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IF there was one cyclist I could meet that had already passed on, I think it might be Sheldon. One thing I always respected about his writing is that he was pretty clear when he was presenting fact, and when he was presenting opinion. Even if you didn't agree with his opinion, you would be well advised to consider it very closely and think on the logic. His braking article was a classic example. His front braking procedure was spot on with the facts. He laid out his logic why you should brake that way. Its sound. Yet if you have no need to really stop that fast, is it really that important to front brake all the time??? Probably not. He is right that max braking is just before the rear wheel starts too lift. Yet if you go too hard and the rotation starts, you only have a split second to make that correction. How many would react to a rear wheel rising while trying to make an emergency stop by releasing pressure on the front brake? What if it is that time the rear brake decides to fail? Even if you can do it in training, can you still do it when you are trying to stop before you hit a truck and its a surprise? It's my opinion its almost always better to hit something in control than out of control. Would it be better to hit that truck with the front wheel being able to take some of the impact and absorb some of the energy, or go over the bars and hit it with your head? Can the stop be done in a straight line? Just how well does a car turn under heavy braking? Not very. Are you better off to accept a long stopping distance for the ability to turn and miss things?
Using his technique might be the difference between hitting that truck or not, IF its done perfectly when you can do it when you are totally surprised. It might save you and the bike. Be just a little off and it could make things worse. Fact is that you won't know till you fact that choice and when you do you still won't know till after the fact. Hopefully its a choice one never has to face, but if you do you are more likely to make a better decision from having read Sheldon's writing. How close you push it to the absolute braking limits he describes is up to you. An old aviation saying I think applies here, "A superior pilot uses his superior judgement to prevent the need of his superior skill." Many times anticipation can avoid the need for that superfast stop in the first place. Doesn't mean you don't need to know and practice the skill.
My recumbent would take a great deal to go over, and with its weight distribution I am not sure its got enough front braking power to throw me over those bars. Yet its Sheldons way of writing that gets me to really stop and think. I'd like to think he would take that as the highest praise.
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