a 'trick', but it's not really adventurous enough for that, just playing whilst hanging around etc.