Just read an article on how to take drops 2 to 30ft (Bicycling Mag. June Ed. Pg. 87). It said that you should not lock your front brake while in the air; it will make your bike nosedive. Not that I do that myself, I have no time to pull brake levers while in the air, but why would a bike nose dive if I did? Is it because the wheel stops spinning and it becomes more-less dead weight?

Take anything Bicycling Magazine says with a grain of salt, they are not trust worthy.

I'm just saying what I've read and sharing it with the rest of you here! I did not ask for an opinion of stuff I read
PS. why do you think that they are not trust worthy? What other mag. do you conceder trust worthy if any? So far I’ve used several tips on stuff, from fixing your bike to nutrition from both "Mountain Bike" and "Bicycling" magazines and they seem good enough for me.

Consider the direction your wheels will be rolling in while you're in the air. As you lock up the brakes the force from that rotation will ultimately cause the rear of the bike to rise and the front to dive.

I said grain of salt because in the case of a dh transfer from the drop a slight nose dive can be a good thing.

BTW: Switch to SRAM. Shimano sucks.

I plan on it.

I plan on it.

Jim check your PM

MX guys use their brakes in the air all the time.



your wheels act like a gyroscope in a way.

Thanks for clearing it out for me. That's what I kind of thought but didn't know how to explain.

I forgot the word gyroscope so didn't want to chime in...

It is based on gyroscopic rotation. You can manipulate your bike while in the air by slowing or stopping the front or rear wheel depending on the desired effect. MX'ers do this all the time. It does take practice but once you master it it will help you pull of landings that you might not make or twist your bike depending on the trick you want to do.