dizon510

So I decided to go for a nice ride down to the beach and back. Seemed like a great way to start off the day. That is, until I went over my handlebars, scratched up my hands and got a nice little rub on my chin. I'm thankful I walked away okay. In high school, I went over my bars going down a hill and was hospitalized for 3 days due to a concussion. The other day the back wheel rose off the ground quite a bit as I stopped, but I was able to catch myself with my foot. This morning not so lucky I guess.The thing is, im wondering if having a front suspension contributes to my tendency to go airborne. As the tires slow suddenly, weight shifts forward, front suspension compresses, angle of body to road changes, flight achieved! After my first accident, I stayed away from using my front brake but after reading around and trying it out, I realized that the front brake has a lot more stopping power and should be used as primary brake. Problem is, I feel like im risking sending myself to the Emergency room when I use the front brake for sudden stops.

Do rigid forks decrease the risk of going over the bars? Or am I in denial of my stupidity + just wanting to buy cool new stuff?

Barrettscv 

You need to shift your body weight back as you brake while heading downhill. Can you get off the seat and balance the bike while braking? Also use the rear brake more and the front brake less.

Michael

PlatyPius

Launching over the handlebars = not getting your weight back when you stop AND applying too much front brake. Front suspension =/= flight.

uke

It sounds like you could use some time riding around in a parking lot practicing braking and weight shifting.

Besides that, the most important thing about braking is the same when driving, riding, or cycling: do it early.

nahh

The past 4 crashes i've had, 3 of them I went over the bars, and none of which were while applying the brakes.
The first I ran up on a curb because of a car getting way too close, and went over the bars, bending the fork and heatube. The 2nd I was sprinting, and the chain popped off, sending me over the bars. The 3rd I was doing a long skid on my fixed gear, and with all my weight forward I got tangled in the drop bars, making me fall fast and hard.

ian123

dont pull your front brake too hard that will happen

DataJunkie

Sorry but that is wrong.
I rarely ever use my rear brake. Most of your ability to stop is provided by the front brake. Thus, ignoring it is a bad idea. Like the others have said learn how to stop correctly by shifting your weight back and you will be fine. Either that or figure out a way to never stop.

ian123

i didnt say ignore it i said just dont use it to where it throws you over the bars! glad u ended up fine OP be careful out there!

DataJunkie

It could potentially throw you over the bars at all times depending on your technique. Now what?

unterhausen

I believe the front suspension does contribute to going over the bars, particularly if you jam on the brakes suddenly. That just means you have to be more careful to push your weight back.

KitN

+1

You should practice "Emergency/Panic Stops". Go somewhere with no traffic like an empty. well-lit parking lot. Wear a helmet and any other safety gear that you can get your hands on like knee guards, elbow guards, even wrist guards and practice shifting your weight off and then to the rear of the saddle while forcefully applying your brakes. Try to control the bike without locking the front wheel or having the rear wheel lift up from under you.

Good luck.

CB HI

In addition to the above, you should not skid your wheels when braking (fixed gear being the exception), modulate your brakes so you get the maximum braking but are just short of skidding. Be your own computerized ABS system, and that takes practice.

ItsJustMe

I'd have to guess that the main thing that's adding to your tendency to go over the bars is putting yourself in situations where you have to stop that fast. If you find that happening to you a lot, it means you're riding too fast, or in a dangerous manner (like too close to the door zone, or on sidewalks where stuff can jump in front of you with little warning, etc).

I can easily ride a year or two without having to stop suddenly.

I_bRAD

sounds like a good time to grab some gloves!

adaminlc

I've found that suspension can play a part. Bikes with overly soft suspension can rock forward excessively under a heavy braking load. You just need to be extra careful.

JinbaIttai

10 pounds in each pannier will keep the back wheel planted. I also wear gloves in case I go airborne.

Jonahhobbes

All good advice.

When I'm out cycle skills training I demonstrate how the front and back brakes work by running with the bike and applying one brake first then the other and then both together, try it.

Back Brake only- bike slows, skids a bit but not much stopping power.

Front Brake only - Bike stops suddenly, pitching the back wheel upwards, (which may cause you to go over the handle bars).

Both Brakes- The bike stops suddenly pitching the back wheel upwards, (which again may cause you to go over the handle bars).

Then I ask the question "what will stop the bike tipping upwards"? Everyone states weight on the saddle and they are correct. Don't be out of the saddle leaning and forward when braking. When applying the brakes shift/lean your body weight backwards.

For emergency stops braking should still be a combination of using both brakes but it should include throwing you weight backwards a little more forcefully which can involve moving out of the saddle and having your backside actually well behind the saddle.

Weight and body position is the main issue with emergency stops. I wouldn't worry so much about which brake to use first and how much pressure to apply as during an emergency stop you often don't have the reaction time to do any fancy braking, just apply both with enough force to stop while throwing your body weight back.

Bombing downhill and braking? Again body weight, body position and sensible braking power.

During all braking remember as DataJunkie has said nearly all the stopping power comes from the front brake.

Not getting into the situation, as covered by ItsJustMe, which requires braking sharply is the key, always be on the look out for things that may cause you to brake suddenly, kids and dogs on the sidewalk running into the road. Cars turning suddenly in front of you, potholes in the road. Always scan ahead and to the side so you don't get in the situation where you need to slam on the brakes.

Also its always good to have you fingers over the brake levers when riding as much as possible just in case you need to stop quickly.

KitN - recommends practicing emergency stops and this is really sound advice.

Hope this helps.

I_bRAD

great info

PlatyPius

I think, since I come from a mountain biking background, that I just assume that everyone already knows to slide backward on the saddle if stopping suddenly. I'm reminded almost daily that I shouldn't assume. lol.

That said, nose wheelies can be fun, if you learn to control them.

hannahmontana

Something I will add is from my time riding fixies. I found that if I thought ahead and used my spider senses, I rarely had to brake. Seems to me our "brake under all circumstances" is a psychological artifact from driving a car, where it makes sense most of the time. But on a much smaller and more maneuverable bike, it may be better to use your nimbleness rather than stopping.

PaulRivers

If your rear brake has less than half the stopping power by itself of your front brake, you could probably increase the braking power of the rear brake by replacing the cables. On my old bike my cable would get gummed up every couple of years - replacing them made the rear brake twice as effective.

ItsJustMe

Actually, the same advice (keep alert so you don't HAVE to stop quickly) applies in a car as well. I know most people in cars wait until the last minute and then brake hard, but it's not necessary any more than it is on a bike. I've gotten 80,000 to 100,000 miles out of my brakes on every car I've owned. People who I know who drive more "conventionally" than I do get more like 30,000. I even know someone who is such a maniac that she needs new brakes every 15,000 miles. I rode with her to a team lunch exactly once, and I thought we were going to rear-end at least a dozen cars. I won't ride with her anymore.

Yan 

I hate people who slow to a walking pace 20 metres before a light, and then proceed to let their automatic transmissions pull them forward slowly, forcing everyone behind to do the same. Everyone should buy a manual as their first car.

PlatyPius

fixx0red.

make1up

you'll notice here:
https://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

that Sheldon Brown prefers hooking up the front brake cable to the right brake lever (for right-handed riders) in order to operate it with the more skilled hand. I keep meaning to make the switch but haven't yet -probably will after next time I flip. There's other good advice there too -like all his essays.

+1 on the gloves idea,
Mike