[Closed] Braking with one finger - who really does it?

Brake less. 🙂

Me, or I least I try to.. Brakes are Deore 525 with Goodridge hoses, so they're like on-off switches anyway

i do, with avid bb7s and shimano saints.

Do it, you wont look back.

I ride 100% of the time, even on the commuter with one finger braking.

Yep I do, and I brake more than most...

Yes, learned it in my DH days, use middle finger too as it's even less prone to arm pain then

Do you seriously need 2?
I've 1 finger braked since I got disks, Julies, BB7s, Juicy 7s.

sometimes, depends what and where..

Can lock up both wheels no problem 1 finger braking on my Elixirs

Apparently I do, all the pics Im in I am anyway. Didnt think I did though

Me, and with my middle finger right on the end of the lever. Works very well

i only use one finger on both mtb and bmx. 2 finger braking feels wrong to me now

Have been 1 finger braking for a few years now and can't imagine going back. More than enough power. Avid Juicys and Formula Oros.

me.

i've been one-finger-braking since i first started using disc brakes.

you really don't need hope 4-pots (the 4 pot thing is a gimmick anyway, it makes sense on motorbikes where separating one piston into 2 means a smaller section disc can be used = lighter. it makes sense on cars where separating one piston into 2 means you can effectively fit a bigger piston between the wheel and the hub. 4 pot brakes are not more powerfull, but they are more expensive, so we get persuaded to buy them)

if you need to use 2 fingers, then it's a clear sign that you need to clean your discs, and buy some new pads - metal, they last longer.

no, i don't have forearms like popeye, i just have clean brakes.

Never used to. Got mad arm pump first year I went to Spain.
Couldn't move brake levers due to stupid gear indicator windows though, so this year I made some covers for the shifters, took the indicator windows off and set my brakes up for 1 finger.

Much better. More confident descending as you don't have all your fingers wrapped round the brake, but on the grips. And the brakes are plenty strong enough for 1 finger.
Some of the long techy descents that I am not very confident on, I ended up reverting to 2 fingers, as I started to get a bit of arm pump but nowhere near as bad as the year before. Probably more due to me gripping the bars to tight than the influence of braking.

Yep I do (Shimano XT brakes).

yep. middle finger. Juicy 7's and Hayes Stroker's. Agree with stumpy that any arm pump I suffer on long/scary descents is probably more to do with being too tense/gripping too tightly

yep me - last time I remember 2 finger braking was at the end of a week in the Alps when my body was shot and just didn't have any power left in my arms

Me, I've only ever used 1 finger since I went to v-brakes...never needed to use any more - plus I've got my brakes set up so only my index finger can grab the lever...I used to use my middle finger to brake but after a skills course I went back to my index finger as I had more control (for my new found extreme riding style!!!) over the bars using my index finger to brake with.

index finger with bite close to the bars

vees or disks and even on the drops on my road bike

Sometimes one, sometimes two fingers (on the brakes that is)
Magura Julie HPs and Older XTs off road, Deore Vees on the commuter.
My old Hope Minis always needed two fingers though to stop quickly. I think older Hopes were regarded as being a bit underpowered compared to others.

2 fingers? Middle finger? Freaks! 😉

I used to have to use 2 fingers with my old Mono Minis but since changing to Elixirs, bring the levers inboard on the bars about an inch, and having the bite point close the the bar it's 1 (index) finger all the way 🙂

No problems with getting enough power but I find the lever hits my knuckles if only using one finger. Maybe I have a strange grip or something

me, I can endo and skid my Elixir R's with my little fingers. Absolutely true. My Hope C2's could do it as well, just.

move your levers inward mk jase.

run your levers really close to the bars and quite far in - then you will minimize hand pump.

shifted over to one finger braking a few years ago. reduced hand fatigue, better grip on the bars - what's not to like?

1 finger on avid juicys. Because of the slightly longer stroke than most brakes I don't think you could use middle finger and be able to get full power. It may be worth considered how long the brake levers are. Avids are comparitively quite short, so I can get away with leaving the shifters (complete with windows) inside of the brake levers?

1 finger on the hope mono minis for XC riding. Need 2 to get any power out of them for 'big hill' riding though

2 fingers on the low-end V-brakes on the commuter

Middle finger??????? That's weird. It's the strongest finger you have and if you are using it you might as well be using two. You need it on the bars IMNSHO. Can you middle finger brakers do a manual/wheelie and feather the brake at the same time? Thinking about it just feels wrong. 🙂

I do.....something wrong with your brakes/fingers if you need to use two!

i use the middle finger - Index finger seems stronger on the bars

what's all this middle finger braking about?!

i ride on so many people's bike who don't seem to have their brakes set up. I know everyone likes to have the set up differently but i'll never understand how having the lever almost horizontal and wound right out gives you enough control.

got mine set up pointing down about 2 inches from horizontal with a good inch between the mount and the inside end of the grip (and shifter even further inside from the brake) and wound in so the bite is about 1cm off the bar.

further up is better than too far down brake wise.

always.

levers are located inboard so that index finger grips on the very end of the lever (nicely seated in the hook bit) which is fine in 99% of situations.

Shimano XT, Hayes nines & C2s , all of those 180mm rotor on the front

Only ever used one finger since getting cable/hydraulic disc brakes; one of the advantages over rim brakes.

I think it helps to push the levers toward the stem a bit and then move your hands to the outside of the grips when descending which improves leverage and puts your forefinger over the crook on the end of the lever. Adjust the lever throw to optimise your finger power at the braking point - a bit trial and error but worthwhile to reduce effort and fatigue.

I'm probably never going fast enough to need two finger braking 😉

I'm a one finger braker as well.

"urther up is better than too far down"

Yes that's true. I reviewed my lever angle a while back based on my body position when descending. Raising the angle of the levers a bit has helped drop my chest and elbows comfortably to get lower over the bike.

Always index finger only on Hope Mono Minis. All the professionals use index finger and the Lopez/McCormack skills book says index only so I reckon it must be right.

Using the middle finger restricts the lever travel as it traps the index finger on the bar.

95% of the time I do not have power issues with the Mono Minis. Key is to get the lever far enough inboard so that the index finger is right on the end of the lever for maximum leverage. I reckon a lot of people are actually grabbing the middle of the lever

hayes 9's 203mm rotors.....1 finger only

I use two, but not because of the brakes, more me.

I've ridden motorbikes for ever, and use two on these too.

If you are comfortable, don't worry.

I use two - spent years downhilling on knackered V Brakes and got used to it that way. Recenlty tried setting levers more in-board to try and encourange one finger braking but it doesn't feel comfortable.

The first time I even considered how many fingers I grabbed the levers with was when I was told off during my motorbike lessons for using two finger clutching/braking.

All four fingers? What are you supposed to hold onto the bar with?! You end up controlling the bike with the heels of your hands - it's wrong.

so much more control 1 finger braking...

I use single finger, it didn’t take much effort or thought to re-train myself really, 2 finger braking seems to result in jabby, skiddy braking and forearm cramp (so called “arm pump”) single finger braking is smoother and more controlled, and you learn to spot braking points better…

I’m an index finger user, I’ve noticed a few people use their middle finger (including Steve Jones), can’t really see the difference but could be worth a go..

As for lever positioning, I angle them such that my finger is in line with my forearm when in my “normal” riding position, this varies slightly from bike to bike of course as I have a different position for DH and XC riding but the principle is simple, you don’t want to over extend the various tendons in your arm/hands and you don’t want to twist your wrist and potentially break/sprain it…

I see way too many bikes with the levers near vertical, looks stupid and is probably quite dangerous…

think about your position on the bike and how your levers can affect it.

further up is better than too far down

why is that then? surely your fingers when untensed naturally point downwards which means that a lever that is set more horizontal to the bar is an unnatural position and therefore less comfortable? as i said, lever angle is probably more down to personal preference, but look at all the pro dh's bars and i pretty much guarantee that they are pointing more down than up.

Yes that's true. I reviewed my lever angle a while back based on my body position when descending. Raising the angle of the levers a bit has helped drop my chest and elbows comfortably to get lower over the bike.

i don't see how lever angle has such an impact on body position. may help you get a couple of cm lower if you really tried, but how low do you want/need to go?

I've actually gone back to two fingers, most of the time, gripping the bars ever more lightly. I used to use the middle finger because it left a wider grip with the other fingers. Control of the bike is much more about feet than hands - if your interface with the bike is good you don't need to hold the bars tight at all.

Also important, as mentioned by others, is to not have the levers pointing too far down - that tends to encourage you to roll forward over the front of the bike and cease riding primarily with your feet. So - levers at a natural angle so that relaxed forearms and dropped elbows leaves the brake finger(s) just resting there is what I suggest.

I also like to move my hands as far out as possible for faster bits - wider bars without fitting wider bars.

Yep. Middle finger.

just index fingers.

Control of the bike is much more about feet than hands

say [b]WHAT[/b] ?? Isn't it actually about your [b]weight[/b] and how you move it around? Your feet are completely constrained by the pedals, and apart from judicious application of power their only other importance is to keep the pedals clear of hitting things.

Isn't it actually about your weight and how you move it around?

Yes and the vast majority of your weight is on the pedals.

How would you pull a wheelie simonfbarnes?

Don't know what is so challenging about that, sfb. Clearly your weight needs to be in the right place in order to effect control of the bike via your feet - but the fact remains that the feet should be driving the bike (not talking about pedalling) and the hands should be relaxed.

If you think feet are only for pedalling and keeping the pedals away from the deck/objects I'm pretty sure you'll be taking occasional trips over the handlebars. Unless you're riding more with your feet than you realise.

How would you pull a wheelie simonfbarnes?

90% by shifting his weight back, 10% pulling on the bars.

Yes and the vast majority of your weight is on the pedals.

so what ? It's where it is relative to the bike that matters

How would you pull a wheelie simonfbarnes?

comes under: "judicious application of power" 🙂

I always break with 1 (well on on the frount brake and one on the back brake 🙂 )

i use:
Hope mono minis (or mini mono or what ever they are called) f183&r163,
Hope mono mini M4's f203&r183, and
Avid Jucie Ultimate F160&r140.

Plenty of stopping power.

bike sin no. 1: brake levers horizontal and butted up to the grips! ugh!

you know who you are!!

I have specced a set of hope 4 pots on my new bike. Any idea if they are more suited to one finger braking?

In my experience, no! I had to use two fingers when I owned Mono M4's (my first set of hydraulic brakes) and it was a revelation buying Shimano Saint and Avid Juicy 7's as I can quite happily use one finger with them.

I use one finger but my wife prefers two.

I use my middle finger only, and have done since v-brakes first came out! (although they required 2 fingers, or even 3 in the wet!). Don't use index finger 'cos that gives you a 'narrow' grip compared to using the middle finger if you see what i mean? (not sure even I do) 😆

Single finger braking for me too - Index finger mostly, but I do use middle finger on my big travel bike for some reason.

Index finger only (XT on bike 1 and Hayes Stroker on bike 2).

...oh and mounted as far inboard as I can get away with.

usually one but sometimes add the middle too if I need a bit more stopping power - ie.. if I'm doing last second braking and need to pull up extremely quickly, which I like 😆

Kev

😆 @ mudshark

I found the matchmaker combo really helped getting the levers in the right place for 1 finger braking for me, before it was a compromise

I use my thumb and my left earlobe for optimum power and control

if I need to stop really quickly I tend to use my shoulder and a tree

I do. Mind you, I have fairly large fingers

[img] [/img]

I use Hope M4s and use 2 fingers on the rear and 1 finger on the front...don't know why, it's just how I ride and I'm happy with it...doesn't feel like i have more control with one than the other either.

I run my mini's like this for them to feel comfy with one finger braking. Made the difference for me.

[img] [/img]

Sometimes 1, mostly 2. Can't say it makes a lot of difference. I only really know cos I've seen photos. Oh and one bike has a Dual-Control (front brake) so one finger isn't possible as can't move the lever far enough in - and as someone said earlier the lever hits my knuckle before any power is applied.

One and mainly index, but lever far enough in to allow switch to middle every so often - like when I have just been tensing up 'coz I'm a wus goin down slippy stuff...

Never use more then one finger for braking.

I use my index fingers and it's never been a problem, suppose whatever works for you and your setup but Steve Peat, Sam Hill & Brian Lopes all seem to use index finger braking.

I use 2 I think. I tried to train myself to use my middle finger, but that really didn't suit. Might have a go with the index.

I use one finger, my index finger. Not to brake with, but as a sign to everybody who thinks one finger braking is cool.
Just use what feels right. 🙂

so much more control 1 finger braking...

I use 2 because I prefer it, my brakes work just fine. I don't see how it affects control.

[i]Steve Peat, Sam Hill & Brian Lopes all seem to use index finger braking[/i]

I'm not a professional downhill or 4Xer. Are you then?

I do - adjusting the brake levers and set up helps

Steve Peat, Sam Hill & Brian Lopes all seem to use index finger braking

I'm not a professional downhill or 4Xer. Are you then?

Perhaps you ride the type of stuff they ride at the pace they ride it at. I don't.

Sheesh 🙄 , can think of bigger things too worry about other than which finger......like can I stop!! 😯

BOT - middle finger depending on speed/surface/circumstances etc etc

HA HA, I said it depends what and where, just noticed this pic I am using 1 for the front 2 for the rear.. Skill or what.

[img] [/img]

"i don't see how lever angle has such an impact on body position"

So Imagine I point the levers down a bit too much. I'm in a friendly upright position i.e. pedalling or pootling along. So to reach them I'm arching my wrists down which feels nasty on wrists and tendons in hands. So I angle them up a bit, allowing my wrists to be straight.

Now imagine the attack position - I drop my chest/shoulders low, stick my elbows out, stand on pedals and maybe shuffle back a bit when needed - more like how I'm positioned when downhilling and will need my brakes. Again, I'm arching my wrists a bit to reach the levers. So I angle the levers up a bit more making my wrists straight again.

Returning to the upright position, the levers look oddly raised BUT I'm not really using my brakes when I'm in that position so it dunt matter.

I played around with lever angles and this approach is comfortable for me.