Commuting - emergency stops

I had a to stop my bike fairly quickly the other day when a driver made a left hand turn in front of me. It wasn’t exactly an emergency, panic stop, which was good. Because honestly, it was a good thing I had a little room to work with. I saw the car start to turn alright, but I have to admit that it took me longer to get on the brakes than I thought it would. And when I did, my weight was a bit too far forward, which made it difficult to really use the front brake for all it was worth without ending up on the pavement. This made me think about finding a time and place to practice panic stops.

I rode a motorcycle for 20 years in Los Angeles. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider course my brother insisted I take before riding most likely saved my life a few times. And proper emergency braking is probably the most important skill they teach. During my years on a motorcycle I regularly practiced hauling my bike down in as short a time as possible, because I had to do so for real more than a few times.

So how many of you all have tried stopping that loaded commuter RIGHT NOW before an actual panic, er, lets say emergency, situation? Hopefully there won’t be any panic. I know that we can ride for years without an incident and get complacent. But one of these days...

DanO

I have. The way I do it was to push my butt off the back of the seat. Hit both breaks and you stop very quickly. Not good for manuverability, but works to stop you quickly....

I have. The way I do it was to push my butt off the back of the seat. Hit both breaks and you stop very quickly. Not good for manuverability, but works to stop you quickly....

I've not had a panic stop on the road bike yet, but this is exactly how you do it on a mountain bike. Just push your weight as far back as you can.

I did have to execute an emergency stop a few weeks ago on the bike path, in order to save the life of a miserable canine that deided to cross the path maybe 10-15 meters ahead of me.

I was doing a pretty good speed (for me) probably 22-25kph, and I was amazed at how good the brakes on my bike were, as they stopped the moving 400# and saved the dog from some serious internal injuries at best, seeing the pearly gates at worst.

The stopping action in itself, I don't remember very well, it went by quite fast. I squashed the two brakes, blocked both wheels and skid to a stop, without losing balance or anything. Guess it also was some old reflex from my motorcycle riding days that saved that day.

And yes, since then I slow down and have my hands on the brakes as soon as I see a dog not in a leash.

BN

never done it myself, but you ever see some kid on a bmx bike try to show off sometimes by pedalling really hard and fast at you, then make a sharp right really quickly having his bike skid toward you leaving markings on the pavement.

i am not suggesting you do that, but maybe something along the lines

would that work?

it is somewhat similar to suggestions above, shifting your center of gravity away from the direction of your inertia to prevent the sudden change of direction from becoming anymore chaotic

The point is to not skid, period.
The moment you skid, you break traction and there's no stopping there.

I just grab both the front and rear brake. It's very very hard in an emergency to dial it so that the back wheel "just" lifts off the ground for maximum braking, so every little bit from the rear helps. Just brace your arms and slide your ass back so your center of mass goes back and the moment required to pivot and endo increases.

I'm in the camp that also thinks its equally important to a) find a way to get by without it (better route, positioning, etc) and b) practice hand eye coordination so you can dodge it if you can't stop in time.

The quickest way to execute an emergency stop is to move back in the saddle, hold your arms stiff to prevent yourself from moving forward, and use the front brake applying enough force to just lose the traction on your rear wheel. (Note that this is DIFFERENT from a motorcycle, where the weight and distribution of the bike allow the rear brake to slow the vehicle during emergency braking). This is very scary, but becomes less daunting as you practice. Obligatory Sheldon Brown link:
http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

Well, I teach panic stops as part of CAN-BIKE program. :) Like others said, the trick is to get that butt behind the saddle, use both brakes and not to skid. I *think* I would do all this automatically in a real emergency.

Am I the only one who does skids for the sheer joy of it? Makes me feel good to know my brakes are working. And it's fun. Yes, I am a 12 year old in my head.

Am I the only one who does skids for the sheer joy of it? Makes me feel good to know my brakes are working. And it's fun. Yes, I am a 12 year old in my head.
Nope. I do 'em, too. There's little marks on the sidewalk through my apartment complex, where the walk makes a 90 degree turn and I've used little hop-skids to whip my way through.
I also like doing BMX style fishtail skids (one foot off the pedal, swing the back end of the bike around through the skid) coming up to the bike rack at the grocery store.

I wish I could do 500' long skids like the fixie riders! That would be awesome.

The point is to not skid, period.
The moment you skid, you break traction and there's no stopping there.

I just grab both the front and rear brake. It's very very hard in an emergency to dial it so that the back wheel "just" lifts off the ground for maximum braking, so every little bit from the rear helps. Just brace your arms and slide your ass back so your center of mass goes back and the moment required to pivot and endo increases.

I'm in the camp that also thinks its equally important to a) find a way to get by without it (better route, positioning, etc) and b) practice hand eye coordination so you can dodge it if you can't stop in time.

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Edit: And I have pulled it off as recently as a couple of weeks ago exactly as described, with the rear tire just barely lifting. The real trick is to do it with enough coordiation to unclip from clipless pedals at the same time (managed it too that time).

Is that when you fall forward after unclipping and slam your balls against the tube?

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Edit: And I have pulled it off as recently as a couple of weeks ago exactly as described, with the rear tire just barely lifting. The real trick is to do it with enough coordiation to unclip from clipless pedals at the same time (managed it too that time).

Damn I knew I was forgetting something ... :)

Seriously - I have pracitced panic stops in empty parking lots but I have never actually come to a stop - just slowed to a crawl. And I have never thought about unclipping as part of the practice too. I can see it now - panic STOP oh sh1ttt fall over. :eek:

I say practice too. Start at slow speeds and work your way up to fast speeds. You'll probably never need this skill, but it could save your life. And it's fun.

I've not had a panic stop on the road bike yet, but this is exactly how you do it on a mountain bike. Just push your weight as far back as you can.

Yup! I think your problem Dan0220 is that you are using your motorcycle brain. On a bicycle (I mountain bike a lot but I started with road bikes), whenever I brake, I'm up off the saddle and pushing back...even when I'm just stopping normally. It's just natural to me. You don't need to do that on a motorcycle because of the engine weight but it's very important with a 20 something pound bike.

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Edit: And I have pulled it off as recently as a couple of weeks ago exactly as described, with the rear tire just barely lifting. The real trick is to do it with enough coordiation to unclip from clipless pedals at the same time (managed it too that time).

Don't try to unclip while panic braking. Too much stuff is happening. Learn how trackstand. I never unclip until I'm at a dead stop.

Don't try to unclip while panic braking. Too much stuff is happening. Learn how trackstand. I never unclip until I'm at a dead stop.

LOL unclipping is way easier than trackstanding. You're funny. :)

I wouldn't even think about unclipping. The whole reason for clipless pedals (at least for me) is to remain attached to the bike. Especially in a panic situation.

Also, while you're practicing your emergency stops don't forget to practice bunny hopping and the emergency 90 degree turn.

The best thing is to TRY and give yourself an out if case things get weird so you can ride away. I always try a have at least one escape route whenever possible. I HAD to panic stop a few weeks ago and didn't get back fast enough before my hands had clutched the brakes. Big front wheel stop, didn't endo though, scared me slow for a few days. Get back, get low, and get home safe.

I would add that emergency, rear wheel off the ground braking should be a last resort. I prefer to look for a way to steer away from the hazard, before doing a stoppie. In the situation you were in, you might have been able to go in back of the car by turning left as he crossed in front of you, but I wasn't there, so you have to decide if that was an option. I'd rather be moving because you always have options. If you are dead in the water, you are a stitting duck.

I always ride with my hands on the brake levers (learned this from motorcycle riding) so you can brake instantly without having to fumble for the lever.

And yes, practice panic stops in a safe place so you know the limits of your tires, but practice the panic stop with the front brake only, don't use the rear brake in an emergency! If you are really braking hard, the rear tire will be coming off the pavement anyway and locking up the rear will only cause the rear to skid and possible put you down.

Never had to emergency STOP, but had to slam on a few times - I ride a mountain bike with road (not slicks) tyres and not much else special - I've got new pads on the back, so I tend to lock them a bit easier - the front pads are worn in but are adjusted nicely to stop really quick without much grief when on regular road surfaces.

I usually apply the back brake first and very aggressively, but very quickly after that to hit the front (not so aggressively, I've had my front wheel lock and slide before, and that's never a nice feeling) and just balance the braking as you feel the bike under you - I've not adopted the shift-back-over-wheel method, but perhaps I should practice this.

Maybe a point should be made re: practicing in different conditions - as many others have said in other threads, white lines on roads get *really* dangerously slippy in the rain, it might be worth practicing in a wet parking lot. Snow would need the same 'training' I'd think.

I like to think I have enough instinctive experience to stop whenever I need to - when riding in possible problem areas (dogs running around, kids, cars, whatever) I will usually always have my index and middle finger poised to squeeze the brakes in an emergency, I've had too many close calls with unpredictable pedestrians/animals/drivers to not do this, I usually slow a bit off my normal pace if I feel it's needed. As my fathers driving instructor once told him "treat all other drivers on the road like idiots" - because really, I feel you have to sometimes - this goes for other cyclists too at times.

Has anyone ever put thought into what they'd do if their brakes just failed? Currently, I'm able to lift my foot and hammer it onto the back tyre up against the frame as a last resort measure - but if I add a rack, I can't do that - and I won't risk that method on the front - that would just be silly.

+1 to finger on levers all the time.... I was just saying that to my daughter with her first bike with hand brakes. If you are going to hit the car...vs it hitting you, lock up the back wheel and get sideways into it. You'll have a much better chance of riding/walking away.

I practice everyday. Especially heading home, once I get into my neighborhood I pick stuff in the road and either try to Quick Stop or Rock Dodge or Quick Turn away (to use the official EC lingo). I probably look pretty goofy swerving around and screeching to a stop, but practice makes perfect. And I'm also wearing a brace on my arm because I wasn't quick enough last Monday, so I'll be ready next time.

Why brake when you can just fly?

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/movie/et/06.jpg

Has anyone ever put thought into what they'd do if their brakes just failed?

I won't risk that method on the front - that would just be silly.

It is not a nice experience :-)

Winter beater bike. Ice storm had frozen the rear cables, so I thought I'd just ride home and sort it out later. Came to a stop sign, pulled on the front, hit the grip.

Luckily I was going slowly so I just put my feet down and turned to the sidewalk.
The cable had started fraying near the end and I guess the salt, rain, and ice just finished it off.

What's silly about stopping by putting your shoe on the front wheel? I've seen people doing just that and have tried it before. At least you can see how close your foot is to the frame then - you want it to slow the wheel down, not get jammed into the frame and stop the wheel dead. Maybe different with slicks, but with knobbies they try and grab your shoe. I wouldn't even want to try sticking my shoe onto the back wheel. Of course, a dead stop with that wheel wouldn't be as dangerous, but falling with your foot jammed behind you wouldn't be comfortable.

Has anyone ever put thought into what they'd do if their brakes just failed? Currently, I'm able to lift my foot and hammer it onto the back tyre up against the frame as a last resort measure - but if I add a rack, I can't do that - and I won't risk that method on the front - that would just be silly.
Not that it will stop you quickly, but if both brakes go out on a knobby-tire ride (I've had this happen; mud all over the rear rim, front cable snapped) you can stick both your feet forward and clamp them on either side of the front tire. The knobbies will catch a little bit, but not enough to jam-stop you.

Don't know if anyone has been following the PDX "brakeless" situation, where a fixie rider was fined, etc (I won't get into the details. Look it up on SS/FG if you're interested.) But there was a statement made during the trial along the lines of "if your client had a stick to rub against the tire to stop..."

Well, let's see how well it really works (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwVqHaYdC0I)

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Edit: And I have pulled it off as recently as a couple of weeks ago exactly as described, with the rear tire just barely lifting. The real trick is to do it with enough coordiation to unclip from clipless pedals at the same time (managed it too that time).

Yikes...I always stay clipped in and it's saved me a few times. Maybe it comes from a mountain biking mindset where it is common to jump around obsticles, but often the next thing I need to do after an emergency stop is to go somewhere else quick. It is a lot easier to do a couple of sidejumps and pedal around an obsticle after coming to a stop than leaping off the bike and dragging it sideways. They common situation I am referring to is where a following vehicle is getting too close for comfort.

Definitely practice in an empty parking lot. This is a standard part of most bike safety courses. It's true that the front brake does most of the work. In addition to the Sheldon Brown link, look at this one (http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/chapter6a.htm).

Here's an interesting exercise we did in the Road I class I took. Try stopping as quickly as you can with just your back brake. (You'll likely skid.) Then do the same with just the front brake (remembering to throw your weight back). Then both (still with your weight back). As expected, the stopping distance is greatest with just the back, and least with both. But the difference between the back alone and both together is dramatic, less than half the distance.

I had to slam on the brakes once, early in my commuting career, and went over the handlebars in the middle of an intersection. Fortunately, I was not struck, only landed side-first on the pavement, and I got away with just some road rash. I was lucky in a second way too, for I was not wearing my helmet at the time but did not hit my head. :eek: