Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Yes, you are approaching a limit. When you are still approaching that limit, you are approaching maximum possible deceleration. Once you have crossed that limit, you no longer can attain maximum possible deceleration because the rider is now falling.
The limit you are approaching is zero. The maximum deceleration when the wheel is six inches off the ground is less than the maximum deceleration when the wheel is two inches off the ground, and the maximum deceleration when the centre of mass is two inches behind the front axle is much less than when the wheel is six inches off the ground. And the maximum deceleration when the centre of mass is directly over the front wheel is zero.
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
I've also noticed that you've painted yourself into a corner. Your statement above says to me that you don't believe that the maximum possible deceleration occurs when the rear wheel just leaves the ground nor that "going over the handlebars" happens at that point either.
Maximum deceleration occurs when the front brake is applied with such force that the rear wheel is unweighted but has not yet lifted off the ground. Nothing I have said contradicts this. Every millimeter that the rear wheel, and by extension the centre of mass, lifts off the ground, the lower the maximum braking.