Originally Posted by
Salamandrine
Also, if using old school levers, do not descend on the hoods!!!!!! Hood position is not for braking, except minor speed adjustment, warm up and warm down after the ride, while going slow and telling jokes, talking about girls, cars, etc. For any serious braking, get in the drops.
...I've wondered about this, but never saw specific advice like this before.
I ride predominantly in the drops, and am prepared to grab the brakes in an emergency.
But ironically, I do most of my actual braking from the hoods. That is because I plan ahead, and get on the hoods when approaching an intersection or any other situation where the need for looking out trumps staying on the drops. Then, whether for a planned or unplanned deceleration, naturally I'm braking from the hoods.
I understand that higher centre of gravity and hence risk of endo
is a downside to braking from the hoods vs the drops; what else?