Mountain Biking - Learning how to brake

I am new to cycling, and I have a DiamondBack Outlook '05. I was told that in very steep downhill, I should brake mostly with my rear brake. When I use my rear brake alone without the front brake, my rear wheel skids. is that normal? and Also, my front brake is making a strange noise while braking. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

The idea is to not skid. It damages the trail as well as makes you lose control over your bike. To avoid skidding, you need to modulate the effort on the levers, and realize that using front brake, in moderation, is the best. Use "body english", which is just locating your body on the bike to cancel out the movements of the bike under you. If you skid a tire, you aren't in control (with a small stipulation of wet rocks, sometimes there is no way to avoid it). It just takes practice.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

I tend to do the opposite. I use my front brake for stopping and my rear brake for control. As previously stated by trekkie body english is key and the idea is not to skid.

Skidding = teh suck. Your front brake provides ~70% of your braking power, so learn how to use it to your advantage. Keeping your weight waaaaaaay back will help a lot. The person who told you to primarily use your rear brake on downhills is wrong. Please disabuse them of that notion.

I am new to cycling, and I have a DiamondBack Outlook '05. I was told that in very steep downhill, I should brake mostly with my rear brake. When I use my rear brake alone without the front brake, my rear wheel skids. is that normal? and Also, my front brake is making a strange noise while braking. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
It depends on your situation & ground, I use the rear for hanging turns but it takes a lot of practice & feel to properly apply the right amount of brake for a given speed .One can wind up on the ground or off the trail VERY quickly.you can also swing turns using your front brake bringing your' rear end off the ground & swinging it around the apex on really sharp turns. YOu can also use the terrain itself for knocking off speed.
Who ever told you that left out the part for "steering purposes" :) .Wheel locking can be a good thing if controlled. Front braking combined properly with rear along with using the ground is your best stopping power.
As far as your brake noises go try cleaning your rims off with some alcohol & a piece of scotchbrite,
& cleaning pads then toeing in your pads. :)
Edit: I am speaking of a Nimble cc bike (not a tank) travelling with substantial velocity down hill.

I am new to cycling, and I have a DiamondBack Outlook '05. I was told that in very steep downhill, I should brake mostly with my rear brake. When I use my rear brake alone without the front brake, my rear wheel skids. is that normal? and Also, my front brake is making a strange noise while braking. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

whoever told you to use the rear brake on dh is a flat out wrong. the only time you use the rear brake on dh is for cornering. any other time on dh you use the front. once you start going downhill it TRIPLES the stopping power of the front brake. the slightest pull on the rear is going to lock it up, and make you skid/ruin your trails.

The idea is to not skid. It damages the trail as well as makes you lose control over your bike. To avoid skidding, you need to modulate the effort on the levers, and realize that using front brake, in moderation, is the best. Use "body english", which is just locating your body on the bike to cancel out the movements of the bike under you. If you skid a tire, you aren't in control (with a small stipulation of wet rocks, sometimes there is no way to avoid it). It just takes practice.
I've carved some of the sharpest turns locking up the back wheel :eek:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
So i guess you don't ever drive your tires into the dirt while in apex (offroad)?
you never did a turn with you remaining upright & you driving the bike down under you (OFF pavement)?
Watch BMX pro racers they are nothing but smooth & most of the techniques can fall into MTB excellently with precision execution.

I swing my inside knee out all the time(with cleats) & it does help :p .

As others have said, whoever told you that you should use your rear brake on steep downhills is wrong; it won't slow you down, will trash the trail, and can make the back end come around.

So let's talk about things you SHOULD do on a downhill:

1. If it's REALLY steep, move your butt backwards off the seat, so the seat is under your stomach. It's just about impossible to endo this way, and you can apply all of the front brake you need, no matter how steep the DH. Today I was riding on a trail set with a really steep downhill, with runoff "levees" to direct the water - in other words, the perfect thing to kick the back wheel up. No problem even at speed if you're back far enough.

2. Don't hit the front brake so hard that it locks up, front wheel skids are not much fun. Over time you'll learn when the front wheel is starting to break traction, and will know to let off a bit.

3. As others have said, the rear brake IS good for changing direction on loose trails. We were training at race speed today, and for downhills with lots of gravelly turns, rear brake pressure was the only way to keep the bike on the trail. Just a little trailing brake makes the back wheel break loose first, allowing you to oversteer into corners. Again tho, this is an advanced technique and is very different from the "lock up the back wheel and skid concept".

Good luck!

Same thing happens to me too. I never use the rear brake unless im makin a cool skid-turn8)

As others have said, whoever told you that you should use your rear brake on steep downhills is wrong; it won't slow you down, will trash the trail, and can make the back end come around.

So let's talk about things you SHOULD do on a downhill:

1. If it's REALLY steep, move your butt backwards off the seat, so the seat is under your stomach. It's just about impossible to endo this way, and you can apply all of the front brake you need, no matter how steep the DH. Today I was riding on a trail set with a really steep downhill, with runoff "levees" to direct the water - in other words, the perfect thing to kick the back wheel up. No problem even at speed if you're back far enough.

2. Don't hit the front brake so hard that it locks up, front wheel skids are not much fun. Over time you'll learn when the front wheel is starting to break traction, and will know to let off a bit.

3. As others have said, the rear brake IS good for changing direction on loose trails. We were training at race speed today, and for downhills with lots of gravelly turns, rear brake pressure was the only way to keep the bike on the trail. Just a little trailing brake makes the back wheel break loose first, allowing you to oversteer into corners. Again tho, this is an advanced technique and is very different from the "lock up the back wheel and skid concept".

Good luck!
I would prefer to call it sliding not SKIDDING :mad: :p

Alot of this "trashing the trail" terminology i am reading is a bunch of horse poop :rolleyes:
It's like ride with your little panties on your tip toes,yeah right
I carve my own trails,thank you very much.
Just follow the beer cans & empty candy wrappers....

Alot of this "trashing the trail" terminology i am reading is a bunch of horse poop :rolleyes:
It's like ride with your little panties on your tip toes,yeah right
I carve my own trails,thank you very much.
Just follow the beer cans & empty candy wrappers....
It's morons like you who get legit riders banned from trails we've maintained for years. Skidding, (and other trail damage) littering and rogue trails all lead to us losing land were we can legally ride.

It's morons like you who get legit riders banned from trails we've maintained for years. Skidding, (and other trail damage) littering and rogue trails all lead to us losing land were we can legally ride.
are You callin me a moron? :mad: is that what you are trying to say :mad: ? Keep at it bud work harder i toss an empty beer can your way (congrats) :beer: Bolt cutters= okie fit'em all key. Got mud?

are You callin me a moron? :mad: is that what you are trying to say :mad: ? Keep at it bud work harder i toss an empty beer can your way (congrats) :beer: Bolt cutters= okie fit'em all key. Got mud?
If the shoe fits, wear it. I've had to rebuild quite a few trails due to the damage caused by people like you, and I'm not too thrilled about having to clean up after pigs who can't cart out their own garbage. Get a clue dufus

If the shoe fits, wear it. I've had to rebuild quite a few trails due to the damage caused by people like you, and I'm not too thrilled about having to clean up after pigs who can't cart out their own garbage. Get a clue dufus
I Raiyn on your parade & give you something to do on the trails. If it wasn't for PPL like us you wouldn't have anything to do on the trail. oink,oink oink

Ps. i dont wear shoes.

I Raiyn on your parade & give you something to do on the trails. If it wasn't for jerks like us you wouldn't have anything to do on the trail. oink,oink oink

Ps. i dont wear shoes.
Dear:

[X] Clueless Newbie [X] Loser
[ ] indy.netter
[ ] Me too'er [ ] Pervert [ ] Geek
[ ] Spammer [ ] Nerd [ ] Elvis
[ ] Fed [ ] Freak [ ] FLAMENET
[ ] AOLer
[ ] Other:


You Are Being Flamed Because:

[ ] You continued a long, stupid thread
[ ] You started an off-topic thread
[ ] You posted a "YOU ALL SUCK" message
[ ] You said "me too" to something or "Send ______"
[ ] You don't know which Forum to post in
[X] You suck
[ ] You brag about things that never happened or are otherwise completely false
[ ] Your sig/alias/server sucks
[ ] You posted a (phone-sex or a make money fast) ad
[X] You posted something totally uninteresting
[ ] You crossposted
[ ] You posted a message all written in CAPS
[ ] You posted racist s***
[X] You wasted valuable bandwidth
[X] I don't like your tone of voice
[ ] I think you might be a member of CO$
[ ] I think you might be a fed
[ ] You posted a "Test"
[ ] You obviously failed English 101 and / or posted using AOL'ese / TXTSPK


To Repent, You Must:

[ ] Give up your AOL/Earthlink/MSN/NetZero account
[X] Bust up your computer with a hammer and eat it (Ketchup optional)
[X] Jump into a bathtub while holding your monitor
[X] Actually post something intelligent for a change
[X] Read the f****** FAQ
[ ] Be John Ashcroft's love slave
[ ] Be the guest of honor in alt.flame for a month
[X] Apologize to everybody in this forum
[X] Take a trail maintenance course



In Closing, I'd Like to Say:

[ ] Bite me
[ ] Get a life
[ ] Never post again
[ ] I pity your dog
[ ] Go to hell
[ ] I think your IQ must be 7
[ ] Take your s*** somewhere else
[ ] Learn to post or f*** off
[ ] Do us all a favor and jump into some industrial equipment
[ ] See how far your tongue will fit into the electric outlet
[ ] Consider your next post wisely, as it may be your last
[X] All of the above

:D Have a nice day :D

Okay folks. Let's keep it civil. And if you're out there trashing public trails then at least have the courtesy to go fix your damage.

Dear:

[X] Clueless Newbie [X] Loser
[ ] indy.netter
[ ] Me too'er [ ] Pervert [ ] Geek
[ ] Spammer [ ] Nerd [ ] Elvis
[ ] Fed [ ] Freak [ ] FLAMENET
[ ] AOLer
[ ] Other:


You Are Being Flamed Because:

[ ] You continued a long, stupid thread
[ ] You started an off-topic thread
[ ] You posted a "YOU ALL SUCK" message
[ ] You said "me too" to something or "Send ______"
[ ] You don't know which Forum to post in
[X] You suck
[ ] You brag about things that never happened or are otherwise completely false
[ ] Your sig/alias/server sucks
[ ] You posted a (phone-sex or a make money fast) ad
[X] You posted something totally uninteresting
[ ] You crossposted
[ ] You posted a message all written in CAPS
[ ] You posted racist s***
[X] You wasted valuable bandwidth
[X] I don't like your tone of voice
[ ] I think you might be a member of CO$
[ ] I think you might be a fed
[ ] You posted a "Test"
[ ] You obviously failed English 101 and / or posted using AOL'ese / TXTSPK


To Repent, You Must:

[ ] Give up your AOL/Earthlink/MSN/NetZero account
[X] Bust up your computer with a hammer and eat it (Ketchup optional)
[X] Jump into a bathtub while holding your monitor
[X] Actually post something intelligent for a change
[X] Read the f****** FAQ
[ ] Be John Ashcroft's love slave
[ ] Be the guest of honor in alt.flame for a month
[X] Apologize to everybody in this forum
[X] Take a trail maintenance course



In Closing, I'd Like to Say:

[ ] Bite me
[ ] Get a life
[ ] Never post again
[ ] I pity your dog
[ ] Go to hell
[ ] I think your IQ must be 7
[ ] Take your s*** somewhere else
[ ] Learn to post or f*** off
[ ] Do us all a favor and jump into some industrial equipment
[ ] See how far your tongue will fit into the electric outlet
[ ] Consider your next post wisely, as it may be your last
[X] All of the above

:D Have a nice day :D
I do what i do you do what you do. Simple as that :p

I do what i do you do what you do. Simple as that :p
The differance is good people don't have to clean up after me. It would be like you allowing me into your house and then me taking a dump on your couch and kicking in your TV.

As an explanation for what just transpired, consult my sig.

As an explanation for what just transpired, consult my sig.
It's all good, he won't be here in a few hours.

The differance is good people don't have to clean up after me. It would be like you allowing me into your house and then me taking a dump on your couch and kicking in your TV.
I would be pleased if you tried it. that's the "differance" being okie.
If i wanna slide corners, i am going to DO IT & none of your wanna be strategic horse c**p is going to stop me their jr.
ooooooo & i'm telling...

It's morons like you who get legit riders banned from trails we've maintained for years. Skidding, (and other trail damage) littering and rogue trails all lead to us losing land were we can legally ride.

Amen! We had a trail closed in out area last year,people destroyed it slidingans skiding. Hey Dufus,how much public trail work have you done?

Wow. That devolved in a hurry.

[Quote**I would be pleased if you tried it. that's the "differance" being okie.
If i wanna slide corners, i am going to DO IT & none of your wanna be strategic horse c**p is going to stop me their jr.
ooooooo & i'm telling...[End Quote**

It's just a shame that someone as rude as this is a cyclist of any kind. And has ruined a thread with a decent question by the OP and answers by several iteelligent BF members. Hope the mods read this thread and boot him.

Wow is this funny:)

Ummm - maybe I'm wrong, but I think stdufus might be having a little fun with you...?

wow, just wow. i am just glad you dont ride on my trails.

So i guess you don't ever drive your tires into the dirt while in apex (offroad)?
you never did a turn with you remaining upright & you driving the bike down under you (OFF pavement)?
Watch BMX pro racers they are nothing but smooth & most of the techniques can fall into MTB excellently with precision execution.
yeah i read it after and was like wait, oops, but i guess you can use some of those techniques in mountain biking

Raiyn: I was riding along purely & solitarily shotgun, YOU hit a corner with this & took to the linear path & started attacking MY intelligence by callling ME a "moron".I might very well be a "moron" but it taint your place to cast EMPTIES.If your aesthetics & morality are so strong as you claim, you should be cleaning not casting empties like some sort of baby.
Like i say "you do what you do, i do what i do." Deal with it.
STD

wow, just wow. i am just glad you dont ride on my trails.
Nothing to worry about,
i wouldn't EVER Ride ones own personal trails without first getting consent. :)

When I use my rear brake alone without the front brake, my rear wheel skids. is that normal?

no this is not normal. you need a new brake

you should ony be using your rear brake. by using your front brake you risk getting thrown over the bars. i suggest removing it so you'll save weight. furthermore, skidding stops you faster and is much cooler than threshhold braking. who cares if you're wrecking the trail. besides, liberals and hippies clean up the trail anyway.

I would be pleased if you tried it. that's the "differance" being okie.
If i wanna slide corners, i am going to DO IT & none of your wanna be strategic horse c**p is going to stop me their jr.
ooooooo & i'm telling...

Typical Sociopath.. inconsiderate of others and expects the same treatment in return. Everyone else has to clean up after.

you should ony be using your rear brake. by using your front brake you risk getting thrown over the bars. i suggest removing it so you'll save weight. furthermore, skidding stops you faster and is much cooler than threshhold braking. who cares if you're wrecking the trail. besides, liberals and hippies clean up the trail anyway.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......Troll.

Good lord, I feel dumber after reading all that.

Raiyn: I was riding along purely & solitarily shotgun, YOU hit a corner with this & took to the linear path & started attacking MY intelligence by callling ME a "moron".I might very well be a "moron" but it taint your place to cast EMPTIES.
Let me join in with Raiyn... you are a complete and utter moron. A total waste of space, air, and food. You're the type of selfish, stupid, utterly arrogant twit that forces the decent people of the planet to work that much harder to make things bearable for everyone else.

You can say what you want and do what you want? Fine, so do we. We have every right to judge you. It's our place to tell you what an idiot you are every single time you post. (In your case, however, we have to use shorter words, but... oh well.) You deserve all the poo being flung your way and then some.

Do us all a favor, 'dufus', go slap your parents for being such negligent trash. It's what they deserve for you turning out this way.

Good lord, I feel dumber after reading all that.

Let me join in with Raiyn... you are a complete and utter moron. A total waste of space, air, and food. You're the type of selfish, stupid, utterly arrogant twit that forces the decent people of the planet to work that much harder to make things bearable for everyone else.

You can say what you want and do what you want? Fine, so do we. We have every right to judge you. It's our place to tell you what an idiot you are every single time you post. (In your case, however, we have to use shorter words, but... oh well.) You deserve all the poo being flung your way and then some.

Do us all a favor, 'dufus', go slap your parents for being such negligent trash. It's what they deserve for you turning out this way.
If you don't comprehend what i posted (the trail of this one you arrogantly attached your 2cents to) that's your business. I am not gonna kick up any chunks of trail to that. A cubicle slug goofball with the motto of "brewer of Kool-aid" is alright in my book :p
Everyone has to "join" in & be a part of something....eh? :rolleyes:
STD

PS, i had no "parents" , i was left on the trailside as a baby & raised up by the wolves :) .
Bigfoot has arrived!!

lol

Typical Sociopath.. inconsiderate of others and expects the same treatment in return. Everyone else has to clean up after.
Not really, i would analytically dub myself as a typical sociopolitician :)

Good lord, I feel dumber after reading all that.

Let me join in with Raiyn... you are a complete and utter moron. A total waste of space, air, and food. You're the type of selfish, stupid, utterly arrogant twit that forces the decent people of the planet to work that much harder to make things bearable for everyone else.

You can say what you want and do what you want? Fine, so do we. We have every right to judge you. It's our place to tell you what an idiot you are every single time you post. (In your case, however, we have to use shorter words, but... oh well.) You deserve all the poo being flung your way and then some.

Do us all a favor, 'dufus', go slap your parents for being such negligent trash. It's what they deserve for you turning out this way.

OWN't

It was very fun to type.

It depends on your situation & ground, I use the rear for hanging turns but it takes a lot of practice & feel to properly apply the right amount of brake for a given speed .

You don't take care of the trail you ride ... do you????

Next time, instead of fishtailing your ride, try moving your weight into the front wheel moving into the corner, than inside the corner, lean to the inside while pushing the bike to the outside.

Beyond that, all skids accomplish is washing out your speed. In a turn, you have to translate your momentum from one direction to another. If you skid out, you aren't transferring that speed, you're rubber braking.

If you don't believe, try go carting some time on unregulated engines. Fishtailing through corners is a sure fire 100% way to lose your position.

If you don't comprehend what i posted (the trail of this one you arrogantly attached your 2cents to) that's your business. I am not gonna kick up any chunks of trail to that. A cubicle slug goofball with the motto of "brewer of Kool-aid" is alright in my book :p
Everyone has to "join" in & be a part of something....eh? :rolleyes:
STD

PS, i had no "parents" , i was left on the trailside as a baby & raised up by the wolves :) .
Bigfoot has arrived!!

Fellow cyclist,

MTB trails are not an invasive species. They aren't like kudzu that sprouts up at random for your personal use. They are not a government entitlement that you can demand from your local, state or federal municipality.

NONE of us own the trails. However, some of us do act as stewards. And we greatly appreciate it when users who do NOT contribute listen instead of lecturing. If you contributed and spent some time building and fixing trails, I think you would have more appreciation for why we:

a) Don't appreciate users locking up their back wheels around corners.
b) Don't appreciate users locking up their back wheels going downhill.

Both techniques tear up the trail surface and make it more vulnerable to erosion.

ive always been told to use my back break and my fornt break and neaver stop wiyh one, is this true or was my lbs lieing, oh yea dont try to jump your outlook (i kinda learned that the hard way)

ive always been told to use my back break and my fornt break and neaver stop wiyh one, is this true or was my lbs lieing
It's been a while since I read Sheldon's "how to brake properly" tutorial, but I think he says something along the lines of (to heavily refactor as a paraphrase) "if you want a simplistic technique that's hardly perfect, just use both brakes together; it's better than always blindly using only one". If you have the time, read his website for some more insightful and detailed tips and advice.

I have been MTB'ng before there was such a things & i don't care about any of your "politicly* correct" rhetoric. Now if you CLAIM you have never slided on the off pavement terrain, YOU are a LIAR. Simple as that. One more thing, sliding can also be a psychological intimidation tool in competetive situations.
Most of this thread string is nothing but blowing smoke trying to show who is the best politicly* correct.
so :p . Let that go & "slide" away. :rolleyes:

(*politicly or politically,you choose) :)
STD

I have been MTB'ng before there was such a things & i don't care about any of your "politicly* correct" rhetoric. Now if you CLAIM you have never slided on the off pavement terrain, YOU are a LIAR. Simple as that. One more thing, sliding can also be a psychological intimidation tool in competetive situations.
Most of this thread string is nothing but blowing smoke trying to show who is the best politicly* correct.
so :p . Let that go & "slide" away. :rolleyes:

(*politicly or politically,you choose) :)
STD

I call bs, it is people like you who get trails closed and in a competitive situation the only perception people will have of you if you slide a bike in the turns is of a dork and as of a bad rider. A good rider will break before or lightly brake in the turn and take the turn in an apex, in other terms you take it like a formula one car on a wide open course, go into the turn from the outside hit the bottom mid turn and exit high with a bunch of momentum. Sliding scrubs off too much speed, damages the trail, and is not impressive/intimidiating at all. If you put in consistent fast times, people will respect you and respect is much more effective than intimidation is.

I'm not lying at all about this, I never slid any of my bikes when cornering on the dirt, the only time I slid the rear tire was to finish off a tire that was about completely worn out, and that was on pavement, I was taught as a kid that sliding when cornering slows you down and is hard on the equipment.