Braking technique / Locking rear brakes!
richa
Posts: 1,632
So, new bike has meant a change from Tiagra to Ultegra brakes/levers.
[Wheels and tyres are the same.]
Whilst I used to brake with both front & rear and never lock up (admitedly the brakes weren't that good) I am now finding that I regularly lock the rear brake. This has caused a few incidents lately, including me 'hedging it' last week.
Is it likely to be:
1. Problem with brakes?
2. Problem with user?
How do i resolve?
If 2, how much should I be using my rear brake?
(I already have the adjusting lever right open to reduce the bight)
Off to Alps for the Marmotte, so help greatly appreciated.
[Wheels and tyres are the same.]
Whilst I used to brake with both front & rear and never lock up (admitedly the brakes weren't that good) I am now finding that I regularly lock the rear brake. This has caused a few incidents lately, including me 'hedging it' last week.
Is it likely to be:
1. Problem with brakes?
2. Problem with user?
How do i resolve?
If 2, how much should I be using my rear brake?
(I already have the adjusting lever right open to reduce the bight)
Off to Alps for the Marmotte, so help greatly appreciated.
Rich
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Comments
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Most likely you just need to get used to the extra braking power. Always use your front brake first and with more force than the rear. Leaving excessive travel probably wont help and may even make sensitive control more difficult. When descending steep hills, tray to shift your weight a little further back as the braking forces shift weight forwards making the rear wheel tend to lift. Unlikely to be a problem with the brakes as long as pads and rim are clean.0
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It is 2) I am afraid - your new brakes are probably more effective than your old ones and you need to adapt to brake more gently. It is always easier to lock the rear as the wheel is unloaded as your weight shifts forward. Probably about 70% of the braking takes place at the front, so I guess your effort on the rear brake lever should be proportionately less.
I am sure you will get used to them reasonably quickly, just don't forget when it is wet...0 -
sorry i'd say it's 2 as well, i found that when the old bike had new brakes fitted that it was easier to lock the rear.
sure you'll dial in how much you need, soon enought.
could try on quiet roads a few sharp stops getting to the point at which the rear is almost but not quite locking?0 -
Just don't pull so hard on the rear brake
Simple.0 -
You just need to practise your braking technique, try and find a shallower hill and ride down that and then practise pulling hte brakes on and then modulating the pressure before you feel a lock is coming.
You'll be surprised how hard you can brake with a bit of practise without locking up.
I found the standard shimano pads on my 105 setup gave quite a strong intial bite, whereas the koolstops dont sem to bite as hard, but give more feel through the brake lever and actually give better stopping power, So change of pads might help you out a little to.
But I really think you'll get the most benefit from practising using what you have.
If you brake really hard your weight will shift foward and that means with less weight on the rear wheel its more likely to lock, so remember to think about shifting some weight backwards a little if you find yourself with a lot of weight on the front wheel0 -
PEBHAS
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