Braking is a basic skill of mountain bike riding, and riders should be proficient in mastering its basic skills. The following is a detailed introduction to the knowledge about brakes.
What is a brake?
1.The brakes are used to control the speed, not just for parking.
2.The front brake has a better braking effect.
3.The brake has the greatest braking effect when it is about to lock, and the braking function is greatly reduced after the lock and it is easy to lose balance.
Many novices prefer to use the rear brakes and less use the front brakes because they are worried that using the front brakes will cause somersaults. In fact, the front brake is safer in many situations, and learning to use the front brake can also be learned quickly.
Why do many people mainly use the front brake?
1.The front brake will have a better braking effect. The control speed mainly depends on the friction force between the wheel and the road surface. The magnitude of the friction force is proportional to the pressure exerted by the wheel on the road surface. When the front brake is used, due to the inertial relationship, the pressure on the front wheel and the road surface increases, and the braking effect increases. However, the use of the rear brake has no such effect, and when the front brake is used, the pressure of the rear wheel on the road surface is greatly reduced, and the friction force becomes very small.
2.When going downhill, only the front brakes have sufficient stopping power. Because most of the weight of the bike and the human body is on the front wheels at this moment, the friction between the front wheels and the road surface increases. The pressure on the rear wheel on the road surface is extremely small, the friction force becomes smaller and the braking effect is very poor, and the rear wheel will lock and slip with a small braking force.
Practice of using the brakes:
1.The brake levers of general mountain bikes are two-finger brake levers. Put your index finger and middle finger on it when riding, and you can brake immediately in case of emergency. Many riders set aside their index fingers for shifting and only use their middle fingers to control the brakes so that shifting and braking can be performed together.
2.The first thing we learn is to control the braking force, and gradually understand how much force can be applied to achieve how much braking force, control the braking effect and prevent locking. After understanding the relationship between braking force and braking effect, you can use the front brake with confidence.
3.You can master the front brake skills by practicing fast parking, and paying attention to the change of the body’s center of gravity when braking and controlling it.
When using the front brake, you should pay attention to the following:
1.When parking in an emergency, the body should cooperate with the brake to move backward and downward, to prevent the rear wheel from being lifted or even people flying out caused by the forward inertia of the center of gravity during braking.
2.When the front wheels are turning, the front brake should not be used. After the skill is skilled, the front brake can be slightly used appropriately.
3.When there is an obstacle ahead, try to avoid using the front brake.
Normally, the rear brake is mainly used as an auxiliary function. When using the front brake, a little control of the rear brake will have a better effect.
