Serious Crash Unit last night (early this morning)

[Tank]

Got home from the Wednesday night ride last night after having a few hot chocs and talking shit with Big Dog at Bar Africa.

Threw on the TV and “Serious Crash Unit” was on showing an accident on Bush road, Albany (Right near Bar Africa) of a young 18yo biker.

He was an accomplished driver (He raced Porsche's in the UK), but was new to biking.

He came around the bend doing 70kph and saw a truck turning across the road. He hit the BACK brake ONLY and skidded for 29m.

The investigators worked out that if he had of used BOTH brakes he would have stopped with 15m to spare before the truck.

Just goes to show that people need to be instructed and learn - not just get their basic handling then think they are "all good". Some time at the Wednesday mentor evenings and this young fella would probably still be alive today.

So big ups for those who put on such great evenings – They make a HUGE difference and who knows – you may have saved some lives out there.

[Mikkel]

That's sad indeed! Without the front brake you won't be stopping in a hurry that's for sure.

Just can't understand why, of all people, a porsche driver would be locking up the rear...

[Tank]

That's sad indeed! Without the front brake you won't be stopping in a hurry that's for sure.

Just can't understand why, of all people, a porsche driver would be locking up the rear...

Because skill in driving a car does not equal skill riding a bike.

[boostin]

How did they decide that he used only his back brake?

[Maha]

Was that on last night?.... i saw that a couple of years ago....must have been a repeat.

[Ixion]

It is amazing the number of riders at the RRRS course who say "I have never used my front brake". Or, have the back wheel locked in the braking exercise but , very reluctantly, apply just the tiniest amount of pressure to the front (and only because they are told to ). And are eventually utterly amzaed at how quickly they can stop when they do use the front.

Usually crusier riders, but not always.

[Ixion]

That's sad indeed! Without the front brake you won't be stopping in a hurry that's for sure.

Just can't understand why, of all people, a porsche driver would be locking up the rear...

Simply because in a cage, if things go bad, you stand on the brake pedal. Conditioned reflex, he did just that. Probably didn't even remember that there was a hand operated brake. After all, who, driving a cage, would bother applying the hand brake as well as the foot brake in a n emergency (yes, I know, really old cars the big hand brake was the service brake. Bet no-one here's driven such a car)

[Trudes]

Wonder if it has anything to do with riding push-bikes where you really don't want to use much braking on the front brake and people automatically swap that over to motorcycle riding?? I'm surprised when people tell me they use the back brake for braking, then again, I used to too, until I was told to use the front for all my braking except for really slow riding and emergency braking (using front and a little back).

[Ixion]

Older riders. Come from an era when front brakes were (a) totally useless (six inch SLS drums); (b) if they did do anything the crappy forks of the era would practically twist inside out and throw you into a tank slapper ;(c) crappy tyres of the period would lock up really easy . And remember, back then most roads were gravel. Gravel roads still requires a careful hand on the front brake (you do still use it, but)

I never used to use mine back then (and indeed, quite a lot of bikes didn't *have* a front brake)

[Macktheknife]

I remember the episode well, and it is still incredible to me how many riders I meet who openly admit to not using the front brake. Some of them have been riding many years and reckon they only ever use the rear, which I find ridiculous. One of my instructors told me years ago "brakes are designed to slow whatever is behind them, so if you want your arse end to go slower use the back, if you want the bike to go slower use the front."
I prefer to use both all the time, for all braking needs and practice my balance of braking control for different situations.

[nodrog:Me]

most of them big choppers they build in the states dont have front brakes

[jrandom]

I prefer to use both all the time...

[Badjelly]

Wonder if it has anything to do with riding push-bikes where you really don't want to use much braking on the front brake

In my experience, front vs back brake use on a pushbike isn't much different from on a motorbike: if you want to stop fast, you have to use the front brake.

Mind you, when I was 10 years old all the kids in the neighbourhood knew with absolute certainty that if you ever used the front brake on your bike you'd go over the handlebars. As an adult cyclist, it didn't take me too long to realise that was wrong.

[Badjelly]

By the way, when I rode a mountain bike down the Yungas Rd in Bolivia, which I talked about here...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...as#post1421427

...I was a bit alarmed when we were getting ready at the top and one of the young women in the group turned to me (being obviously a man of some experience) and said "Which brake should I use?" I said something like "Um er, you need to use both. Be a bit careful with the front because you don't want to lock it up, but if you want to stop, quickly the back alone won't do." She looked rather confused but the guide cleared it up: "Just use the back brake."

Luckily, most of the people who were clueless about 2-wheeling went pretty slowly, and I don't think any of them got into trouble (which on this road means going over a 300 m cliff). I went with the fast group (being a man of some experience) and I was (I think) the only person who asked the mechanic to swap the brake levers around so the front brake was on the right, as I'm used to. I'm glad I did this because to me this was a road on which you really need to know which lever is connected to which brake.

[JMemonic]

Heard a story about a bike that kept going back to the shop with the complaint the rear brake is sticky, after a lot of work and effort on the shops part they spotted the guy riding, after following him they work out he was riding the rear brake all the time with his foot on the peddle, next time the bike came in they explained this to him and had a look at the front brakes to confirm the thought he never used his fronts, the proof was in the pad wear or lack there of.

Braking is a skill that needs to be taught and practiced till it is second nature, and a lot of folks don't get any advice, good or bad on best practices or tips to make like easier and safer.

How many of you experienced riders are willing to show the new folks how to brake, or corner for that matter, then have the patience and mannerism's to explain things calmly and in a fashion that does not sound like a criticism of the other persons skill or ability ? That is also a learnt skill, if you are going to give tips it is not you silly %$#*er you are doing it all wrong in the loudest voice try, Hi I noticed ....... and it used to happen to me until I learnt (or was shown) that ....... works better, and be willing to show them and observe them a few times.