of pressure to the brake, until the wheel locks.
When you apply the brake(s), the bike begins to slow, but your body wants to continue at the speed at which it was going. This causes a transfer of weight to the front wheel (or, under heavy braking with hand brakes, around the front wheel hub, which could send you flying over the handlebars). A wheel with more weight on it will accept greater brake pressure before lockup; a wheel with less weight will lock up with less brake pressure. So, as you apply brakes and your weight shifts forward, you need to shift your body toward the rear of the bike, to transfer weight back on to the rear wheel. With hand brakes, you can further improve brake performance by simultaneously decreasing rear braking and increasing front braking force. Shifting weight to the rear wheel is even more important on steep descents, because descents shift weight forward.
The keys to effective speed control and safe stopping are controlling wheel lockup and weight transfer. Practice braking and weight transfer techniques where there is no traffic or other hazards and distractions.
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less cornering and braking traction and can lock up with less brake force. Moisture or dirt on the brake shoes of hand brakes reduces their ability to grip. The way to maintain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly to begin with.
B.Wheels
1. Front Wheel Secondary Retention Devices
Most bicycles have front forks which utilize a secondary wheel retention device to keep the wheel from disengaging if
its clamping mechanism is incorrectly adjusted. Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correct wheel clamping.
Secondary retention devices fall into three basic categories (see figs. 12a, b & c):
a.The
12a).
b.The integral type is molded, cast or machined into the outer faces of the front fork dropouts (fig.
12b).
c.The washer type is a hat- shaped washer which fits into a matching hole in the front fork dropout (fig. 12c).
Ask your dealer to explain the particular secondary retention device on your bike.
!WARNING: Removing or disabling the secondary retention device is extremely dangerous and may lead to serious injury or death. It also may void the warranty.
NOTE: Some bicycles are equipped with a lever action quick release wheel retention mechanism. If your bicycle has quick release wheels, see Appendix C for information on how they work.
2.Removing a Bolt‑On Front Wheel
a. If your bicycle has a front wheel hand brake with quick release, open up the brake shoes (see Section 4.A.2.a. above).
16
