Front or Back Brake?

[Joe24]

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.

Oooooh, abit of a skid.
I just stop pedling for that

 

[Radius]

Or jumping onto stuff and stuff. And soon, I'll be able to do that too (leg enduced skidding that is)

 

[Dave5N]

+1

ar

 

[Danny]

Both.

IME if you just use the front brake when you need to stop quickly you are more likely to go over the handlebars

 

[Black Sheep]

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

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

I rode mountain bikes off road for about 12 years before getting a road bike and so my instinct is to hit the back brake first because off road, a rear wheel skid is easier to control or even bail from than a front wheel skid. it is however generally both brakes since they aren't that good on the road bike (wicheman centre pulls)

the trick with braking I think is to do so in a straight line and don't slow the front more than the back, otherwise you'll have your butt trying to race your hands,

 

[2Loose]

the trick with braking I think is to do so in a straight line and don't slow the front more than the back, otherwise you'll have your butt trying to race your hands,

+1
As a motorcyclist I was always taught to apply the back slightly before the front in wet weather. Front first can take the weight off the back wheel enough to let the rear tyre break traction when the brake is applied, earning a skid.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Two fingers on rear brake lever, one on front. Pull at same time but force is more equally distributed.

 

[grhm]

I tend to use the front more than the back. Usually, front for slow stops, front followed by back on qucker stop. I'll usually use the back to control speed on long downhills, but sometime use the front.

On the trike, both brakes are on the front wheel. Then it's rim brake for stopping, hub brake for slowing and both for quick stops.

 

[yello]

Both. I can never remember which is which and besides, my bikes are different. One has the front on the left, the other on the right. So using both saves me having to remember. (I must get around to changing the 'odd one out' bike.)

So I start braking with both evenly then modify pressures by feel and as I need, the front (be it right or left) gets more biff if I need to haul up sharpish.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Mmmm

Read and learn...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

People tell you not to brake in a turn, but it's possible even at speed... just be careful.

 

[bonj2]

never use the back brake unless i really have to

 

[tyred]

Virtually always the front on my road bike or "hybrid". Would only use the back brake if there was a chance of skidding.

On my steel rimmed, long reach calipered Raleigh shopper in the wet, I grab both and pray. I call them anti-lock brakes.