Stop Quickly and Safely

The last tip in "The 10 Cycling Safety Tips" is about braking. We would like to expound on this subject because we feel it's so important.

True Braking Story: A few years ago I was on a trail ride at Bloomer Park in Rochester MI. (home to Southeastern Michigan's velodrome). The trail follows the Clinton River and starts high above the river and you have to descend on a narrow single track with tight horse shoe switch backs through a thick forest that empties onto double track that follows parallel to the river. It was my first time there and I had made it down safely through the single track with my riding companion. We were riding on the double track when some other riders approached us from the other direction. We signaled a polite hello. They stopped and told us about a great jump we "had to try" just down the trail. JUMP? Of course we were going to do it. I went first. When I saw what I thought was the jump I started to sprint. I didn't realize it until I was to late, it was an illusion. The trail actually took a sharp right turn. I was going too fast and I panicked. Although I applied my brakes, I couldn't make the turn and went flying down about a five or ten foot bank and took an unplanned, refreshing head - first dive into the river. When I surfaced, my riding companion, we'll call him Gus, was stopped at the top of the river bank on the trail edge laughing hysterically, between the laughter, trying to ask if I was OK.

This humiliation could have been avoided if I had applied the braking principles below.

If you recently got a new bike or its's been a long time since you've been out for a ride, before you go on a serious trail ride or road ride, practice your braking skills and get a feel for how your bike feels. Ask yourself, do your breaks feel soft, or are they too touchy? Try imagining a car pulling out in front of you. How would you react? Or think of taking a sharp turn over loose gravel.

Weather conditions will also affect the performance of your brakes. On rainy day rides, give yourself more braking time. You may need to try pumping your brakes like on a car. This will wipe water off your wheel rims allowing the brake pads to grab, slowing or stopping the bike. Brakes can lock on slick slippery surfaces such as mud and sand which may cause you to skid and slide.

Be prepared to react safely to any circumstances. When you're prepared you'll react safely when you need to.

The parts of a bike that make up the brake system can wear out from typical riding. Most bikes will have a brake lever on the handlebars that connect, through a cable, to the brakes over the wheel. When a bike is new, the brake cable will be stretched out by the assembly mechanic. After a few rides the cables will stretch out more. With the cables stretched out, the brakes will feel loose. A loose feeling in the brakes can also be a result of wear on the brake pads. To correct this loose soft feeling in your brakes you can quickly reduce the slack by turning (usually counterclockwise) the knurled barrel adjusters near your brake levers.

When a bike is new the brake pads will have grooves in them. Braking over time will cause your brake pads to wear out. When brake pads are worn the grooves will be worn flat. Brake pads are easily replaced, but if you're unfamiliar with changing your brake pads, take them to a professional. It too dangerous to have improperly adjusted brakes.

Sometimes brake pads don't wear out but become glazed over. The brake pads react the same as good brakes should when pulled, yet they don't stop as quickly as they should. To recondition your brake pads, sand or file the thin glazed layer off and they'll be as good as new.