We will talk on the example of the most ordinary mountain bike. First we’ll consider the most common mistakes, then some recommendations.

Common mistakes when braking on a bicycle

Failure or absence of one of the brakes

Quite often we see people riding a bicycle, the brakes which are in poor condition, and even in general there is no front or rear brake. I think there is nothing to talk about. The bike should have serviceable brakes with good brake pads, the condition of which you should monitor and replace on time. If we are talking about a mechanical disc or v-brake, watch the condition of the cables and jackets. In the case of hydraulics, keep an eye on the hydraulic lines, check the brake system for brake fluid leaks and have them repaired in good time.

Using one brake only as much as possible

A very common mistake made by novice cyclists. It comes from the fact that at first it is quite difficult to coordinate all the movements. Here without training you can not go anywhere and until all actions come to automatism, you should always keep in mind that it is necessary to work with both brakes.

Is the rear brake the primary brake?

Another common misconception. If you observe beginners, you can immediately notice that most of them brake mainly with the rear brake, and they are afraid to touch the front brake for fear of making “over the handlebar”. I’ll tell you right away that the main brake is the front one, the rear one just provides extra control. Certainly, someone will want to argue, but nevertheless, I ask to take your word for it. And if not to word, to address to laws of physics. In the case of emergency braking, more weight is on the front of the bike, the rear, on the contrary, is unloaded and when braking the rear brake blocks the wheel, it goes into the yew, thereby providing further sliding. But here it is worth noting that in winter, on a slippery road, the front brake should be used very carefully and feel the bike well.

Brake work only

A bicycle is not a car, where you just have to depress the brake pedal to stop. In our case, in addition to the brakes themselves, your whole body is involved in braking. After all, how does it turn out “through the handlebars”: a person is riding, suddenly there is a need to stop quickly, he hard presses the brake, and then, in many cases, follows a flight. On how to avoid this, we will talk in more detail below.

How to brake correctly on a bicycle

Do not provoke situations when you have to resort to emergency braking

The first thing I want to say about the speed limit. Bicycle – not a car or motorcycle, to exceed the speed of it, in most cases, quite difficult, but still possible. This is especially true for cycling in major cities, where large traffic jams are an integral part of the traffic. You have a huge advantage – everyone is standing and you are flying between the lines. There is always the possibility that someone will think of dropping off a passenger in the middle of the roadway or just get out of the car to stretch your back. If a door opens two meters away from you, then no matter how you brake, contact is inevitable.

Make a habit to use both brakes

However, you should clearly understand their function. The main brake is the front brake. It is on it that the basic load at braking falls. The rear brake is additional and providing control. To learn to use brakes in a coordinated way, it is necessary to train. You just have to understand that the correct use of the brakes is your safety. It’s best to practice outside of the roadway. Feel both brakes, compare the effectiveness of braking simultaneously two and each separately, determine the threshold, after which it is not long to “over the wheel.

Working with your whole body

“Over the handlebars” and other absurdities in braking happen when a person on a bicycle sits like a sack of potatoes. The skill of riding, first of all, is that you have to learn to feel the bike, and it has to become a kind of extension of your arms and legs. If you are jogging and there is an obstacle in front of you that you have to stop in front of, you instinctively tilt your body in the opposite direction. This is so because you have been walking for a long time and all movements seem natural. It’s the same with cycling, with the difference that the movements are not as natural at first and take some getting used to. Believe me, you will never make “over the handlebars” even with the sharpest braking if you shift your body back, behind the saddle, and lean, thereby shifting your center of gravity. This is especially important when driving on mountainous terrain or when emergency braking is necessary.

Braking during a maneuver

If you observe not very experienced cyclists, you will notice that many avoid braking during cornering or other maneuvers and prefer to brake when the course is stabilized. This also applies to consistency and it is very important to learn how to use the brakes in different conditions, regardless of the maneuver being taken at the time.

Fall Braking

Here it should be understood that the ability to brake with a fall is not from a lack of skill, but on the contrary, it is an indicator of skill. Deceleration by falling should be undertaken when it is simply impossible to stop quickly in any other way. Such situations are quite rare, but still happen. If you find yourself in this situation, try to fall on your side, during the fall sgrupirovat and do not expose the hands. Here we want to mention again the importance of wearing a helmet, in such situations, it can be very useful.