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My friend uses his middle finger to brake on his MB and to change gear his road bike.
His says it's safer and loads of pros do it.
I use my index finger for both these tasks.
Is middle finger shifting/braking common? Do you do it? What's the logic?
I suppose the logic being that you use your thumb and index finger to grip the bars and use the weaker middle finger to shift.
Sounds like BS to me.....
For pulling a MTB brake lever, the middle finger would normally be the strongest.
If your brakes are set up correctly you shouldn't need the strength of a middle finger to stop.
Does his girlfriend/wife/partner have a huge smile most of the time, if so there's your answer? 😀
Probably true, but any decent MTB brake these days is so powerful that seems irrelevant! I tend to use my index finger FWIW.For pulling a MTB brake lever, the middle finger would normally be the strongest.
re: the road bike, I've always used the middle finger to change gear. Just seemed natural (on the hoods).
index finger
my grips are quite big and my brakes pull close to the bar, if i use my middle finger i get close to squishing my index finger
index on the brake - i can use middle but it just feels awkward and it is not like you are gripping the bars like you are hanging off a building
Middle on the hoods of the road bike
well played rogerthecat
Don't think it matters, I can't remember which way round it is but I brake with index finger on one brake and middle on the other, only really noticed when I saw pics of myself riding.
edit just checked, front brake middle, rear brake index 😕
Index.
What happens if you get brake fade or just sudden bad pad wear? If you use your middle finger, you're running the risk of trapping your index finger against the bars when you need to pull the lever harder. Then you've got to let go of the brake, get your index finger out, then try and slow down again...
When i rode bikes with engines, i forced myself to brake with the middle finger because it gave me a bit more throttle control. On bicycles i just use the index finger as you don't have to worry about a throttle and more importantly, it feels more natural.
I must need my brakes checking as there feels a major difference between my index and middle finger. When it gets fast and rough I definitely switch to my middle finger. The index one alone is for light braking only!
Discussions of one-finger braking often neglect to clarify a small but essential point: it's one finger per hand, not just one finger to cover both brakes.
As a few other:
Index finger on MTB brake, middle to shift on a road bike. Ergonomics innit
Middle finger. I think I developed the technique when using a Nexave 'Rapid Rise' mech back in 2004/5; it allowed me to change down and brake at the same time. Useful when you encounter a few traffic lights on your commute.
Edit : It stuck and I now continually cover the brake with my middle finger BTW, though I use a flatbar set-up on and off-road.
it's one finger per hand, not just one finger to cover both brakes.
🙂
Kingkongsfinger to the thread, please...
Middle for braking, index & thumb for shifting. Ergonomic it is.
If it's good enough for Mr Lopes...
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Index finger on the mtb, whatever's closest on the road bike.
Or maybe you prefer Lazer's style...
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🙂
I use RR and quite often find myself using my thumb to downshift* while braking, not sure why as my index finger is sat there doing nothing.Middle finger. I think I developed the technique when using a Nexave 'Rapid Rise' mech back in 2004/5; it allowed me to change down and brake at the same time.
*push your thumb forward and flick the trigger back with your nail, not that you need to do this with current xt swingsbothways technology or whatever it's called.
unless you're using at least 3 fingers to brake and both your arse cheeks you haven't left it late enough.
index finger otherwise.