Why Don't We Use our Front Brakes?!

Over the course of my fifteen years as a bike mechanic I've always been fascinated by how the vast majority of cyclists heavily favor their rear brake despite the fact that the front brake provides 2/3 (or more) of the stopping force. Is it as simple as we're taught as children to be wary of the front brake in fear of flying over the handlebars?

If you started riding bikes as a toddler, many people go from a push bike to a pedal bike with a coaster rear brake and might not use hand brakes until age 5 or later. Despite parental warnings, it's quite common one might have learned the hard way that improper use of a front brake really can turn you into a human projectile, launching a young person over the handlebars. I, for one, did exactly that and put one of my lower teeth through my lip, requiring stitches. But we live and we learn, right? Maybe not...

Front brakes are neglected, to say the least. I frequently hear comments like "Oh, I don't use that brake" (referring to the front), or recently two people brought their bikes to the shop that had been riding their bikes with a non-functioning front brake for months. When it comes to pad and rotor wear, I've seen bikes that have been ridden for several years with the front pads and rotor still nearly new while the person has gone through 5+ sets of rear pads. Sure, there's an element of more body weight being over the rear wheel contributing to faster pad wear, but that alone is not enough to explain this phenomenon.

Modern mountain bike hydraulic disc brakes are incredible components with top notch performance. The brakes and rotors weigh no more than a few pounds yet they can stop a 200+ pound rider on a 30 pound bike flying down a mountain at 30 mph with no more than a light amount of pressure from two single fingers. The laws of physics dictate that a front brake provides 2/3-3/4 of a bike's stopping power yet we continue to drag our rear brakes. Think about cars, typically equipped with powerful front stoppers that go through pads and rotors whereas a less powerful, longer lasting set up is usually found in the rear. Are we still afraid of flying over the handlebars?

A big part of what I'll call ideal braking on a bike involves shifting your body weight and necessitates getting out of the saddle, which is something not all riders do. I suspect there's also an element of engrained fear of front brakes that people never overcome despite having ridden bikes for many years. It might require intentional training to break the habit of favoring your rear brake but trust me, it's worth it! What do you think? Do you use your front brake and why do you think people don't use their front brakes? Drop a line in the comments below.

-Southwest Singletrack-