The undeniable radness of braking
Of all riding skills, braking probably gets the least attention. But it sure is useful. And, dare I say, it’s HOT!
Here’s a preview from MMBSii. It shows some decent braking technique — and it shows how little space a decent braker needs to slow down.
Equipment: Hayes Stroker Trail brakes with 6-inch rotors, Specialized Eskar Control tires, 2008 Stumpjumper Pro Carbon frame/shock/fork
Surface: Dust over hardpack
Distance to decelerate from 24 mph to 6 mph: about 12 feet
Time to decelerate from 24 mph to 6 mph: about 0.5 second
Ramifications: Learn to brake effectively. Know you can slow down in a tiny space. Let ‘er rip!
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Nice demonstration Lee.
I did notice just how far back the front wheel tucks under the front of your bike in photo #2. The axle looks to be in line with the head angle. Perhaps it’s just the photo angle.
Petey
Petey! Holy cow, the fork *is* bending back.
A little extra suspension, eh?
EH!
Let’s see the numbers for the effective head angle/trail!
Roughly, from the graphics program:
Fork angle at rest: 69 degrees
Fork angle under heavy braking: 72 degrees