Since your bicycle has two brakes (front and rear), one for each hand, to stop as safely as possible, you have to pay attention on how to use each brake.

Conventional belief says to use both brakes at the same time. This is perhaps a good advice for beginners, who haven’t learned how to make use of their brakes skillfully. But if you don’t go beyond this phase, you’ll never be capable of stopping your bicycle as short and as safely as possible.

The fastest that you could stop any bicycle of normal wheelbase is by applying the front brake very hard, making the rear wheel lift off the ground. In such case, the rear wheel can’t help in stopping your bike, as it doesn’t have traction.

Using the rear brake alone is fine for situations where traction is poor, or when the front tire blows. But when you need to stop on dry road, engaging the front brake only provides maximum stopping power. If you practice how to properly use the front brake, you’ll be a safer rider. Many simply don’t use the front brake because of the fear of the over-the-handlebar incident. This really could happen, but mainly to those who don’t know how to modulate the front brake.

A rider who relies on rear brake alone for stopping could get by until an emergency occurs, and, frantically he or she could grab the unfamiliar front brake as well as the rear brake, for additional stopping power. This can lead to the classic over-the-bars crash.

It is known that such typical type of crash is caused, not so much by applying the brakes too much, but by squeezing the brakes too hard without using the bicyclist’s arms to brace against the abrupt and powerful deceleration. The bicycle reaches a full stop but the rider keeps going until his thighs bump into the bars, and the bicycle, which is not supporting the rider’s weight anymore, flips.

This won’t happen when you’re using the rear brake alone, because as soon as your rear wheel starts to lift, your rear wheel skids, limiting its braking force. But unfortunately, it would take twice as long to stop with your rear brake alone as with your front brake alone. Therefore, relying on your rear brake is unsafe for riders who go fast. It’s important to make use of your arms to securely brace yourself during hard braking, to avoid this incident.

True enough, good technique involves shifting your weight back on your saddle as far as you can comfortably move. This is to keep the gravity’s center as far back as possible. This principle applies whether you’re using your rear, front, or both brakes.

Using both brakes at the same time can cause “fishtailing.” When the rear wheel skids while the front brake is also engaged, the rear of the bicycle will tend to swing past the front, since the front is applying much more decelerating power compared to the rear. When your rear wheel starts to, it could move sideways as easily as forward.

Practice these bicycle braking skills and techniques for a safer ride. For bicycles with premium braking systems, visit the website of Zize Bikes, the only maker of custom built, extra sturdy bicycles for everybody, including bicycles for heavy riders which can support weight up to 550 pounds.