Braking while rolling downhill..

[station]

Hi, so a friend was talking about how he , when going downhill, used almost only the back brake. He dropped his seat down, got his backside over the back wheel and used only the front brake to slow down. I kind of thought about it and realized I use mostly the back brake and kind of control/slide/skip (not burnout) around some corners, over rocks etc. I wondered who else used front brake only. Lets hear it...

note: we were going down Rock-it in Aliso.

[adrianko43]

I use both brakes, but probably around 70% front brake since weight transfers forward as you're slowing down.

Edit: I just read the part about going down rock-it. For rock gardens I'll use more back brake than I would for a smooth downhill to lessen the chance of me going over the bars.

[2wheel_lee]

You should add "Both" to the poll, since using both is proper braking technique.

[jschwart73]

Both, heavier front.

Ride It, don't Slide It

[uzziboy]

Originally Posted by jschwart73

Both, heavier front.

Ride It, don't Slide It

WORD!!!!!!!

[DeadlyStryker]

Originally Posted by jschwart73

Both, heavier front.

Ride It, don't Slide It

+1

[station]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

You should add "Both" to the poll, since using both is proper braking technique.

Yeah, I thought about that but realized that the simple answer is always "both" or "sometimes both" or, "mostly both, but sometimes none as I go around corners" and I wanted people to think about it a little more and figure out if they use one a little more than the other. But good observation.

[mfoga]

I use back more then front, I dont mash either. I will just engage them enough to create some drag to help control the speed.

[Knuckledragger]

Both.....

C.K.

[1080P]

Lets see... your front tire is wider, has lower air pressure, has a much larger "foot print", has a tire designed for direction of rotation to maximize loaded front edge knobby contact under severe braking conditions, and has no need to accelerate you, the bike, or any mass above it, only turn it and decelerate it.


Your rear tire is narrower, must accelerate you when pedaling, and due to weight transfer under any use of the front brake, becomes weighted less and less. It has about 25% braking capacity while the front brake has 75% braking capacity, probably has a smaller rotor than the front end too, and has a tire designed for a rotation direction to accelerate the bike, not decelerate it.

Skidding, while looking cool, degrades the multipurpose trails we ride on, demonstrates a lack of control, and in general gives hikers and equestrians ammo to throw at all mountain bikers for "trail destruction".

I use both brakes, mostly the front. There will be times when I just release all brakes and "ride it out" because conditions warrant it, or the front end suspension needs to be unloaded before a big hit, like big whoopdee'd runoff diversions,on on a steep, fast descent, big jumpable waterbars on steep narrow single track or big boulder fields.

[Pato]

I was going to vote more front brake as that's where most of your braking power is when going downhill. Then I noticed you said Rock-It. In the case of Rock-It I don't use brakes if there is no one on the trail. I think you have more control and ride that particular trail smoother the faster you go.

As you go faster, your tires will skip across the tops of the rocks instead of dropping down into every nook and cranny between the rocks. Applying the brakes while going over rough terrain will have negative affects on most all types of suspension systems to a certain extent. More with some designs then others.

Another drawback of using brakes on rough terrain is that it tenses up your arms and lessons it's ability to pump and soak up the bumps as effectively as when it is completely relaxed.

That being said, I usually use both brakes when I need to slow down. Again moreso the front than the rear.

[uzziboy]

Originally Posted by station

Yeah, I thought about that but realized that the simple answer is always "both" or "sometimes both" or, "mostly both, but sometimes none as I go around corners" and I wanted people to think about it a little more and figure out if they use one a little more than the other. But good observation.

Well in that case i think i use the rear more but like a 40/60% split

[1080P]

Originally Posted by jschwart73

Both, heavier front.

Ride It, don't Slide It

Good call!

[maxwell]

You use brakes going down Rock-It? (j/k)

Depending on how steep we're rolling;

I use mostly front, a little back, no skiding on the trails, just in my shorts!

[station]

Originally Posted by 1080P

Lets see... your front tire is wider, has lower air pressure, has a much larger "foot print", has a tire designed for direction of rotation to maximize loaded front edge contact under severe braking conditions, and has no need to accelerate you, the bike, or any mass above it, only turn it and decelerate it.


Your rear tire is narrower, must accelerate you when pedaling, and due to weight transfer under any use of the front brake, becomes weighted less and less. It has about 25% braking capacity while the front brake has 75% braking capacity, probably has a smaller rotor than the front end too, and has a tire designed for a rotation direction to accelerate the bike, not decelerate it.

Skidding, while looking cool, degrades the multipurpose trails we ride on, demonstrates a lack of control, and in general gives hikers and equestrians ammo to throw at all mountain bikers for "trail destruction".

I use both brakes, mostly the front. There will be times when I just release all brakes and "ride it out" because conditions warrant it, or the front end suspnesion needs to be unloaded before a big hit, like big whoopdee'd runoff diversions on a steep, fast descent, or big boulder fields.

Yeah, I'm not talking about "Brodies" Just a little skip here and there. But thanks for making it seem like I F'up trails so I can look cool for the chicks.

[Bryguy17]

brakes? you dont need no stinkin brakes!

but then again, it depends. I've never ridden rock-it, so i can't really relate to that. Anything singletrack, no brakes unless theres a sharp turn, I'm about to die, or there's something/someone in the way.

but more generally, I use both equally. keeps you from depending on either, which will help keep them from getting too worn/burned.

I also agree with pato, let the brakes go over the rough stuff, and the bike will end up floating over everything. you go faster, have more fun, and have a smaller chance of, say, endo'ing

[Dino Brown]

Front or back brake MORE on downhill?

I pull more front brake. Along with having much more stopping power, the likelihood of skidding is greatly reduced!!!

In general, Beginners use more back brake (fear of flipping over) while advanced riders use more front brake.

[gregOREO]

Originally Posted by jschwart73

Both, heavier front.

Ride It, don't Slide It

+2

i use more of the front brake but when downhill is a bit bumpy i tend to go harder on the rear brake