1. Adjust the height of your brake levers
If you want to brake effectively, you need to have the tool that activates braking within easy reach, which means your brake levers. Surprisingly, many people get on a bike exactly as it comes from the shop and only adjust the saddle height. The position of the levers on the handlebars determines how quickly you can react to a situation.
If the levers are too high, you bend your wrists while braking. If they are too low, they are harder to reach, and you lose valuable reaction time. In both cases, you also lose control of the handlebars and therefore of the entire bike.
The correct setup is when your index fingers resting on the levers form a straight line with your forearms.
2. Use both brakes at the same time
Brake with one finger placed at the end of the lever, where the lever has the longest stroke. This allows you to modulate braking precisely and fully benefit from the leverage effect.
Some people are afraid that using the front brake will cause them to go over the handlebars, so they avoid it. That is a major mistake, because braking with the rear brake only can increase your stopping distance by 150 to 200 per cent.
3. Place your foot correctly on the pedal and work on your balance
How effectively you use your braking power also depends on your position on the bike. It starts with proper foot placement and ends with your overall body posture.
Your foot should be positioned so that the pedal axle runs under the ball of your foot, approximately between the first and second third of the foot.
Your centre of gravity should be above the top tube. During intense braking, you should ideally not sit on the saddle but stay slightly crouched above the frame.
A common mistake is shifting your weight behind the saddle out of fear of going over the handlebars. This significantly reduces the effectiveness of the front brake and increases the risk of the rear wheel skidding. If you unweight the front wheel like this in a corner, even a mild one, it can easily lose traction and slide out, which almost always results in a quick fall.
4. Take advantage of ABS
This advantage is available to e-bike riders, for whom Bosch eBike Systems has developed a system similar to the ABS braking assistant used in cars and motorcycles.
Because of the motor and battery, e-bikes are heavier than traditional bicycles, and the additional weight naturally increases stopping distance. ABS prevents wheel lock during hard braking and, according to the manufacturer, can help prevent up to 30 per cent of crashes. It also helps reduce the risk of going over the front wheel.
With ABS, riders can brake more intensely and more safely without worrying about skidding.
5. Keep your braking system in perfect condition
It goes without saying that your brakes must be in good condition. I recommend having your bike checked and serviced at a quality bike shop before the start of every season.
The most common issue with today’s widely used disc brakes is worn brake pads. You will notice the need for replacement not only in extreme situations when sparks fly from the rotors because that already indicates a critical state; often, a metallic sound during braking is enough to signal the problem.
New pads are not expensive, and most cyclists can replace them by following YouTube instructions. In the case of e-bikes, it is advisable to check the condition of the pads more frequently, as the higher weight leads to faster wear.
