One makes you stop, the other makes you go... surely that’s all there is to it? But as downhill maestro Brendog explains, pedalling and braking isn’t as black and white as you may have thought...
Pedal to go faster and brake to go slower, right?
Of course that’s true in most cases, but pedal in the wrong section and it can actually slow you down. Conversely, grab a handful of brakes down a slippery slope and you may well find yourself accelerating.
Making the right call at the right time requires a finely tuned sense of balance between the front and rear wheels, and good judgement of traction levels. This month we’re looking at exactly how, and when, to turn the cranks and pull the brakes in order to get the most out of every trail.
Watch more of Brendan’s skills videos here, and read more about braking and pedalling in the May issue of MBR, on sale Wednesday March 27.
Behind every great rider is an understanding and appreciation of the foundations of good technique. Over the next few months, with the help of World Cup downhill racer Brendan Fairclough, we’ll be taking a look at these fundamentals, and to help ingrain them into your subconscious, we’ve devised a number of skills drills to go away and practise on your local trails.
For more skills advice check out the other videos in the Secrets of Better Riding series
