Mountain Biking - How do you STOP???

Please help mediate a tiff between my riding pal (and teacher)...

i am female with small hands (not miniture but glove size is small and the fingertips rarely reach the end of the gloves) just got a new set of Magura Marta hydros (just a little side note: the gloves i happen to be wearing are winter type gloves with no little grippie things on the fingertips...will take care of this issue immediately!)
so i say to my pal "my only complaint with these brakes is the lever is SLIPPERY! and they may be a tad too far away" now...supposedly they can be adjusted but we have not messed with that yet...here comes the tiff...
while saying this i was showing him how my hands fit...i was using my middle finger to pull the lever. he promptly corrected me saying i am supposed to use my index finger...which is not long enough to stay on the lever on bumpy/bouncy downhill sections and it is just not comfy!!! my question to you all is "what finger/fingers do you use to pull the brake lever?"

thanks...and if i am wrong i chalk it up to being a noooobie :p

I use index only, but two fingers are easily acceptable.

i use my index and middle together. it's just what is comfortable for me. i don't know that there is a right or wrong... just what works best for you.

Asking which finger to use might give you the wrong idea. I can palm a basketball no problems, and still use my index and middle fingers. Its a habit from when I'd go dirt biking or three wheeling as a kid.

You mentioned that your levers are slippery. Put some sports cloth tape on the levers. I use the stuff in the winter. Yes it gets dirty, just change it out so often.

Here's another for the index only. But like's been said, whatever is comfortable to you is best. For me, my hands are cramping just thinking about using the middle finger only :) It's also a good excuse to give the finger to everyone ahead of you..... :eek:

Dean

I typically use index fiinger only. If I start to get arm pump, I switch to middle only for some temporary relief.

Any of the first three options listed are common. Whatever works best for you is acceptable.

I ride with the index on the front lever, and index and middle on the rear.

Hmmm, now that you've asked, I have no idea which fingers I use. I do for road, but not for mtn.

I'll have to hop on the bike when I get home and see what feels right, then I can answer the poll.

Whatever is more comfertable! The muscles in your middle finger connect to your forearm muscles better, and thus stronger. In rock climbing, i was told to use my index finger and ring finger more because of this. You might get less fatigue doing it your way, since it is more comfortable. But personally, i use my index and middle for both hands.

With most levers(not sure on hydros though), you can adjust the lever inward(starting closer to the bar) if you need to. You will probably have to slacken off the brakes a bit. There should be a small screw at the back of the lever that when screwed in, pushes the lever. Basically you are taking up some of the lever travel though so you don't want to go too far and not have enough brake.
I like your user name. ;p

Slowing: middle finger. Actual stop : index and middle.

I use only my middle finger to brake, and wrap the other 3 around the grip. I usually leave my middle finger laying on top of the lever when riding. I feel that this method gives me both a great grip on the bars, and immediate access to the brakes. Try it, you may just like it! :)

index only here

Index and/or middle depending on whether I'm trying to shift and brake at the same time. I'm using hydraulic discs, so I tend to use one-finger braking most of the time, whether it is the middle or index. Just do what feels right, and adjust your lever so it's easier to reach.

index most of them time.

Index or if I'm doing some hard downhill where I need lots of braking then index & middle. Just middle feels weird as hell...

Slowing: middle finger. Actual stop : index and middle.
This is how I actually use my brakes, as well. I think that's mostly because, if I'm only slowing down, the middle finger is the only one putting tension on the lever, tho. I still have my index finger on there, it's just not doing anything, really. Don't know if that's what lala meant or not.

I have always used index and middle. I don't feel as secure if I only use one finger.

middle finger only for better modulation, unless Im in " uh oh,oh crap" mode then its all available fingers. I dont have small hands( XXL glove with fingers touching tips ). when I had cable breaks I used 2 or 3 fingers but since switching to hydros the "bird" gives me the best modulation to strength ratio and is most comfortable
Karldar your avatar is way cool I say once more

I usually use the index and middle fingers, but sometimes on light braking I use just the index.

I use index,middle,ring. That's just how I do it for some reason, I'm surprised some do it with just one finger.

I use the middle and ring fingers, don't know why, guess its just what is comfortable.

I use my whole hand. Cuase my brakes suk.

I use my index and middle to rest on the lever. I guess it's from my motorcycle days of always covering the brakes.

I use my index and middle to rest on the lever. I guess it's from my motorcycle days of always covering the brakes.
Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Wonder if that's why I do it....

I grab the lever with my teeth and bite hard. It's kinda hard on the levers though.

Ggggrrr!..............dog boy..................

Index only as it's more comfortable for me and more simple. On my old V-brakes my hands/forearms would get worked on long descents, now with disc brakes, tis a breeze.

Index only as it's more comfortable for me and more simple. On my old V-brakes my hands/forearms would get worked on long descents, now with disc brakes, tis a breeze.
I'll have to try the ol' index-only. Gettin' hydro discs soon.:)

This is a 'depends' type of answer. When I used V's I used index and middle - had to. Since switching to hydro disks, only index required - even at full power.

... I'm surprised some do it with just one finger.
quality hydraulic

I put my index and middle fingers on the brake lever, when I want to slow down I will pull using my middle fingers but If I want instant slow down I will use 2 fingers cause more pressure

I am using AvidSD7 Levers and AvidSD7 Brakes and I have found it is very improved modulation and pull power. I used to pull with 2 -3 fingers on Shimano, now I pull with one, (the middle finger since it is the longest i guess). However sometimes when i need my brakes most I will slip the index finger on aswell :D.

same thing here, im using AvidSD7 brakes but not the levers though but one thing im sure is that this brake is sure much better then Shimano, if I use 1 finger to brake the bike will slow down but sometimes i want the bike to slow down quickly so i use 2 fingers

Index and middle.

Use whichever finger you are comfortable with. There is not right way to do it. If you are comfortable you will make fewer errors.

I also dislike how slippery brake levers can be. I use electrical friction tape around the levers to increase the grip. Just a couple of wraps does it. It is slightly tacky, and has a texture that works great. I think it is also called contact tape.

Happy riding,
GF

My hydraulics are so good that I only use my pinky finger to brake.

Slowing: middle finger. Actual stop : index and middle.

Yeah, that is it.

For XC my index and thumb are always around the grip and my middle and ring are resting on the break, unless I am shifting to a larger ring or cog then I push with my thumb. My DH bike has grip shifters so my thumb and index never leave the grip and my index and ring only leave in the rare event that I need to break. For steep climbing I tend to hold the grips in my thumb and three fingertips so that I can shift my weight for maximum traction and feel when the front wheel is about to come off the trail.

This is the way I ride but you should ride the way it is most comfortable for you. Because there is such a variety of lever styles and pad spacing setups there is no one right way.

I use a combo of middle, and index. If it is an easy section I will have the middle finger over the brakes and if it is light, for harder and more finicky braking I use my index finger. This technique helps to stop arm pump, my tracks not a problem but when I was at Thredbo Iwould have died only index braking.

I use the first three :D depends on how hard I need to hold on :D if I realy need to stop I do #3 if I need to hang on I go #2 and if I'm just crusieng I do #1 :)

For XC my index and thumb are always around the grip and my middle and ring are resting on the break

Same here, I said index finger by accident above and I tried braking with the middle and index today and it felt really weird. I feel heps more comfortable with middle and ring finger or just middle finger on the lever :).

With my MX-2's I use my index and middle finger. I guess if I had more powerful brakes I would just use my index finger. It kind of feels weird using just my middle finger.