Originally Posted by
BCRider
While I agree with your take on not relying soley on the front for mountain biking that's sort of a different issue. In those cases the rider is trying to make the best of the situation without actually locking the front and ending up washing out the front. To do that while riding over the constantly changing conditions on most trails this means keeping a little in reserve. In this case using both is certainly the right thing to do. As a bonus what the rear is doing gives the rider a guide as to what they can get away with on the front.
Conditions on pavement are seldom static. For example, my state sands the roads...sometimes...for traction on both up and downhill. It is certainly wise not to ride a road bike as if you were on a mountain trail in those conditions. Relying solely on the front brake could very quickly get you to a situation where you could lock the front wheel and wash it out. Similar situations exist with melt water, ice and...worst of all...melt water flowing over ice
I ride in those conditions in the dark (and at far too fast a speed...30+mph on some downhills
) to not ride my bike like I would a mountain bike
Originally Posted by
BCRider
The bit zzyzx_xyzz describes about moving forward was about riding in excessively slippery conditions. The idea in that case being to put more weight on the front to try to achieve at least SOME traction for braking. Under such conditions pitching isn't an issue. Locking up and dumping it would be though. zzyzx_xyzz, putting more load onto the front may indeed allow the wheel to stop the bike faster in such conditions but MAN! if the traction does let go it's face plant time with a vengeance....
That's my point. Sliding forward is seldom a good idea. You might get more force on the front wheel but the results can be very bad