I've always ridden with the front brake on the left. But since I am right handed and don't have very much control with my left, I want to switch the set up. Should I?
@GCN, because some countries are weird? (like the UK ;) ) No but seriously, isn't that because of the side you guys ride on? Because you guys ride on the other side of the road, and switch the brakes around. So I guess it has to do with that. When you guys turn left, you can signal, but it isn't really neccesary, so you can keep your hand on the rear brake, so you don't fly over the handlebars. When you turn right, you can signal easily, whilst still braking on the rear, and so you don't fly over the handlebars. With us it is different, we ride on the ride side of the road, so when turning right, we can do it without signalling, and keep our hands on the rear brake, and when we turn left, we can signal, and brake as well at the same time. I mean, I don't know that for sure, but that seems to me like a possibiltity. (BUT!!! always signal if it is safe to do so, even if it doesn't seem neccesary!!!)
Hi guys! I would like to know how to fuel for long rides and sportives (over 8 hours in the saddle). Should I pack just bars and gels or should I also get some sandwiches or else? Also, why does Si hate chainkeepers? Cheers guys #TorqueBack
I use my average speed on every ride, as a pacing tool, so that I can constantly increase my average pace by 0.1. Now, depending on weather/traffic/hills, that increase in pace can be tough, but it keeps me, and my mind busy with the goal of increasing throughout my ride.
ErockSaysSCsucks MilSaysSCsucks I used to use that technique all the time. But I find it increasingly difficult to get a cycling computer that does corrupt my average speed by stopping time when I stop at a red light.
I had read a long long time ago that brake set-up with the right hand to the rear brake was because most people are right handed and have a stronger grip on the right... and putting the right hand with the rear brake allowed riders to match the brake strength between the front and the rear to allow more even stopping. This might have been in Davis Phinney's book.
What Si said about the road crossing was half correct, its back brake on the left because if you were to pull the front brake with only one hand on the handlebar you'll find that the front wheel veers off line and is much twitcher with only one hand to hold it. Therefore it is safer to brake with the rear when crossing traffic despite having less braking power. Rather have too much speed than the bike uncontrollable with oncoming traffic.
About the FTP improvement in a year.. I started getting involved in cycling last year at about this time of year, I never exercised before, and weighed 95 kg (which looked chubby, even with my large build) When I started, I would go for 15-20 km ride, they would take me 45min to an hour, I needed atleast 1 and a half liter of water, and when I got home I had trouble getting up the stairs (living on the second floor), I was completely pooped. I don't know what wattage that corresponds to, I would guess ~70W, something along those lines I worked relentlessly, developping a love for cycling, getting out of my room, away from my computer, loving 15 kg over several months, and holding that weight up to this day, sporting my first tan ever, and I'm proud of it, even if it looks stupid. now after a year, and about 3800 km on the bike, I can place my ftp at around 220-240 (thanks to strava estimates) My first completed gran fondo (100+km), was may this year I'm happy thanks to cycling, got my life in check thanks to it.
I bought a bike in the Netherlands and brought it back to the UK. The brakes are the opposite way around (front on the left) to normal british bikes. When asked by a bike shop if I'd like them to switch them around I said no for the very reason Si explained. I can brake with my front brake whilst signalling right.
I have seen some cyclocross racers in the US flip their brake levers (left for rear, right for front). This is so they can control the bike better with the rear brake when they are dismounting the bike or running with only one hand on the bars.
I live in Australia, but the reason I have my Rear Brake on the right, is so that when I am servicing the drive train in the bike stand, it is easier to reach the brake to stop the rear wheel spinning and therefore saving my fingers from getting caught in the spokes.
Cycling hand turning signals originated from the same signals that cars used before they had indicator lights. For example, in America when a car wants to turn left, the driver (who sits on the left side of the car) put his left arm straight outside the window. If the driver wanted to signal right, he had to make a “L” with his left arm out the window (because he wouldn’t be able to reach out to the right side of the window with a straight arm to indicate a right turn). Similarly in places like Australia and the UK where you drive on the left side of the road, the driver (sitting on the right of the car) would have extend his right arm straight out the window to turn right, and same arm in a “L” shape to signal to turn left. These turning signals were adopted by cyclists and the national standards organizations in each country got involved. There was concern that the cyclist should be able to make hand turning signals and still be able to reach the primary brake. The logic is accompanied by the premise that the rear brake is the primary brake. These standards organizations misunderstood braking and thought that using the front brake was hazardous and would cause the cyclist to abruptly topple over the front when hitting the front brake (endo!). In reality, very few accidents result from braking from the front. cyclingtips.com/2009/05/why-do-brakes-differ/
Also growing up here in the states we had coaster brakes on the rear. So as to not flip over from accidently pressing to hard on a front brake you signal with left hand while slowing down with rear then apply front brake for complete stop.
Well first give credit where credit is due, you copy and pasted that entire section from Cycling Tips. cyclingtips.com/2009/05/why-do-brakes-differ/ Second is the argument has been presented that the primary brake confusion was never corrected due to the ability to control the bike with only one hand attached while braking sufficiently to cause the rear to skid. If one was signaling and say your mate riding in front of you by 10m stopped dead while you were signaling. You'd immediately apply the rear brake, pull your hand down and grab the front brake. If you had panic stopped with only the front brake with one hand attached and weight not shifted backward you would endo. Better to have both hands on the bars when you need real braking power.
front brake right is correct as it keeps you consistent with motorbikes which as someone who rides both is vital coz my right hand is always front and most effective brake. also best brake on the predominant hand for most right handed people. i hate left brake front and it made me crash in iceland
The history of brake position IS what Is said. At one time signaling was specific to the front brake hand (Right in the UK left in the elsewhere). The reason for this is because when braking was established many vehicles didn't have front brakes and you were to signal with one hand. When I took my drivers test we had to know all of those signals and had to demonstrate them! Think back to your first bike as a small child, you pedaled backwards to brake and there was no front brake. Or is that just for us old guys like Matt and I?
My bikes have the rear brakes on the right lever, as in most places in the world. However, I do have a Raleigh touring bike, which came witht the "British brakes configuration" and I decided to keep it that way. Honestly, on this particular bike, which I use around town and sometimes on the road, but not at crazy speeds, it doesn't make much difference.
Regarding eating on the bike (@ 1:21), the rule-of-thumb is you can only digest 60g/hr, and for 3hr or less it digests better if it's all liquid. (E.g. 3gels + 1 bottle of water every hour.) Going over that is likely to cause GI problems. Also, going hard for 3 hours is... hard! When you're extremely fatigued, it feels A LOT like bonking, but you can't fix fatigue with calories. The chances that you bonked in 3 hours are slim.
For the what side do your brakes go on - I would say the best way would be to have the front on your dominant hand regardless of location. If you are trying to signal and brake at the same time - you really need your dominant hand on the controls.
I started riding time trials in UK in 1958 I had steel rims and fixed wheel the one front break was on left we thought it was so we had a right hand free for hand signals don't signal left but should signal right I rode a 10 mile tt in 32 min at 15yo I still ride a 10 mile tt in 30 mins at 72yo but at some time in between that I did go a lot faster 100 in 3 :59:58
As a right handed person I tend to apply my right brake much harder in an emergency situation. Not good to apply the rear brake for maximum braking. I would switch over but I can't seem to figure out a good cable routing scheme to route the rear cable housing from the left lever through the right side internal cable opening in the frame.
Any tips on viewing a Grand Tour in person? Aside from the obvious (waiting on a steep climb), what else can I do to make the most of my experience? #TorqueBack
Eric Hoff You could try o find a climb with a summit finish where there is a very strong gradient at the top. Like that, you get to see the finish without the peloton whizzing by at 60+ kmh
Born and raised in California, I always wired my bikes (mountain and road) with right brake => front. Since I have always done my own maintenance (since like 8 years old), it made sense to brake with my dominant hand. I can adapt to bikes out of the shop wired in the "locally correct" way, but come the first cable maintenance I wire them the "correct" way. As for why/how I started, I'm pretty sure it's from BMX, where I only had one brake (rear), and it was on the right hand. Come to think of it, I've never seen a BMX bike with a left brake (unless it had two). I'm not sure why people the US brake with their left hand... although considering how bad most people are at descending, maybe switching their brakes around might help. :)
I believe that you were correct on brake cables when you suggested that the hand you would signal traffic with operates the front brake (left hand for all of us sensible folks, right for you all that drive on the wrong side of the road😜). It is worth mentioning that, while you all at GCN can stop most effectively with your front brake, most folks cannot. They go over the handlebars and straight into the pavement. Using the back brake to the point of skidding won't cause a crash in an inexperienced rider. D
I was told many years ago (1970s) that brake levers were arranged to minimize the chance of flipping the bike while signaling. The theory was that a panic stop using only the rear brake would only cause a skid, while too much front brake would flip the bike.
They say that if you've cycled before you can regain your fitness faster. After taking 9 months of 2016 off due to an injury, I returned to the bike at meager 198W FTP (Former best FTP 256W), I struggled to complete a full 30 minute work out. Through a strict TrainerRoad program starting in fall of 2016 (6-9 hrs/wk ) and hard racing season in 2017 (10-16 hrs/wk) I've brought my FTP to 312W, that's a 58% increase. I'm smashing old me out of the park and even completed my first double century!
someone might've posted it already but the answer is: 1 lever for the front and 1 lever for the rear. left lever= front brake & front derailleur right lever= rear brake & rear derailleur it's how it makes sense. that simple.. for some reason in a few countries they just couldn't figure it out.
I put my front brake on the right lever, just because I'm right handed so I've got more control over how much pressure I need to exert to get the braking I need at any given time. If I was left handed, I would swap the front to the left hand!
I think it is in regards to the right hand operates the rear brake which is the safest brake to use (end over one handed, no good if you lock up the front. In the US in cars we are trained to signal with one hand, that being the left hand should you have an OLD car or lights fail to function (still illicit). I signal with both hands on my bike, but if I'm on uneven ground, it is always just my left I use. I have confidence in braking with the rear one handed, because locking that tire is only a skid.
I think you'l find most people will disagree that using the rear brake is the safest. Im not trying to hate on you bro, but conventional wisdom disagrees with you.
#torqueback In countries where the front brake is on the right, are the shifters reversed too, with the left shifter controlling the cassette instead of the right?
Question wrt the brakes on left/right front/back: What about the pros?? Considering they sometimes switch bikes mid race (if the GC rider has defect), I'd think the whole team would have to be the same, right?? And even Sky or Orica would be crazy enough to make this "the UK way", would they?? Considering rides switch teams somewhat often. So doesn't that mean that all pros have the brakes connected like we do in the countries that DRIVE ON THE PROPER SIDE of the road? And if so, amateurs in UK & AU ought to do the same, so no one has to switch if they end up turning pro one day...
I was so confused about the whole brake issue. In denmark on bikes, the back brake is on the right and front on the left, but on scooters it's the other way around. You did mention wanting to use the front brake only for the most control which I don't understand. front brake on a slippery surface or while turning is much less safe than using just the back brake. I would never use the front brake without the back brake but I would not mind only using the back brake as I don't risk blocking up the wheel that does my steering.
#TorqueBack Further to the question of brake routing: I moved my front brake to the right side years ago, both because I rode motorcycles, and because I'm right handed and have better control. The one disadvantage I've noticed is that downshifting while braking hard for a stop light is a hassle (both using the same lever). How do you deal with that?
Back break left side. Hey guys, great channel, I enjoy your video's. in the uk I noticed that you indeed have the breaks on the wrong side:-))) The mean reason why it's more convenient to have the front break on the left side is that you are able to change gears while standing still. while standing still you can lift your back wheel by using your front(left side) break and pushing your bike to the front, while you do this you can padel with one foot and change your back gears with your right hand. This is handy for when you are standing still and you need a lighter gear to take of. But also during a race in case you puncher as you always change the wheel while being on the biggest gear! Getting started again on a hill can be hart if your on 39*11 their is a second good reason which I don't remember right now. Maybe later:-)
It's my understanding that while Si prefers using a front brake while signaling, it was considered safer to use the rear brake so that you wouldn't risk tipping your bike end over.
my opinion on the left-right brakes is...when you're left handed you would use left for the front, and if right then right for the front... but I don't know if that makes sense
I grew up in the UK and now live in Germany. I swapped my road bike brakes back to the UK standard but both my mountain bike brakes are European standard. Somehow I remember which way round they are when braking.
Japan has the brakes on the same side as in the UK. I learnt to ride in Mexico, where we have them like in the USA, and it was some learning curve, I must say. But now I am used to it...
Other note- Motorcycle's have their front on the right... I have thought about swinging my bicycles to the right due to being used to front break w/ my right.
Yeah, wider tires ftw. Ive only been cycling for a couple years now, and I rode on 25c for a while. Going to 28c was wonderful. Cant imagine ever going back. Far as im concerned, 28c is the smallest 700c tire ill run.
Brakes - Rear brakes placed on the left, so that u could signal using ur right hand against the oncoming traffic.. U could use your free hand to brake, I.e left hand to brake. This favours the habit of ppl slamming the brakes once they see oncoming traffic unexpectedly.. thus slamming the rear brakes could result in skidding and still manageable unlike slamming the front brakes and toppling off the handlebar, fave on the asphalt.. In india, a country ruled by the British, Cycles and Cars being introduced by them, still follows to ride on the "Correct side" of the road, and when I bought my new Scott speedster, had my first fall due to the very same reason!
Great show guys, A gcn does science question - How many watts does a rider need to be able to average to do a 1km climb at a given average gradient % ? ie 150 watts = 5% 1km climb 200 watts = 10% 1km climb 250 watts = etc etc how much of a difference in watts would it be for a 0.5km climb or even a 5, 10km climb ? part 2 how much is cardio ability / recovery linked to average watt output.
#TorqueBack After watching the first stage of TDF 2017, I realized that Team Sky did amazingly well. With the wet roads having a great effect on the outcome for riders, even those who didn't crash, I wonder if the Team Sky mechanics did any special preparation of their tires prior to the race, altered the inflation for better grip, or even used altogether different tires for the rain. Any particular insights?
I don't know the history of brake levers, but I do know that it seems safer to brake with on the rear brake than to brake with only the front brake. (This from someone whose worst crash involved the front wheel coming to a sudden stop.)
Not sure if you ever got an answer, but rear brakes are on the right in Europe and the US because the first bikes had only rear brakes, so putting them on the strongest hand was the most beneficial. The UK put rear brakes on the left as front brakes became common, and everyone else didn't.
I always thought you guys are the cycling equivalent of the old Top Gear, but now you confirmed it Dan by going the Jezza stance on the "correct" side of the road.
On brakes: it is the turn signal thing. Most riders aren't as experience as either of you. Their ability to modulate force when grabbing a brake in a panicked moment are reduced. In fact, they're not even very good at using the front brake to modulate their speed without going over the bars. Leaning your weight back is something that takes practice and a lot of people never get the knack for it. The people who standardized the sides of the bike the brake cables on noticed this. More people continue to ride their bikes if they can use their rear brake as they signal, slow down, and initialize a turn. Putting the brakes the other way around tends to cause people to get intimidated and afraid of their bikes before they've ever even had a chance to evolve their skills because the first time they overcooked a turn as they signal, they went over the bars.
11:55 - clearly (from experience dealing with those people), that was the thinking of the time, and thus correct. You guys have to remember that for about 80 years the general consensus among cyclists and motorcyclists was that it was just far safer to brake with the rear wheel. I remember hearing stories of motorcycle police in the 1980's, and even into the 1990's, who were from the old-school, and only believed in braking with the rear brakes (by the 80's and 90's this seemed ludicrous to knowledgeable riders, but the old guys held to it and even still tried to teach it/preach it). There was an honest belief that relying on the front brakes caused too many riders to wipe out or go over the bars. It was literally ingrained into the world of two-wheeled riders, motorized or not. Go back to the 1960's and the general common-knowledge passed along was to always only brake with the rear wheels. To some degree this may have come about in the 1920's and after from most roads being either some type of loose dirt or gravel, and even from the 1960's and 1970's being slippery paved surfaces (tar and chip, that uses actual tar - very slippery after rains or in the heat - and other early pavements were pretty slippery too). That it mainly only changed regionally to allow breaking with the rear while signaling with the front brake's hand just fits so perfectly with the prevailing theories (among the common-folk) of the time.
i have a question to a possibly unwritten rule. is it allowed or a no go to mix brands through. for example to wear a scott kit and ride a canyon bike?
Simon mentioned that he prefers front brakes as the he wants to slow down. I don't do that as I am afraid of flying over the handlebars. What is your take on that
Maybe Dan meant the right side of the road :-) ? I didn't know that you guys had the front brake on the right, but I can confirm that at least in Italy we have front on the left and right on the back
Hii. I have PowerTap P1 pedals, on road my FTP is 245 watts but when I'm on zwift (Cascade fluid pro trainer)... My FTP drastically comes down to 205 watts. I suffer a lot on trainer. Can you guide me why?? What should I do?? #TorqueBack
I agree with Torben. The lack of the usual ventilation is probably hitting you hard. Try a setup that allows for more airflow, it's likely to help significantly.
Question - I'm having trouble determining how much to eat on the bike. I'm a bigger rider, 6'4" & 275lbs, and when completing my first century earlier this month, burned (according garmin+Stages) over 5000kcal. I ate and drank throughout but blew up in the last 5-10mi and fell off of the group I was with all day. Is there a better way to know how much food to take in? Is there a ratio of KJwork:calories needed to keep up energy levels? #TorqueBack
Si suggested in his uberbar video "pack it down really hard with a metal fork" - Si could use this line for his "how to position your privates in your bib shorts" video
It seems weird to me that brake wiring is regional, rather than personal. Shouldn't the front brake be wired to your dominant hand, for better control. So if you are right handed, the front brake is on the right, whereas if you are left handed, it's on the left? I think this is particularly important on bikes with disc brakes, where there is more stopping power available and you need most dexterity to modulate effectively and safely?
third time lucky with this question #torqueback how did they time individual riders times in grand tours back in the 50's and 60' before there was digital timing?
What is you opinion on signalling to other road users? On two occasions recently I have ridden in groups were some of the riders signal to cars, usually indicating when it is "safe" to pass. I have always avoided doing this as if an accident were to occur you could be seen as partially responsible. What do you think?
I have heard that UK are thinking to change to right side drive soon. Not to make too much confusion, they will take it "step by step" and start with the trucks..... ;-)
Junior Gears are fine in my opinion until you need to sprint. Atleast for me, my best peak powers have been 90-100 cadence but if I'm already spinning 110 its pretty hard to kick from there :( Specially after the fatigue of a race
that's the main reason for those restrictions - you shall learn to spin a higher cadence when sprinting! ...because otherwise you will never become a successful cyclist...
Junior gears are ok when it's an even playing field but because there aren't that many specific junior races at the upper age range juniors race with older riders on unrestricted gears on certain circuits it's impossible to stay with the peloton on long technical descends This can lead to a certain amount of despondency so pick your circuits carefully when racing with non juniors
#TourqueBack. I am currently injured and have not been riding for three weeks and it's looking like it's going to be another two . What are your tips to getting back on track when I'm back on the bike
Since we're coming into the Tour De France how about we explore some critical issues: Where do they find the Podium gals? Is there a competition to become one? Who would be the best celebrity Podium Girl?- Pippa M. ?
Is not the same doing 60-70 miles at an avg speed of 15 mph than doing them at 24+ mph avg speed. I say it matters depending on what you want to achieve.
I have had my stem flipped so it is higher and more comfortable on the arms. Now that I am used to this position, what would the positives/negatives be of flipping it back over to lower its position?
Let us know why you think some countries route brake cables differently 👇
Leave your questions for us using the hashtag #TorqueBack
Global Cycling Network #Torqueback Hi GCN I have a question, what is the difference of clipless pedals and flat pedsls?
Global Cycling Network #TorqueBack is this your job or do (some of) you also do a (full-time) job? If yes, which?
I've always ridden with the front brake on the left. But since I am right handed and don't have very much control with my left, I want to switch the set up. Should I?
@GCN, because some countries are weird? (like the UK ;) ) No but seriously, isn't that because of the side you guys ride on? Because you guys ride on the other side of the road, and switch the brakes around. So I guess it has to do with that. When you guys turn left, you can signal, but it isn't really neccesary, so you can keep your hand on the rear brake, so you don't fly over the handlebars. When you turn right, you can signal easily, whilst still braking on the rear, and so you don't fly over the handlebars. With us it is different, we ride on the ride side of the road, so when turning right, we can do it without signalling, and keep our hands on the rear brake, and when we turn left, we can signal, and brake as well at the same time. I mean, I don't know that for sure, but that seems to me like a possibiltity. (BUT!!! always signal if it is safe to do so, even if it doesn't seem neccesary!!!)
Hi guys! I would like to know how to fuel for long rides and sportives (over 8 hours in the saddle). Should I pack just bars and gels or should I also get some sandwiches or else? Also, why does Si hate chainkeepers? Cheers guys #TorqueBack
I use my average speed on every ride, as a pacing tool, so that I can constantly increase my average pace by 0.1. Now, depending on weather/traffic/hills, that increase in pace can be tough, but it keeps me, and my mind busy with the goal of increasing throughout my ride.
ErockSaysSCsucks MilSaysSCsucks I used to use that technique all the time. But I find it increasingly difficult to get a cycling computer that does corrupt my average speed by stopping time when I stop at a red light.
As far as how to arrange your package while riding goes, it is obviously peak up :)
Brian Moore hahaha 😂😁
I had read a long long time ago that brake set-up with the right hand to the rear brake was because most people are right handed and have a stronger grip on the right... and putting the right hand with the rear brake allowed riders to match the brake strength between the front and the rear to allow more even stopping. This might have been in Davis Phinney's book.
In the rapid fire fire round, average speed clearly doesn't matter
Average speed definitely didn't matter during that rapid fire round
What Si said about the road crossing was half correct, its back brake on the left because if you were to pull the front brake with only one hand on the handlebar you'll find that the front wheel veers off line and is much twitcher with only one hand to hold it. Therefore it is safer to brake with the rear when crossing traffic despite having less braking power. Rather have too much speed than the bike uncontrollable with oncoming traffic.
Even worse with disc brakes as they are not centred, hence why motorbikes have 2 discs at the front
About the FTP improvement in a year..
I started getting involved in cycling last year at about this time of year, I never exercised before, and weighed 95 kg (which looked chubby, even with my large build)
When I started, I would go for 15-20 km ride, they would take me 45min to an hour, I needed atleast 1 and a half liter of water, and when I got home I had trouble getting up the stairs (living on the second floor), I was completely pooped.
I don't know what wattage that corresponds to, I would guess ~70W, something along those lines
I worked relentlessly, developping a love for cycling, getting out of my room, away from my computer, loving 15 kg over several months, and holding that weight up to this day, sporting my first tan ever, and I'm proud of it, even if it looks stupid.
now after a year, and about 3800 km on the bike, I can place my ftp at around 220-240 (thanks to strava estimates)
My first completed gran fondo (100+km), was may this year
I'm happy thanks to cycling, got my life in check thanks to it.
Strava estimates are off by a long shot
Si is correct about indicating determining which lever controls the front or back brake. Most riders incorrectly prefer their back brake first.
I bought a bike in the Netherlands and brought it back to the UK. The brakes are the opposite way around (front on the left) to normal british bikes. When asked by a bike shop if I'd like them to switch them around I said no for the very reason Si explained. I can brake with my front brake whilst signalling right.
I have seen some cyclocross racers in the US flip their brake levers (left for rear, right for front). This is so they can control the bike better with the rear brake when they are dismounting the bike or running with only one hand on the bars.
I live in Australia, but the reason I have my Rear Brake on the right, is so that when I am servicing the drive train in the bike stand, it is easier to reach the brake to stop the rear wheel spinning and therefore saving my fingers from getting caught in the spokes.
Cycling hand turning signals originated from the same signals that cars used before they had indicator lights. For example, in America when a car wants to turn left, the driver (who sits on the left side of the car) put his left arm straight outside the window. If the driver wanted to signal right, he had to make a “L” with his left arm out the window (because he wouldn’t be able to reach out to the right side of the window with a straight arm to indicate a right turn). Similarly in places like Australia and the UK where you drive on the left side of the road, the driver (sitting on the right of the car) would have extend his right arm straight out the window to turn right, and same arm in a “L” shape to signal to turn left.
These turning signals were adopted by cyclists and the national standards organizations in each country got involved. There was concern that the cyclist should be able to make hand turning signals and still be able to reach the primary brake. The logic is accompanied by the premise that the rear brake is the primary brake. These standards organizations misunderstood braking and thought that using the front brake was hazardous and would cause the cyclist to abruptly topple over the front when hitting the front brake (endo!). In reality, very few accidents result from braking from the front.
cyclingtips.com/2009/05/why-do-brakes-differ/
Also growing up here in the states we had coaster brakes on the rear. So as to not flip over from accidently pressing to hard on a front brake you signal with left hand while slowing down with rear then apply front brake for complete stop.
OhAiShare I thought I put the web address in but I guess I didn't , sorry
Well first give credit where credit is due, you copy and pasted that entire section from Cycling Tips.
cyclingtips.com/2009/05/why-do-brakes-differ/
Second is the argument has been presented that the primary brake confusion was never corrected due to the ability to control the bike with only one hand attached while braking sufficiently to cause the rear to skid. If one was signaling and say your mate riding in front of you by 10m stopped dead while you were signaling. You'd immediately apply the rear brake, pull your hand down and grab the front brake. If you had panic stopped with only the front brake with one hand attached and weight not shifted backward you would endo. Better to have both hands on the bars when you need real braking power.
OhAiShare I fixed it , your welcome
oh my god I got featured in the video! thanks for helping lads, cheers!
front brake right is correct as it keeps you consistent with motorbikes which as someone who rides both is vital coz my right hand is always front and most effective brake. also best brake on the predominant hand for most right handed people. i hate left brake front and it made me crash in iceland
The history of brake position IS what Is said. At one time signaling was specific to the front brake hand (Right in the UK left in the elsewhere). The reason for this is because when braking was established many vehicles didn't have front brakes and you were to signal with one hand. When I took my drivers test we had to know all of those signals and had to demonstrate them! Think back to your first bike as a small child, you pedaled backwards to brake and there was no front brake. Or is that just for us old guys like Matt and I?
My bikes have the rear brakes on the right lever, as in most places in the world. However, I do have a Raleigh touring bike, which came witht the "British brakes configuration" and I decided to keep it that way. Honestly, on this particular bike, which I use around town and sometimes on the road, but not at crazy speeds, it doesn't make much difference.
si if you have issues arranging the package, try over the shoulder, works for me.
Regarding eating on the bike (@ 1:21), the rule-of-thumb is you can only digest 60g/hr, and for 3hr or less it digests better if it's all liquid. (E.g. 3gels + 1 bottle of water every hour.) Going over that is likely to cause GI problems. Also, going hard for 3 hours is... hard! When you're extremely fatigued, it feels A LOT like bonking, but you can't fix fatigue with calories. The chances that you bonked in 3 hours are slim.
For the what side do your brakes go on - I would say the best way would be to have the front on your dominant hand regardless of location. If you are trying to signal and brake at the same time - you really need your dominant hand on the controls.
I started riding time trials in UK in 1958 I had steel rims and fixed wheel the one front break was on left we thought it was so we had a right hand free for hand signals don't signal left but should signal right
I rode a 10 mile tt in 32 min at 15yo I still ride a 10 mile tt in 30 mins at 72yo but at some time in between that I did go a lot faster 100 in 3 :59:58
As a right handed person I tend to apply my right brake much harder in an emergency situation. Not good to apply the rear brake for maximum braking. I would switch over but I can't seem to figure out a good cable routing scheme to route the rear cable housing from the left lever through the right side internal cable opening in the frame.
Any tips on viewing a Grand Tour in person? Aside from the obvious (waiting on a steep climb), what else can I do to make the most of my experience? #TorqueBack
drone
Eric Hoff You could try o find a climb with a summit finish where there is a very strong gradient at the top. Like that, you get to see the finish without the peloton whizzing by at 60+ kmh
Born and raised in California, I always wired my bikes (mountain and road) with right brake => front. Since I have always done my own maintenance (since like 8 years old), it made sense to brake with my dominant hand. I can adapt to bikes out of the shop wired in the "locally correct" way, but come the first cable maintenance I wire them the "correct" way. As for why/how I started, I'm pretty sure it's from BMX, where I only had one brake (rear), and it was on the right hand. Come to think of it, I've never seen a BMX bike with a left brake (unless it had two).
I'm not sure why people the US brake with their left hand... although considering how bad most people are at descending, maybe switching their brakes around might help. :)
I believe that you were correct on brake cables when you suggested that the hand you would signal traffic with operates the front brake (left hand for all of us sensible folks, right for you all that drive on the wrong side of the road😜).
It is worth mentioning that, while you all at GCN can stop most effectively with your front brake, most folks cannot. They go over the handlebars and straight into the pavement. Using the back brake to the point of skidding won't cause a crash in an inexperienced rider.
D
I was told many years ago (1970s) that brake levers were arranged to minimize the chance of flipping the bike while signaling. The theory was that a panic stop using only the rear brake would only cause a skid, while too much front brake would flip the bike.
mars bars are my thing to keep me going in a race or group ride and i just load before i train by myself and drink lots
They say that if you've cycled before you can regain your fitness faster.
After taking 9 months of 2016 off due to an injury, I returned to the bike at meager 198W FTP (Former best FTP 256W), I struggled to complete a full 30 minute work out.
Through a strict TrainerRoad program starting in fall of 2016 (6-9 hrs/wk ) and hard racing season in 2017 (10-16 hrs/wk) I've brought my FTP to 312W, that's a 58% increase. I'm smashing old me out of the park and even completed my first double century!
someone might've posted it already but the answer is: 1 lever for the front and 1 lever for the rear.
left lever= front brake & front derailleur
right lever= rear brake & rear derailleur
it's how it makes sense. that simple..
for some reason in a few countries they just couldn't figure it out.
I put my front brake on the right lever, just because I'm right handed so I've got more control over how much pressure I need to exert to get the braking I need at any given time. If I was left handed, I would swap the front to the left hand!
I think it is in regards to the right hand operates the rear brake which is the safest brake to use (end over one handed, no good if you lock up the front. In the US in cars we are trained to signal with one hand, that being the left hand should you have an OLD car or lights fail to function (still illicit). I signal with both hands on my bike, but if I'm on uneven ground, it is always just my left I use. I have confidence in braking with the rear one handed, because locking that tire is only a skid.
I think you'l find most people will disagree that using the rear brake is the safest. Im not trying to hate on you bro, but conventional wisdom disagrees with you.
#torqueback In countries where the front brake is on the right, are the shifters reversed too, with the left shifter controlling the cassette instead of the right?
no
Asher Max Schweigart no
How much does heat affect performances during cycling? #torqueback
depends
hornetluca. My question too - 40°+ feels like it's killing me if I put much effort in #torqueback
Question wrt the brakes on left/right front/back: What about the pros?? Considering they sometimes switch bikes mid race (if the GC rider has defect), I'd think the whole team would have to be the same, right?? And even Sky or Orica would be crazy enough to make this "the UK way", would they?? Considering rides switch teams somewhat often.
So doesn't that mean that all pros have the brakes connected like we do in the countries that DRIVE ON THE PROPER SIDE of the road? And if so, amateurs in UK & AU ought to do the same, so no one has to switch if they end up turning pro one day...
I was so confused about the whole brake issue. In denmark on bikes, the back brake is on the right and front on the left, but on scooters it's the other way around.
You did mention wanting to use the front brake only for the most control which I don't understand. front brake on a slippery surface or while turning is much less safe than using just the back brake. I would never use the front brake without the back brake but I would not mind only using the back brake as I don't risk blocking up the wheel that does my steering.
Are you guys coming to the start of Tour de France in Düsseldorf next week? I'd like to see you in person.
#TorqueBack Further to the question of brake routing: I moved my front brake to the right side years ago, both because I rode motorcycles, and because I'm right handed and have better control. The one disadvantage I've noticed is that downshifting while braking hard for a stop light is a hassle (both using the same lever). How do you deal with that?
Back break left side.
Hey guys, great channel, I enjoy your video's. in the uk I noticed that you indeed have the breaks on the wrong side:-))) The mean reason why it's more convenient to have the front break on the left side is that you are able to change gears while standing still. while standing still you can lift your back wheel by using your front(left side) break and pushing your bike to the front, while you do this you can padel with one foot and change your back gears with your right hand. This is handy for when you are standing still and you need a lighter gear to take of. But also during a race in case you puncher as you always change the wheel while being on the biggest gear! Getting started again on a hill can be hart if your on 39*11
their is a second good reason which I don't remember right now. Maybe later:-)
On a motorbike in the UK the front brake is on the right hand. Rear brake is on right foot.
It's my understanding that while Si prefers using a front brake while signaling, it was considered safer to use the rear brake so that you wouldn't risk tipping your bike end over.
my opinion on the left-right brakes is...when you're left handed you would use left for the front, and if right then right for the front... but I don't know if that makes sense
no, it doesn't make sense... it's only a thing of habit - if you are used to on direction, this feels right and vice versa
fiddler on the bike agree with that..altho i am right handed i use left as front , so yh
I grew up in the UK and now live in Germany. I swapped my road bike brakes back to the UK standard but both my mountain bike brakes are European standard. Somehow I remember which way round they are when braking.
Japan has the brakes on the same side as in the UK. I learnt to ride in Mexico, where we have them like in the USA, and it was some learning curve, I must say. But now I am used to it...
On the subject of getting the brakes wrong, I can still hear Sven Nys laughing at Lasty's crash while they were at Trek's CX track.
have you guys changed your video format? I only have a old TV and when watching this it felt like you guys were sat in my front room!!
Thanks for answering my question.. Good answer too!!
Other note- Motorcycle's have their front on the right... I have thought about swinging my bicycles to the right due to being used to front break w/ my right.
Yeah, wider tires ftw. Ive only been cycling for a couple years now, and I rode on 25c for a while. Going to 28c was wonderful. Cant imagine ever going back. Far as im concerned, 28c is the smallest 700c tire ill run.
Absolutely
Brakes - Rear brakes placed on the left, so that u could signal using ur right hand against the oncoming traffic.. U could use your free hand to brake, I.e left hand to brake. This favours the habit of ppl slamming the brakes once they see oncoming traffic unexpectedly.. thus slamming the rear brakes could result in skidding and still manageable unlike slamming the front brakes and toppling off the handlebar, fave on the asphalt..
In india, a country ruled by the British, Cycles and Cars being introduced by them, still follows to ride on the "Correct side" of the road, and when I bought my new Scott speedster, had my first fall due to the very same reason!
Great show guys,
A gcn does science question -
How many watts does a rider need to be able to average to do a 1km climb at a given average gradient % ?
ie
150 watts = 5% 1km climb
200 watts = 10% 1km climb
250 watts = etc etc
how much of a difference in watts would it be for a 0.5km climb or even a 5, 10km climb ?
part 2
how much is cardio ability / recovery linked to average watt output.
you try to signal and and brake even on a slight decent. soo what happens.dont forget your cape as you fly through the air!
Around 8:23 it seems that your Mac OS is requiring an update, on the big flat screen in the back :P
Love the the way Matt gets up like nothing happened.
#TorqueBack After watching the first stage of TDF 2017, I realized that Team Sky did amazingly well. With the wet roads having a great effect on the outcome for riders, even those who didn't crash, I wonder if the Team Sky mechanics did any special preparation of their tires prior to the race, altered the inflation for better grip, or even used altogether different tires for the rain. Any particular insights?
you also don't have restricted gears for TimeTrials. I use a 54t f
chairing on my TT bike but I'm stuck with 52 16 for racing....
don't know about the rest of you, but Si's package is why i subscribed
Is switching the brakes a dismount style? The "Brake switcheroo"?
I don't know the history of brake levers, but I do know that it seems safer to brake with on the rear brake than to brake with only the front brake. (This from someone whose worst crash involved the front wheel coming to a sudden stop.)
VERY delicate subject indeed Si, I'd go as far as saying minuscule.
Not sure if you ever got an answer, but rear brakes are on the right in Europe and the US because the first bikes had only rear brakes, so putting them on the strongest hand was the most beneficial. The UK put rear brakes on the left as front brakes became common, and everyone else didn't.
I always thought you guys are the cycling equivalent of the old Top Gear, but now you confirmed it Dan by going the Jezza stance on the "correct" side of the road.
When making the bars use an identical pan and use it to push the bars flat.
If wider tyres have better rolling resistance does that means that fat bikes are the fastest bikes? 🤔🤔 #TorqueBack
Bruno Zub no, the benefits aren't linear. it's positioned on a bell curve
KinrossSkate08 Haha, That was clearly a joke, but thanks for replying anyway 😁
Just slap Dura-Ace and a dropbar on a fat bike and you pretty much got it.
Also Dropper seatposts are used to drop people on climbs.
yes, but only on sand & snow :)
On brakes: it is the turn signal thing. Most riders aren't as experience as either of you. Their ability to modulate force when grabbing a brake in a panicked moment are reduced. In fact, they're not even very good at using the front brake to modulate their speed without going over the bars. Leaning your weight back is something that takes practice and a lot of people never get the knack for it.
The people who standardized the sides of the bike the brake cables on noticed this. More people continue to ride their bikes if they can use their rear brake as they signal, slow down, and initialize a turn. Putting the brakes the other way around tends to cause people to get intimidated and afraid of their bikes before they've ever even had a chance to evolve their skills because the first time they overcooked a turn as they signal, they went over the bars.
Yes!
In answer to the first question: there is a great article in 220 triathlon about training your gut to take more food.
11:55 - clearly (from experience dealing with those people), that was the thinking of the time, and thus correct. You guys have to remember that for about 80 years the general consensus among cyclists and motorcyclists was that it was just far safer to brake with the rear wheel. I remember hearing stories of motorcycle police in the 1980's, and even into the 1990's, who were from the old-school, and only believed in braking with the rear brakes (by the 80's and 90's this seemed ludicrous to knowledgeable riders, but the old guys held to it and even still tried to teach it/preach it). There was an honest belief that relying on the front brakes caused too many riders to wipe out or go over the bars. It was literally ingrained into the world of two-wheeled riders, motorized or not. Go back to the 1960's and the general common-knowledge passed along was to always only brake with the rear wheels.
To some degree this may have come about in the 1920's and after from most roads being either some type of loose dirt or gravel, and even from the 1960's and 1970's being slippery paved surfaces (tar and chip, that uses actual tar - very slippery after rains or in the heat - and other early pavements were pretty slippery too).
That it mainly only changed regionally to allow breaking with the rear while signaling with the front brake's hand just fits so perfectly with the prevailing theories (among the common-folk) of the time.
I've been riding for 2 years and mu FTP went from whatever is starts as when you're a fit 16 year old to 360 watts.
Correct side of the road... of course. You can be glad I like GCN so much. :D
Be careful on the French roads du Tour though ;)
i have a question to a possibly unwritten rule. is it allowed or a no go to mix brands through. for example to wear a scott kit and ride a canyon bike?
I'm 15 and I live in the US and I was looking to start racing. Since certain ratios are restricted does that mean I can only ride a single spend?
My FTP has gone from 156 to 229 in Jan -> June. I'm small.
Thanks for the shoutout guys!!
With all the heat here in the UK at the moment what's a good temperature to store a road bike? my bike shed gets really hot some days.
No restriction of gears for junior trackies
Simon mentioned that he prefers front brakes as the he wants to slow down. I don't do that as I am afraid of flying over the handlebars. What is your take on that
Great Video !!
Thank you so much :D
Maybe Dan meant the right side of the road :-) ?
I didn't know that you guys had the front brake on the right, but I can confirm that at least in Italy we have front on the left and right on the back
what a Boss Si is : didnt even grin once while talking about his enourmous jewels :D
should I worry about internal cable rattling? When I go over bumps I can hear the cable in my down tube when I go over bumps. #TorqueBack
I'd like to retrace much of the TDF by car this Fall. Where is the best place to get the detailed road guidance I'd need for this? Thanks!
Why do pros race with 25c tires if 28c tires save you 2-3 watts per wheel?
oreosaysb00 A bit of aero and lots of tradition
Fully agree with the Alexis nod, I thought she was an absolute natural.
Hii. I have PowerTap P1 pedals, on road my FTP is 245 watts but when I'm on zwift (Cascade fluid pro trainer)... My FTP drastically comes down to 205 watts. I suffer a lot on trainer. Can you guide me why?? What should I do?? #TorqueBack
probably the air ventilation is missing
I agree with Torben. The lack of the usual ventilation is probably hitting you hard. Try a setup that allows for more airflow, it's likely to help significantly.
It's expected to be different between the road and trainer
Also, riding on a trainer is just different. The bike cant be thrown left and right when out of the saddle, for instance. Its ok that its different.
Yeah, don't worry about it, man. It's that way for everyone. Unless you're weird. :)
Question - I'm having trouble determining how much to eat on the bike. I'm a bigger rider, 6'4" & 275lbs, and when completing my first century earlier this month, burned (according garmin+Stages) over 5000kcal. I ate and drank throughout but blew up in the last 5-10mi and fell off of the group I was with all day.
Is there a better way to know how much food to take in? Is there a ratio of KJwork:calories needed to keep up energy levels? #TorqueBack
Si suggested in his uberbar video "pack it down really hard with a metal fork"
- Si could use this line for his "how to position your privates in your bib shorts" video
It seems weird to me that brake wiring is regional, rather than personal. Shouldn't the front brake be wired to your dominant hand, for better control. So if you are right handed, the front brake is on the right, whereas if you are left handed, it's on the left? I think this is particularly important on bikes with disc brakes, where there is more stopping power available and you need most dexterity to modulate effectively and safely?
I suppose the real question is how big a inner tube is it - maybe just a skimpy 16" kiddy bike or could it be a 29er :.)
third time lucky with this question #torqueback how did they time individual riders times in grand tours back in the 50's and 60' before there was digital timing?
wow great thanks!
What is you opinion on signalling to other road users? On two occasions recently I have ridden in groups were some of the riders signal to cars, usually indicating when it is "safe" to pass. I have always avoided doing this as if an accident were to occur you could be seen as partially responsible. What do you think?
#TorqueBack: how to train for a flat race, when you only have a relative hilly area arround you ?
Ben Bos Smart trainer and Zwift
"spare inner tube" hahaha i found that way to funny, going back to bed
I have heard that UK are thinking to change to right side drive soon. Not to make too much confusion, they will take it "step by step" and start with the trucks..... ;-)
start with the trucks..... ;-)
lol
Junior Gears are fine in my opinion until you need to sprint. Atleast for me, my best peak powers have been 90-100 cadence but if I'm already spinning 110 its pretty hard to kick from there :( Specially after the fatigue of a race
that's the main reason for those restrictions - you shall learn to spin a higher cadence when sprinting! ...because otherwise you will never become a successful cyclist...
Junior gears are ok when it's an even playing field but because there aren't that many specific junior races at the upper age range juniors race with older riders on unrestricted gears on certain circuits it's impossible to stay with the peloton on long technical descends
This can lead to a certain amount of despondency so pick your circuits carefully when racing with non juniors
#TourqueBack. I am currently injured and have not been riding for three weeks and it's looking like it's going to be another two . What are your tips to getting back on track when I'm back on the bike
Since we're coming into the Tour De France how about we explore some critical issues: Where do they find the Podium gals? Is there a competition to become one? Who would be the best celebrity Podium Girl?- Pippa M. ?
The chain ring got into my calf and I have 6 stitches now. What’s the best way to prevent this from happening again?
Is not the same doing 60-70 miles at an avg speed of 15 mph than doing them at 24+ mph avg speed. I say it matters depending on what you want to achieve.
I have had my stem flipped so it is higher and more comfortable on the arms. Now that I am used to this position, what would the positives/negatives be of flipping it back over to lower its position?