When riding a road bike, the proper use of front and rear brakes is crucial for safety. In emergency situations such as encountering oncoming vehicles or pedestrians suddenly appearing, timely and correct braking can prevent accidents. Given that road bikes are faster and lighter than regular commuter bikes, improper braking can easily lead to falls. Here's how to use the brakes correctly: generally, the front brake is for effective braking, while the rear brake assists in speed control.
Why is the Front Brake More Effective?
The front brake offers the most effective braking performance. During uniform - speed riding, the front and rear wheels each bear half of the total weight of the rider and the bike. For example, if each bears 30 kg, during emergency braking, due to inertia, the center of gravity of the rider and the bike shifts forward. The weight originally on the rear wheel transfers to the front wheel. As a result, the friction force when braking the front wheel is greater, providing a better braking effect. In fact, the front brake accounts for about two - thirds of the overall braking performance.
What's Wrong with Using Only the Rear Brake?
Taking the previous example, when emergency braking is needed, the weight on the rear wheel decreases, reducing the friction force when braking the rear wheel, thus greatly diminishing the braking effect. More importantly, if the braking force exceeds the friction force that the rear wheel can generate, the rear wheel will lift off the ground, a phenomenon known as "fishtailing", which is extremely dangerous. This is especially true when cornering, where fishtailing can be more severe and may even lead to the bike tipping over.
Braking Precautions
- Avoid Harsh Braking: Whether using the front or rear brake, do not brake violently or lock the brakes completely. When the braking force exceeds the friction force of the wheel, the wheel may lose traction, resulting in either a "face - plant" (falling forward) or fishtailing.
- Prioritize the Front Brake: Make good use of the front brake. During training, use 70% front - brake force and 30% rear - brake force. The rear brake serves as an assistant to help slow down.
- Braking in Corners: Try not to brake when entering a corner. The correct approach is to slow down before the corner and accelerate slightly after entering it for maximum stability. However, if you must slow down in a corner, avoid using the rear brake. Instead, straighten the direction as much as possible and use the front brake to brake.
- Know Your Brakes: Before climbing hills or high - speed training, it is advisable to thoroughly understand the braking performance of your bike, including mastering the braking force and braking distance. Never take risks with your safety.