Braking

Key facts

Skill level

1/5

Risk

2/5

Terrain

every descent

Bike types

MTB, eMTB

Front and rear

When you brake, weight moves forward and the front tyre gets most of the grip — so most of the stopping power is at the front. Use both brakes together; the rear alone skids long before it stops you.

Where to brake

• Before corners, not in them: a braking tyre has less grip left for turning.
• Before rough sections, not in them: locked wheels do not roll over rocks.
• On the smooth bits between features: that is where the grip is.

Technique

• One finger on each lever — modern disc brakes do not need more.
• Heels down and hips back to brace against the stop.
• Squeeze progressively; a skid means you have gone past the grip — ease off until the wheel rolls again.

Related articles

• Disc brakes — Brakes that squeeze a steel rotor on the hub instead of the rim. Hydraulic disc brakes are the standard on mountain bikes: strong, controllable with one finger and unbothered by mud.
• Gloves — Full-finger gloves give grip on the bars when your hands sweat or it rains, and save your palms and knuckles when you fall. Thin enough to feel the brakes, tough enough to slide.
• Brake bleed — Replacing the fluid in a hydraulic brake and pushing out the air bubbles that make the lever soft. Once a year, or whenever the lever feels spongy or pulls to the bar.
• Attack position — The standing stance every descent starts from: pedals level, knees and elbows bent, weight centred over the bike and eyes up. From here you can react to anything the trail throws at you.
• Cornering — Getting round a turn fast and in control: brake before it, look through it, lean the bike more than your body and let the tyres do the gripping.
• Rock garden — A section of trail covered in rocks — fixed or loose, round or sharp — with no smooth line through. Momentum, line choice and loose arms are what get you across.
• Berm — A banked turn: the outside of the corner is built up like a wall, so the bike leans into it and keeps its speed instead of sliding out.