How PRO riders use their brakes to go FASTER!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ธ.ค. 2022
- #mtb #mtbskills
My friends, today I'm going to share something with you that could just be your big lightbulb moment. The concept of hard braking vs. comfort braking/brake dragging was probably one of my biggest personal "AH HA!" moments, and it's one that many people have told me has stuck with them in a huge way when coaching.
With a little practice, you can find a whole new level of flow magic out on the trails, and I'm excited to share this one here on Semi-Sendy.
Huge thanks to my channel supporters N+1 Bikes, Spokex custom wheels & HandUp Gloves. The best way that you can show your support for me is by shopping with these small businesses who help keep this thing going.
--- Receive free shipping off any bike and %10 off parts and accessories with N+1 Bikes, just by telling them I sent you: n1bikes.com/ or call: 502-718-7246
--- Receive free shipping & your color choice of valve stems and accent spokes on your SX310 wheelset from Spokex, just tell them your a fan of the channel: spokex.com/pages/the-sx310 or call: 951-506-9181
--- Receive 15% off your order with HandUp Gloves using code SEMI$ENDY at checkout: bit.ly/3g0q9zg
You can also support the channel by joining the Patreon page: / semi_sendy
Semi-Sendy on Instagram: / semi_sendy
![[ไฮไลต์] แบดมินตันชาย วิว กุลวุฒิ(ไทย) vs Kenta Nishimoto(ญี่ปุ่น) รอบ 16 คน | โอลิมปิก 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kaQRLljJkSI/mqdefault.jpg)
Got it, Don’t brake
I have failed you. 🫠
Got it, dont do turns and technichal stuff
Nope, only brake after tight turns or technical terrain, never before.
Wef it real good
Go fast, go hard! A wall is merely a setback
I've been riding and coaching MTB my whole life, the way I was always taught was to find a gentle pavement hill with lots of grip and draw a line. Carry some speed, and when you cross the line use back brake only, trying not to skid but slowly modulating so as to stop as fast as possible. Then, repeat with front brake only- stop as fast as possible without going over the bars and practice putting your weight back to counteract the forces.
In downhill and technical trail riding, this motion of quick use front braking is incredibly important- its the hard braking in the video. Practicing it is key for developing steep and technical terrain control. Your back brake is your comfort brake for maintaining speed on gentle sections of trail, and your front brake is the one that will do the actual stopping in steep sections.
My coaches always told me every time you come to a stop, do a little endo or stoppie. Quickly you'll find your balance using your front brake and how much grip you have on certain terrain which allows modulation on any trail significantly easier. Of course, consistently and gradually modulating both your brakes dependent on the situation is the key to success when it comes to braking, but getting the muscle memory for it by riding a lot is really the only way to improve. Great vid, awesome to start getting some of this knowledge out there :)
Also, once trail becomes too steep for your front brake to sufficiently slow you without going over the bars or sliding out, that's called controlled freefall- and what I consider to be the essence of freeride MTB. Maybe some of the biggest rushes I've ever gotten riding :)
I really like the way you've explained this. Having watched so many TH-cam MTB tutorials, I already knew all the technical content, but you put it in a way that really hammers home the importance of doing enough braking in time to enable you and your bike to handle the tricky stuff comfortably. Looking forward to watching the rest of this series.
I watched this video before hitting the track today. I'm actually a habitual brake on the berm kind of rider but consciously put this into practice today. It improved my speed but more importantly it gave me a greater sense of confidence riding the berms and corners. I had to verbally say to myself "get off the brakes" and I did. The bike handled better without any feeling of potential washout. Thanks for the video, it really helped.
"Threshold braking" is a car racing term/concept that helped me get a lot faster through corners. As in, waiting till the last possible second to hit the brakes, then braking at the very limit of traction down to the speed you want to initiate the turn at.
Yes! Good points. Also trail braking as well. Very helpful in certain corners.
i cannot wait for your channel to really blow up, it'll be well deserved!
Thank you, Nate! 🙌
@@SemiSendy Let me help that by subbing
@@OzcarMike641 thank you, and welcome to the channel!
When I raced motor cross, we would set a cone up before a corner. Ride full throttle until we we're at the cone and then go full break to drop to the speed we needed for the corner. We would constantly move the cone closer and closer to the corner. It was amazing how much time you can knock off a lap doing that.
One of the pros was riding with us one day and he said in a pro race you're either full throttle or full break anything else and you'll lose the race.
That’s a great drill to take this skill set to the next level 🤌
I can't believe it's taken me so long to find your videos. No nonsense and clearly communicated. 10/10!
Glad you found me!
I realized I’ve been severely comfort braking on my new fatbike. Started practicing hard braking on the groomed singletrack today and it is forcing me to trust my bike in the corners. What an incredible difference! Excited to apply this to the dry trails come spring.
Edit: typo fix
Heck yeah, Chris! Keep after it 🤘
Brilliant stuff, only getting going over here in Ireland on the trails, i tried this on Saturday last, massive difference, only a few weeks ago i burnt my leg of the back break disc, i really understand the the heat thing 🤣. Thanks again pal, keep the videos coming.
So true! Thanks for the reminder!
This is rock solid advice! In supersport motorcycle riding/racing, braking and downshifting before tipping in is a technique that compartmentalize's the job functions of a tires contact patch, i.e. deceleration/traction/lean angle, especially when surface conditions are not constant.
100% 🙌
Cliff notes version: Instead of braking in the obstical or turn, apply brakes hard/fast while maintaining control before the obstical or turn.
This content is what I’m looking for. Thanks a lot.
Absolutely! Great video, mate. And of course the same goes for (at least road) motorcycling: hard braking in zones so the suspension can do its job to maintain traction.
Great video! Very well done!
I learned this while having a 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler 5 that suffers massive brake jack. it's helped me till this day.
Great topic, thanks for the video! I learned about comfort braking vs braking with intention from a few sessions with one of the DH coaches at Windrock last year. Definitely helped with my runs there. Man, Windrock trails are fast and steep, exciting and scary all at once! Noticeable improvement riding my local trails too.
Rock solid coaching!
Windrock is one of those places that will really shine a light on the negative impacts of comfort braking. Those trails were fundamental in helping me to learn better braking skills, and they continue to shine a light on old habits habits that creep back in.
I was thinking "Wow that looks like creek, oh it is creek!" Had no idea you came up this way over the summer. Awesome video, very clear and useful theory on braking!
Creek! Such a great place. We spent a week up there leading into DHSE. Can’t wait to come back next year.
@@SemiSendy oh man, I marshalled that race! I thought the racers looked familiar.
Great advice! We’ll have a tutorial on braking soon!
Ahh yes Mountain Creek ❤
Took me awhile. Lotta crashes, bunch of bumps and bruises, but eventually I learned ... Lot easier going faster than it is slower. The "braking zones" was a big help, and especially when you're riding a trail multiple times, it really gets easier.
I used to love exploring new trails, and I still do, but I ride the same ones more and more and it really makes a huge difference as far as being comfortable going fast, and finding the best times to brake ... I still struggle with berms though. Jumps, drops and tech, not a problem, but berms give me trouble still ... And skinnies!
N+1 😂😂 love it
I like the creek clips
Interesting. Similar to racing cars. You hit the breaks hard before the turn, then let completely off and coast through the turn then accelerate out. Never thought about that technique applying to biking. I’ve always been a comfort braker. Going to have to try this.
well done sir, spot on advice this good technique really need practice because people panic brake all the time, i am guilty of that and yes ive done comfort braking too and definitely need to practice better techniques. Great channel buddy well done
Thank you, Philip! 🤘
Good tips brother.💯🔥
🤘
Hey, that's Mountain Creek at 0:56! That's one of my fave trails.
first love the videos and I see the videos getting better each time, good one!
Thank you, William. Stoked you’re enjoying them!
Brakes and tires are always my first mod if they are not exactly what I want. And I’ve always said the reason is that the better the brakes, the fast I can go, for exactly the reason you discuss- come in hot, shed the speed to where you need to be for whatever it is, get off the brakes, get back on the power soon as you can.
A tip for getting rid of habit of dragging brakes- go to some trail that you are familiar with and know the turns and features, brake first to get to the speed you need and mentally force yourself to not cover the brake as you go through. It will force you not to drag and after a few times you’ll learn to trust it. Eventually you get comfortable with it.
Excellent tip! Additionally, it’s always easier to go slow enough that’s it’s well within comfort then session to build up the speed gradually. 🤘
@@SemiSendy yup. Exactly how I did it. I still have to remind myself sometimes to stop covering and trust it. Lol.
Great video. I need to work on my breaking a bit for sure.
Thank you, Luke!
Good stuff.
When i've gotten faster... i've noticed that I get fast best by first slowing down and being a technique freak on entry and exit speed and then adding speed in the straights slowly lap by lap.... which creates exactly what you describe... later and later braking points.
When I try to go fast, I get sloppy. However, when I try to do each section with good technique, I naturally begin to stitch it all together with more speed after some repetition and faster happens by itsself... mostly.
Sort of light weight lifting, when you drop weight and only do the weight and reps you can have perfect form on, you get stronger in the long run.
Nailed it! There is more value in riding an easy trail well, versus a hard trail poorly. The speed will come naturally.
Great info. I have been riding road bikes for over 40 years. I just got into mountain biking about two years ago because it has gotten so dangerous to ride on the road. Sure is a lot of difference in the two. I love mountain biking but still a lot to learn. Again thanks for the informative videos.
I was a road rider as well, which had a few too many close calls with cars doing insane things and decided to switch to MTB. Started a few years ago in my mid 40's. I can 100% recommend getting some coaching if you have some available locally, it helped me to make sure I killed some bad habits before they got engrained into my riding style and allowed me to progress safer and faster.
Welcome to the awesome world of MTB, and grateful you're enjoying the videos!
Awesome video.
Thank you, roddas26!
Oooooh, you mean like racing!! I get it now lol.
Just getting back into it my new bike gets delivered next week but I completely understood all of this from a few years ago when I started trying to ride again... Admittedly that was an El cheapo Kmart bike so I was scared of the bike and the obstacles haha.. but definitely hurt my experience riding by comfort braking new bikes a talon 1 mainly using it for fitness but definitely would like to better myself at the job and get it done well this time round so cheers for the info makes a lot of sense after riding road motorbikes the last few years too I understand braking in corners is no good after a few hairy moments nearly shooting off the road
Welcome back! That new Talon is going to be an awesome upgrade, and I know you're going to have a lot of great times ahead. Cheers!
You can use the rear brake mid-corner to help you tighten the turn...
Every words mentioned in this video are very true….🎉
Not sure why, but I'm not seeing any video there. Can someone reply with a link? Thanks.
I spotted Erik from Gearworks at the front of the pack! Love it.
A true master at work 🤌
tires have a cone of traction. you go out of the coner, you slip. when racing any kind of road/track class your goal is to stay close to the border of the cone, meaning gradually reducing braking entering a corner, and gradually accelerating out of corners. MTB is a bit different because of how strongly the geometry, and suspension are affected by heavy braking, so you need a short transition for the suspension to settle beetween the braking and the cornering for instance. also MTB dont have a lot of propulsion power (legs) compared to the braking or cornering, so even downhill you want to conserve as much speed as possible
0:54 sendy!
I understand the concept in my head and I definitely can translate it to the trail on blues and some blacks. But when you enter the more technical and steep stuff it gets very difficult to not comfort brake when going down a double black. Take Hare Ball at Snowshoe for example, the trail gets so steep that in those sections where you would want to let off the brakes, it becomes nearly impossible for the average rider and racer to do so without getting out of control. Do you have any tips for trails with a consistently steep grade where letting off the brakes completely is barely an option? I suppose getting more confident and comfortable with speed is a good answer, but the average rider who wants to tackle some technical terrain wouldn’t necessarily have any experience going that fast. Anyways, great video!
Hey Kyle, I can definitely understand what you're getting at here. As a brief overview, the general answer is "try your best within reason and control, and try often".
There will always be a tipping point where you'll find a subtle division between comfort braking and consistent braking required to maintain control. Areas of consistent steep grades often require consistent braking in order to maintain control and manage speed. In these situations, the goal is to identify which zones are best for braking, and which are not, and try to manage your speed enough in the braking zones so that you can get off the brakes when it's most beneficial.
For example, if you're in a long steep chute with a section of more technical roots and rocks in one specific area, You'll want to control your braking enough so that if possible, you can get off the brakes in the tech, and then get back on them once you've passed through and are back in a better braking zone.
With the Hareball example, the sections that may require more consistent braking will widely vary depending on rider skill, as well as time and experience on the trail. Even the most skilled rider's racing there for UCI really have to spend a lot of time working sections to unlock and identify the best lines & braking zones, finding the smoothest flow possible.
For me personally, repetition and/or sessioning is key for progressing into these better habits and techniques when I'm riding a trail at my limits. Even after after finding that zone, time away can hit the reset button.
For example: My first run down Hareball next season will be rough, but I won't approach it for the season until I'm ready to spend a lot of time relearning it again. Whatever day I choose to knock the dust off on that trail, I'll be dedicated to running a number of laps on it and perhaps sessioning a few sections in the process to find my lines, braking zones and overall flow again. The more laps I get, the more I'll settle into better technique and relax.
I hope that helps!
100% I have this bad habit haha
Watching the video I’m like, wait. That’s my local bike park
Creek? 🤘
As a newbie, my biggest issue is that on my motorcycle it's around 80% front brake, after 17 years of riding motorcycles it's hard to change my mindset
braking in a corner is not optimal for racing but also an important skill to master if you come in a bit too fast, although usually leaning more is the better option
Ride safe Sir
❤️
From a car guy “hard braking” is called threshold braking. Braking hard initially and easing off the brakes(modulating) to tune in the speed you need make a corner(etc.). Mountain biking is relatively new to me, but speed and braking hard is right up my alley. Great video!
I’ve heard car folks mention threshold braking, but didn’t realize it was this concept they were referring too. That’s good stuff to know! In MTB it’s also known as “race braking” but I prefer to narrow it to the hard braking term since it’s useful no matter the end goal. I’m glad you enjoyed the video! 🤘
"Threshold braking or limit braking is a driving technique most commonly used in motor racing, but also practiced in road vehicles to slow a vehicle at the maximum rate using the brakes.[1] The technique involves the driver controlling the brake pedal (or lever) pressure to maximize the braking force developed by the tires. The optimal amount of braking force is developed at the point when the wheel just begins to slip."
Nope, what he described isn't threshold braking. He said to brake hard and early in order to flow through the corner and exit the corner with more speed. This is totally different to the concept of threshold braking as per the description i quoted. No offence. His description is closer to the slow in fast out technique we racing drivers use.
Braking hard and easing off the brakes into the corner is called trail braking. This guy wants you to finish all your braking before the corner so you can accelerate through it with great control resulting in a faster exit.
The problem is the bike accelerates again as you go into the turn which can be difficult to control and you may need to grab the brakes again causing all kinds of problems. Gradually release the brakes as you complete the turn only fully coming off when you have completed the turn and want to accelerate again. Also known as trail braking. I've also found with comfort braking in a rough section (not cornering) if I only use the back brake it stabilises the bike without losing too much speed.
Just send it!
Great video sir!
Glad you liked it!
This channel is a gem
Thank you! 🙏
When I first went go carting I wanted to go as fast as my dad who was destroying me and he said “just don’t touch the brakes”
bersepeda sangat menyenangkan 👍
Creeeeeeeeeeek ❤
Good video. I take breaks off my bike now. Thanks.
You are most welcome, Der de Der Derk Derglass.
So much fun. Maximal Der de Derk. All Berk no brake.
how in the world do you only have 17k subs??! i thought you had over 100k before look at the sub count
Thank you, Linfy! Working on it, hopefully we’ll see some more growth in 2023. The channel started 2022 at 3,500, so we’ve got a little bit of moment I’m started. 🤘
@@SemiSendy you will get there!
Where was this footage from. I know some looked like snowshoe but where else my son was like i wanna ride here!
Hey Bryan, there was a lot of footage from Beech Mtn. In NC and Mountain Creek in NJ. Beech is great, but there’s only a handful of trails. Really good tech though! Mountain Creek has a great selection of trails, with sone of the best maintained flow trails in the east.
@@SemiSendy thanks for the reply, Ill have to scout some videos and see more of those. This was also a great tutorial highlighting several of my worst mistakes.
@@BryanKeller724 happy I could help! Cheers, and happy holidays.
This video basically tells me that despite having mountain bikes continuously since 2001, I've never had a decent mountain bike! (...where brakes and geometry are good enough for 90-105kg 6'5" casual rider)
Not sure how more people haven't found you.
🤘
Another thing is when you grab brake it’s going to want to stand the bike up straight. So don’t brake while in turns.
You brake, you loose!!
Your body is saying "let's go" but your brain is saying "grab a handful brakes fool".
A true battle against instinct 👊
👌🤙👏👏👏
I thought I was going crazy because most of the footage looks like it was from mountain creek.
Edit: the best way to learn is to follow someone you trust follow their line and braking point and try to keep up with their speed.
Bunch of Creek footage for sure! I was up there filming and riding for the week for Downhill Southeast.
Best way to learn is to follow? 🤣🙄
Absolutely NOT. Perhaps in understanding lines and line choice.
BUT not for developing skills such as braking and lever feel. In fact, developing 'Feel' is something that can ONLY be learned by an individual on his or her OWN. I don't know where you came up with this notion, but it is rubbish. Following a faster/better rider might make you ride faster, it also might make you crash or be lured into mistakes. Progression can only be achieved on your own.
Not understanding this will hold you back. You may improve slightly by following but at some point, your progress will halt, because you are not developing the skills on your OWN. Your own vision, your own line choice, your own reference and braking points. Your own 'feel'
I suggest forgetting what you think you know and start from scratch son. If you want to improve, it is incumbent on YOU and you only. A coach can only TELL you or show you a technique, it is up to YOU to execute it, By Trial and Error. The best riders do not become the best by following... 🤦♂
@@archetypex65 I am usually the faster rider and I developed the skills on my own at my own pace with trial and error. I am only repeating what the slower people who ride with me tells me that they got so much faster by simply following me. I of course don't go all out at first when a lesser skilled rider follows me. But over the course of months I slowly turn up my pace till they can basically follow me at my 90%
They do tell me that they don't even look ahead anymore and simply mimic everything that I do. This might be what you are referring to in your above post but this of course is the end result from me starting off at 50% and now a year later they are following me at my fast pace.
Edit: now when they tables are turned and I am following someone faster, I don't even look at their lines. I do my own thing. Many times we will take different lines at wider open technical sections, I'll pump a different area. Typically the people who ride faster are faster than me in the corners because they are more committed. But since I don't mimic them or I am not as committed I usually start falling behind after a minute or 2. It's no different than racing. Some people are just simply faster than others.
Hmm, but what if I'm on frozen leaf covered berms?
Then these principles apply even more.
brakes convert kinetic energy into heat(energy). If you want to decelerate the same amount the heat in brakes will be the same
Letting go of the brakes knowing you can't touch them till the turn is over is scary and very hard to judge.
Im so guilty of this 😂
We ALL are!
1:23 Pun unintended? I THINK NOT!
Haha, it most definitely crossed my mind when I said it.
How about trail braking?
Absolutely, there’s many techniques and skillsets that apply to both cornering and technical terrain beyond what’s covered in this video. Trail braking is a popular technique that comes from moto sports, which is typically characterized by a gradual decrease in braking coming through the entrance of a corner, and one of those rare scenarios that’s best done using the rear brake. I encourage focusing on that skill set once the habit of comfort braking has been well addressed though, as it can be a fine line between the two.
For a minute, I thought this was BOBO getting all serious and then I realized it was SS.
Brakes are one of those components where spending more money can be worth it. I've learned that better, stronger, more consistent brakes allow me to go faster overall. As long as I know they reliably have the power to do that 'hard braking' when needed, I have the confidence to carry more speed through turns and tech sections.
A set of well (and properly) performing brakes are a must!
more air
less ground
brakes only
slow you down
This applys for EVERY vehicle, and I don't mean this in a negative obvious way.. but this is exactly the same "technique" you want to use in a racecar, gokart, or motorcycle...
I disconnected my brakes. They made my bike poopy.
back on oneup bars i see??
No, I still have an old one on the XC bike but I mostly run the Deity Speedway 35’s on my trail and park bikes.
@@SemiSendy ahh!! tested the deity skywire, Renthal Fatbar carbon, yeti carbon, enve m7 bars and the nukeproof horizon V2 carbon. the nukeproof has the closest feel to the oneups which is suprising to me.. replacing the oneup bars bec like you said before you have to roll the bars pretty much close to you and match the headtube angle to get the advertised compliant feel..
GOOD AFTERNOON SIR SIME SENDY IESH I CAV OWN A MOUNTAINS BIKEVIM FRIM YRENE STREET MIRAMONTE LUKBAN PROVINCE OF QUEZON PHILIPPINES
Is there an inside joke where you always put the next video box over your face instead of where you point? Seen it on the last couple videos I’ve watched. Funny intentional or not. lol
That’s strange, it doesn’t do that on my end. I just checked it on both a chrome browser on a laptop and on the TH-cam iOS app and the box is in the right spot. 😬
How are you viewing the video?
Mountain Creek!
its called brake boosting, look it up
F1 race car drivers know this: first on the brake is the first off the brake too.
A bit incorrect because all top Motorsport competitors utilize Trail braking you do not break before entrance let off and go you start initial breaking before Corner entry and continue breaking as you Trail off the brakes up until the Apex that is the most efficient way exploit Corner speed
😂😂😂😂 so your saying the best way to brake is not to brake 😂😂
So it's no different to racing a car
Unsurprisingly, there’s lots of similarities between cornering all sorts of things on wheels.
@@SemiSendy Yep good breaking is one of keys to good riding.
There is no one correct way to braking. Maximizing braking potential and carrying more speed is down to rider technique. Hard braking may work for some, but not others. Dragging or passive trail braking into a corner up to the apex may work better for some but not for others. It takes practice, trial and error. There is no definitive technique because there are too many variables. What works for you may work some but not everyone. 👌
I trail brake into corners all the time, it probably comes from decades of riding road going motorcycles, its only a light dragging though, I've tried not to do it but it just doesn't feel as good, on corners where you're hard braking into them it obviously compresses the fork, and trail braking up to the apex helps keep weight on the front tyre, but if I don't trail brake the fork compresses on hard braking as usual but when letting off the brakes completely the fork decompresses slightly taking some weight off the front tyre right as I'm about to tip into the corner upsetting the weight distribution of the bike, it makes me wonder why people say this for mountain biking, technically the same is true for motorcycles, two wheels, same physics, except the grip levels are much higher, and just watch any professional motorcycle racer, they all trail brake into corners.
@@benjy288 Yes mate. That's where I learned my technique racing motos on the track. It transfers directly over to any two-wheeled vehicle. 👍
go slow to go fast .. lesson one in karting
Remove your brakes. The only thing they do is make you go slower
? ? When you use brakes,it's not possible too go faster,only can go slower!
Oh boy...🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
So no brakes make you faster then a pro..
Maybe, but a diet heavily composed of pork and beans might produce more competitive output.
Get yourself a friend like @semi-sendy so you can casually pop up in his videos
….as you get casually sendy. 🤘