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PART 1
1. Brake Controls And Features
138692 Rev 0 (04/22)
Section 4. Tech
GT Bicycle Owner’s Manual
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.
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 is transferred 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 descents, because
descents shift weight forward.
Two keys to effective speed control and safe
stopping are controlling wheel lockup and
weight transfer. This weight transfer is even
more pronounced if your bike has a front
suspension fork. Front suspension “dips” under
braking, increasing the weight transfer (see also
SECTION 4.F). 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 pads reduces
their ability to grip. The way to maintain control
on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly.
More info:
ROAD BIKES: DISC BRAKES
Now, go to PART II of this manual
and read “Understanding Disc
Brakes
on Road Bikes”
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