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Braking
Braking is one of the most important skills needed in bicycling.
And yes, braking is a skill that must be learned and practiced
in order to work effectively. Braking should be practiced
at slow speeds so that the rider feels comfortable and confident
is performing it in times of need. The number one braking
mistake is trying to stop with only the front brake. It
is dangerous because the body is still moving forward with
great speed and a quick stop will throw the rider over the
handlebars. Safety needs to be the first priority when bicycling.
Just as the front brake should not solely be used to stop
a bicycle, nor should just the rear brake. This is also
dangerous, but in a different way. Braking in the rear will
cause the tire to lock up and throw the bike into a skid.
The rider may lose control and fall off the bike. Proper
braking involves using both the front and rear brakes at
the same time and with the same pressure. In the case of
needing to stop suddenly, the rider must use the front and
rear brakes as just mentioned and lean back in the saddle
at the same time. The sudden stop stops the bike, but the
rider will keep going unless action is taken to keep the
body from flying.
Braking while riding downhill is done as mentioned above
with a few more rules. The first instinct to slow the bike
down is to hold the brakes down slightly until the bottom
of the hill. This method does slow the bike down, but it
also harms the bike. The continuous braking causes a great
amount of friction and therefore heat is generated between
the rims and the brake pads. The brakes could possible be
damaged along with the tire and brake pads. The proper way
to decelerate is to use the front and rear brakes together
and firmly apply pressure every few seconds. This technique
cuts down on the amount of friction, which in turn is less
damaging to the bicycle. It helps to sit upright while on
the hill because it creates more air resistance to slow
down.
Braking in a curve involves yet another technique. One
should apply both brakes before the curve to slow down quickly
and then apply only the rear brake during the actual curve
if necessary. Remember not to apply too much pressure to
the rear brake because you are already on a curve and skidding
and falling would not be too much fun.
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