Originally Posted by
PeteHski
Use the front brake. When you are braking (especially downhill) there is a lot more dynamic weight transfer onto the front wheel, so more braking grip available on the front wheel. Using the rear brake only to slow down is likely to lead to skids, as you have discovered. Personally I always use both brakes, but with more pressure on the front brake.
This ^^^^
Use the rear brake on long downhills only to keep you at a comfortable speed while preventing the front brake from overheating.
the bike will stop almost as well with front brakes only as it will with both brakes, and much better than it will with rear brake only. If anyone doesn't believe that, it's easy enough to do the experiment to prove.
em