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Old 08-16-09, 06:10 PM
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cyccommute 
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Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
Also, for quick descending stops you need to practice shifting your weight over the back of the bike and using the front brake more than the back.
Shifting your weight back is important but it's not so that you use the front brake more than the back. Most of your stopping power comes from the front to begin with. Moving your weight rearward and down makes the small amount that the rear wheel contributes more effective. The added benefit is that it's harder to pivot around the front hub, i.e. endo, with a lower center of gravity.

Shifting weight to the rear also keeps the rear wheel from sliding. A rotating tire will stop you faster than a sliding one.


Originally Posted by RatedZeroHero
and learn how to brake with the front as previously mentioned...
75% of your stopping power is up there!
but you have to learn how to use it or "endo time" it might be!
Actually about 90% of the stopping power comes from the front brake. There are some people arguing that you should only use your front brake because of this. However, what they are failing to realize is that the maximum deceleration of about 0.5g using front brake only can only be attained by lifting the rear wheel off the ground. Until rear wheel lift occurs, the rear wheel and brake contributes to the over all deceleration of the bicycle.
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