Do you cover your brakes?

[Brahan]

I don't really think about it to be honest. I mean I don't think I actually think about putting my hands on ot near the brakes it just happens. I'm super vigilant and when approaching roundabouts, junctions and tricky areas - I'll always stare directly into the relevant driver's eyes until I'm sure they've seen me, even if I have to slow down to a crawl to be confident. After a few scrapes and bumps I've learned that it's ok to take it slowly and not get caught up in trying to keep my rhythm.

 

[BentMikey]

The two are inseperable:

"Reation Time is the elapsed time between the presentation of a sensory stimulus and the subsequent behavioral response" Wiki

If you spot a problem early, you have more reaction time and can therefore repond quicker.

They are only inseperable if you want to argue and be pedantic, to polarise. The two issues, anticipation of things happening, and covering the brakes, however, are entirely seperable.

 

[Origamist]

When I did my cycle instructor training earlier this year, that was something drummed home to us rookie instructors (amongst other things!). I guess the issue is with a newbie cyclist how good they are at reading the road and moving to the brakes in anticipation of a hazard. Possibly it is a simpler message to say keep your hands over the brakes at all times?

I am genuinely surprised and interested CP. I guess Bikeability would not be in favour of using bar-ends to change hande positions on flat bars for this reason? Do they recommend interrupters on drops?

"Covering the brakes" is the same as "keeping your hands over the brakes" (in my book). Is this just a didactic method to emphasise the importance of covering the brakes?

IMO, covering the brakes is best practice, but it is not essential 100% of the time.

 

[Keith Oates]

If I'm in a town where there are peds on the prowl or in other areas of heavy traffic then I cover the brakes but out on the open road I generally do not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zippy]

When I see a car approaching a give way line I am about to pass on the main road, especially if said car is creeping.

 

[Origamist]

They are only inseperable if you want to argue and be pedantic, to polarise. The two issues, anticipation of things happening, and covering the brakes, however, are entirely seperable.

Let me bore you explain: I’m discussing complementary, interrelated approaches and considering their relative merits.

Covering the brakes allows you to react marginally quicker to tricky situations. Looking ahead and reading the traffic in order to identify and tackle potential and developing hazards ("anticipation" if you prefer) extends the window considerably further. They are connected factors in that they both affect reaction time. We appear to agree that the latter factor is likely to be of greater importance in avoiding a collision (and can offset the former and allow you to not cover the brakes 100% of the time?), but hazard perception is a skill that comes with experience/practice; covering the brakes is not a skill in itself, but understanding braking distance and your braking limit is. Where it appears we diverge, is that I’ve always found it more constructive to think holistically about cycling safety - that’s not to say one shouldn’t prioritise, or even think in terms of black and white on occasion, but reducing this issue to a false dichotomy does not take into account and assess the context, similarity, difference, importance, and interdependence of various approaches in a dynamic traffic situation.

 

[MacB]

Let me bore you explain: I’m discussing complementary, interrelated approaches and considering their relative merits.

Covering the brakes allows you to react marginally quicker to tricky situations. Looking ahead and reading the traffic in order to identify and tackle potential and developing hazards ("anticipation" if you prefer) extends the window considerably further. They are connected factors in that they both affect reaction time. We appear to agree that the latter factor is likely to be of greater importance in avoiding a collision (and can offset the former and allow you to not cover the brakes 100% of the time?), but hazard perception is a skill that comes with experience/practice; covering the brakes is not a skill in itself, but understanding braking distance and your braking limit is. Where it appears we diverge, is that I’ve always found it more constructive to think holistically about cycling safety - that’s not to say one shouldn’t prioritise, or even think in terms of black and white on occasion, but reducing this issue to a simple dichotomy does not take into account and assess the context, similarity, difference, importance, and interdependence of various approaches in a dynamic traffic situation.

wow, getting a bit Dellzeqqian on us there, just needed to finish with an ode and you'd be calling yourself 'O' again

 

[BentMikey]

Oh, I don't misunderstand you, nor am I missing the holistic view. Covering the brakes is a skill, albeit not a very difficult one, and it's one that can make a significant difference. Just because other complimentary actions can also affect your safety doesn't mean this is something to avoid doing.

That's especially the case when something you couldn't possibly see or plan for happens, or you just miss something. We're all human, and all make mistakes. Are you suggesting that covering the brakes is not a useful or effective strategy?

If you want a p1$$ing contest, perhaps P&L might be a better place for you to take this?

 

[Origamist]

Oh, I don't misunderstand you, nor am I missing the holistic view. Covering the brakes is a skill, albeit not a very difficult one, and it's one that can make a significant difference. Just because other complimentary actions can also affect your safety doesn't mean this is something to avoid doing.

If you want a p1$$ing contest, perhaps P&L might be a better place for you to take this?

I'm sorry you feel the need to charge me with the three Ps: Pedantic, Polarising and a taking part in a Pissing Contest - I was trying to clarify my position and make a few susbstantive points.

If you don't wan't to explore the issue in greater depth, that's your prerogative.

 

[BentMikey]

That's especially the case when something you couldn't possibly see or plan for happens, or you just miss something. We're all human, and all make mistakes. Are you suggesting that covering the brakes is not a useful or effective strategy?

So that'll be a no, and agreement then?

 

[Origamist]

Just because other complimentary actions can also affect your safety doesn't mean this is something to avoid doing.

See my Post 28:

That said, on a commute I cover the brakes 90% of the time. On a long tour, quite a bit less.

Are you suggesting that covering the brakes is not a useful or effective strategy?

See my Post 34:

IMO, covering the brakes is best practice, but it is not essential 100% of the time.

 

[BentMikey]

So just like me, you compensate for less than perfect practice by hoping anticipation will cover it? Yes, I'm no better than you, LOLOL!

 

[asterix]

Depends what you mean by covering.

Riding on the hoods my hands are near enough to hit the brakes very fast indeed (I have large, strong hands). However, on downhills where I might need good stopping power, I get down on the drops to get even more power.

However, IMO in town, it is better to moderate speed if there is the chance of any need to stop. Anticipation is better than reaction!

 

[Origamist]

So just like me, you compensate for less than perfect practice by hoping anticipation will cover it? Yes, I'm no better than you, LOLOL!

Covering the brakes is straightforward, but being bothered to do it is a different matter. I cover my brakes, but I don't rely on this to keep me safe (it's a fall-back, a low hanging fruit in the cycling safety tree). What is more critical is avoiding finding yourself in a position where covering the brakes or not covering the brakes becomes a critical factor (we're talking about tenths of seconds after all). What is key however, is to try to understand what traffic up ahead, to my left, to my right, and behind me will do, and act accordingly - maintaining a bubble of vigilance, if you like.

As I've said, the two approaches are complementary (and I've never suggested one or the other), but hazard perception is far more important, IMO. As such, reading and adapting to the road conditions is likley to have a far greater effect on your safety than covering the brakes 100% of the time - rather in the same way that your road postion is going to have a greater impact on your conspicuity than Hi-Viz.

 

[BentMikey]

Well, the bit we disagree on is how much difference covering the brakes makes. I'll go for a rather more important estimation than you suggest.

Asterix, IMO the hoods counts, assuming your fingers are actually on the brake levers. I can also brake at full power from the hoods on my fixed.