Braking practice from Heather Lewis

[The Ant]

Heather gave some of us a small clinic at Moonrocks this year and one of the very valuable instructions was how to panic brake without going over your bars. Practice somewhere flat and straight first.
Standing up on the bike, start going forward in a straight line (esp. don't let your front tire turn), and simultaneously throw your butt as far back on the bike as your arms will let you - you're trying to jerk them out of their sockets almost - hit the front and rear brake hard. Make sure you stay wayyyyy back on the bike still standing on the pegs until you've stopped. Legs straight, arms straight, butt as far away from the handlebars as it'll go. Go slow at first and then pick up your speed as you feel comfortable.
Actually, she had us just hitting the rear brake hard first so we'd get used to having the back tire skid around and not bother us... as long as your front tire is still going straight, you'll be fine. But again, keep your weight back or you might go over the bars.
Anyone else who was there remember more to this??? Or just have more helpful hints?
-SusanP.
BBR230
CRF250X(almost)

 

[E-Ticket]

you'll be fine. But again, keep your weight back or you might go over the bars.
Anyone else who was there remember more to this??? Or just have more helpful hints?

Yup...! And don't act so surprised, Susan...... (grin)

All of the above is spot-on -- I just want to add some emphasis on one point. When you get up on pegs and extend all your weight backwards .... try to keep your rear-end as close to the seat/rear fender as possible.

That is, stand on the pegs, have your arms fully extended, and keep your rear-end as far back as it will go... and as low as you can go without actually sitting down.

This keeps your weight as low as possible (most of your body-weight is on your foot pegs) and your center of gravity as low as possible (by staying low without sitting down).

This low/far-back, body-positioning is also critical for steep downhills! It allows you to brake harder and reduces your chance of your bike tipping over forward.

Oh, and practice, practice, practice. Once you get comfortable doing it on a smooth surface, go try it in deeper dirt/sand, and then on some rougher ground. Then go back to the smooth and try it while making a small corner. Just by practicing the above, you can become a real pro at braking.

Major props to Heather Lewis for her impromptu "Mini-Clinics" at MoonRocks this year. :thumb:
She even had some guys sitting in learning how to ride better.

-- RandyB

P.S. We're one set of softer, 250x fork springs away from the "The Ant" becoming "The Flying Ant"..... :laugh:

 

[bbbom]

Thanks for the info Susan & Randy, sounds like downhill mountain biking style.