Originally Posted by
habilis
When I began motorcycling 40 years ago, I was taught to use both brakes. One day, on a wet road, I decided to "experiment" with using just the front brake. I was traveling in a perfectly straight line and in a perfectly upright position, and I thought I would just have an interesting front-wheel skid. Instead, the bike SUDDENLY flopped onto its side. The front wheel had shot out from under me sideways. The helmet saved my head, but I had a sore hip and shoulder for quite a while. Motorcycles and bicycles come from the factory with two brakes for a reason.
Sheldon did list some exceptions to front braking in the article. The front brakes only is for dry ground.
- Slippery surfaces. On good, dry pavement, unless leaning in a turn, it is impossible to skid the front wheel by braking. On slippery surfaces, however, it is possible. A front wheel skid almost always leads to a fall, so if there is a high risk of skidding, you're better off controlling your speed with the rear brake.
So you actually proved Sheldon Brown correct.
And for the Tandem riders. They are an exception to a lot of road biking rules.
And Sheldon's articles are aimed at road bikes, so I'm sure that MTB's have a lot of exceptions to his rules when on the trails.
GH