Still front brake first - ?

[simongt]

Sixty years ago, back in the days of steel rims and less than efficient brakes, I was advised always to apply the front brake first ( about half a second - ? ) thus apparently avoiding the rear wheel 'skidding out' from under you. This 'front brake first' is something that has been second nature to me ever since.
With the advent of alloy rims and a plethoria of fancy braking systems now, does this advice still apply - ?

 

[ClichéGuevara]

It does if the second option is hitting a brick wall.

 

[Vantage]

I guess it depends on the ground conditions, weather and how well you know your bike and its handling characteristics under braking etc.
I don't think there's any one method of braking that covers every eventuality but I suppose if it came down to it, it would be rear first then front. That way if anything is going to lock up, it'll be the rear which gives far more controllable a slide than the front.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Sixty years ago, back in the days of steel rims and less than efficient brakes, I was advised always to apply the front brake first ( about half a second - ? ) thus apparently avoiding the rear wheel 'skidding out' from under you. This 'front brake first' is something that has been second nature to me ever since.
With the advent of alloy rims and a plethoria of fancy braking systems now, does this advice still apply - ?

Yes. Most of the braking on bicycle or motorcycle is done through the front brake - for example the mahoosive twin discs on the front of a motorcycle and the tiddley rear one. The exception may be on gravel/wet surfaces where the rear wheel skidding is less likely to result in an off, but once the rear skids you've lost pretty much any form of braking anyhow.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

 

[Drago]

Depends so much on the scenario. For example, if you just want to make the bike fall in a bit quicker mid corner you'd only use the rear anyway.

 

[Faratid]

You mean you've got a front brake??

 

[Johnsop99]

I took an advanced motorcycle course/test back in 1987 and was told that braking should usually be 75% front and 25% rear. I have always tried to apply this to bicycles as well.

 

[Sharky]

Sixty years ago, I was riding a fixed gear bike, with only a front brake.

 

[figbat]

I don’t believe there’s a rule for every situation. Sometimes a front bias is needed, sometimes I’ll use only the rear, for example to control speed on loose downhill terrain. Dogmatically using a single rule will have seen me on my backside countless times.

On the road it is probably easier to be more consistent but even then situations change.

 

[rogerzilla]

I was taught to apply the rear brake just before the front.

 

[Mark pallister]

Rear to slow and front to stop for me

 

[Chris S]

I was taught to apply the rear brake just before the front.

Rear to slow and front to stop for me

Same here - I was told to apply the rear first otherwise the back of the bike might try to overtake the front!

 

[mjr]

I mostly only use the front, which is I suspect is able to fold the front fork if slammed on, but I'll use the back on slippery surfaces, when cornering, when towing ang for hill starts.

 

[HLaB]

My braking habit has changed. I used to use the rear first to regulate, then the front to actually stop. It may have been that when I was younger I often cycled on more slippy roads. But now I tend to do 99% of my braking with the front brake.

 

[si_c]

I use the rear to slow gently but to stop I pull both together. It's really easy to lock the back wheel up though if the road is even slightly slippery so I usually feather it a bit.