Currie tech IZIP - Page 113

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Brakesaredesignedtocontrolyourspeed,notjusttostopthebike.Maximumbrakingforceforeachwheeloccursatthe
pointjustbeforethewheel“locksup”(stopsrotating)andstartstoskid.Oncethetireskids,youactuallylosemostofyour
stoppingforceandalldirectionalcontrol.Youneedtopracticeslowingandstoppingsmoothlywithoutlockingupawheel.
Thetechniqueiscalledprogressivebrakemodulation.Insteadofjerkingthebrakelevertothepositionwhereyouthinkyou’ll
generateappropriatebrakingforce,squeezethelever,progressivelyincreasingthebrakingforce.Ifyoufeelthewheelbegin
tolockup,releasepressurejustalittletokeepthewheelrotatingjustshortoflockup.It’simportanttodevelopafeelforthe
amount of brake lever pressure required for each wheel at different speeds and on different surfaces. To better understand this,
experiment a little by walking your bike and applying different amounts of pressure to each brake lever, until the wheel locks.
Somebicyclebrakes,suchaslinear-pullanddiscbrakes,areextremelypowerful.Youshouldtakeextracare
inbecomingfamiliarwiththesebrakesandexerciseparticularcarewhenusingthem.Applyingthesebrakestoohardor
too suddenly can lock up a wheel, which could cause you to lose control and fall.
When you apply one or both brakes, the bike begins to slow, but your body wants to continue at the speed at which it was
going. This causes a transfer of weight to the front wheel (or, under heavy braking, around the front wheel hub, which could
sendyouflyingoverthehandlebars).Awheelwithmoreweightonitwillacceptgreaterbrakepressurebeforelockup;awheel
withlessweightwilllockupwithlessbrakepressure.So,asyouapplybrakesandyourweightshiftsforward,youneedtoshift
your body toward the rear of the bike, to transfer weight back on to the rear wheel; and at the same time, you need to both
decrease rear braking and increase front braking force. This is even more important on steep descents, because descents shift
weightforward.Thekeystoeffectivespeedcontrolandsafestoppingarecontrollingwheellockupandweighttransfer.Practice
braking and weight transfer techniques where there is no traffic or other hazards and distractions.
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less
corneringandbrakingtractionandcanlockupwithlessbrakeforce.Moistureordirtonthebrakeshoesreducestheirabilityto
grip. The way to maintain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly to begin with.

IfeitherbrakeleveronyourbikefailstheMechanicalSafetyCheckyoucanrestorebrakelevertravelbyturningthebrake
cable adjusting barrel counterclockwise, then lock the adjustment in by turning the barrel’s lock nut clockwise as far as it will go.
IftheleverstillfailstheMechanicalSafetyCheck,oryouhaveanyquestionaboutwhetheryourbrakesareworkingproperly
have your dealer check the brakes.
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