Emphasize to your riders the importance of braking properly. Knowing when to begin braking in different situations is an important aspect of braking. Your athletes should understand that the front and rear brakes stop the bike in different ways. It is best to slow or stop the bicycle using both brakes. If only the rear brake is used, the bike will eventually stop. If only the front brake is applied with the same amount of pressure as used on the rear brake, the cyclist could go over the handlebars. Correct braking involves knowing the balance between the front and rear brakes as well as weighting the back wheel to avoid "skidding" or flipping over the handlebars. Braking skills involve not overreacting, braking gently and "feathering" the brakes by continuing to pedal while braking.
