Original User Guide | Pedelec Shimano Steps E8000 Version 1
US-27
3.6.2.1 Learning how to brake
WARNING
Practice braking and weight transfer techniques where there is no
traffic or other hazards and distractions.
Learn which brake lever controls which bike
It’s very important to your safety that you learn and remember which brake
lever controls which brake on your bike. Traditionally, in the U.S. the right
brake lever controls the rear brake and the left brake lever controls the
front brake; but, to check how your bike’s brakes are set up, squeeze one
brake lever and look to see which brake, front or rear, engages. Now do the
same with the other brake lever. Two keys to effective speed control and
safe stopping are controlling wheel lockup and weight transfer.
Learn to practice slowing and stopping smoothly
Brakes are designed to control your speed, not just to stop the bike.
Maximum braking force for each wheel occurs at the point just before the
wheel “locks up” (stops rotating) and starts to skid. Once the tire skids,
you actually lose most of your stopping force and all directional control.
You need to practice slowing and stopping smoothly without locking up
a wheel. The technique is called progressive brake modulation. Instead
of jerking the brake lever to the position where you think you’ll generate
appropriate braking force, squeeze the lever, progressively increasing
the braking force. If you feel the wheel begin to lock up, release pressure
just a little to keep the wheel rotating just short of lockup. It’s important
to develop a feel for the amount of brake lever pressure required for each
wheel at different speeds and on different surfaces. To better understand
this, experiment a little by walking your bike and applying different
amounts of pressure to each brake lever, until the wheel locks.
Learn how to transfer your weight
When you apply one or both brakes, 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, 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 is transferred forward, you need
to shift your body toward the rear of the bike, to transfer weight back on
to the rear wheel; and at the same time, you need to both decrease rear
braking and increase front braking force. This is even more important on
descents, because descents shift weight forward.
This weight transfer is even more pronounced if your bike has a front
suspension fork. Front suspension “dips” under braking, increasing the
weight transfer.
Go more slowly on loose or wet surfaces
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather.
Avoid wet weather riding where possible. It will take longer to stop 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 pads reduces their ability to grip. The
way to maintain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly.
WARNING
If your brakes are not functioning as listed above, they need
adjustment, do not ride the bike until the brakes are properly adjusted
by a professional bicycle mechanic.