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Brake lights would be a great addition, however. During fast stops, especially while commuting, it's nearly impossible to signal.
by krhae 9y ago
Brake lights would be a great addition, however. During fast stops, especially while commuting, it's nearly impossible to signal.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- jdavis703 9y agoIn Copenhagen people raise their hand to indicate a stop. I wish we'd adopt this in the U.S.
- ssambros 9y agoDo people have three hands in Copenhagen, because last time I checked my bike had two handbrakes, and I have to use both of them to stop safely?
- yoodenvranx 9y agoIf you have to use both brakes to stop your bike then your brakes are too weak.
- hondo77 9y agoUnless you're a 230lb cyclist coasting down a hill at 45mph and need to make a quick stop because a car up ahead does something stupid. I guarantee you that both brakes are required in that situation.
- some-guy 9y agoNot a professional bike mechanic (I build bikes as a hobby) but in general your front brake should be set up to be powerful enough on its own. This requires clean rims, and clean, non-worn, non-hardened brake pads.
- ScottBurson 9y agoBut the front brake is normally controlled by the left brake lever, and signals are supposed to be given with the left hand. I've seen it argued that since most people are right-handed, and the front brake does most of the work and therefore deserves the most careful modulation, the usual practice is backwards: the right level should be for the front brake. I guess this is another reason. It makes sense to me, I guess, but not so much that I've actually bothered to swap the cables on my bike :-) Anyway, in the wet it isn't always safe to use only the front brake.
- _Wintermute 9y agoIn the UK the front brake is on the right.
- rhn_mk1 9y agoThe general non-emergency braking advice with derailleur bikes is to switch gears before stopping. While I can't speak for others, I do it at the same time. That requires a braking hand and a shifting hand.
- bamboozled 9y agoA lot of people in Copenhagen (and other European cities) ride bikes with rear pedal breaks or “coaster brakes”. Which makes signalling easier as you have a free hand when breaking! Also worth checking out is this signalling guide! [1] [1] https://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/essential-guide-road-cycling-hand-signals-calls.html https://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/essential-guide-r...
- p90puma 9y agoANT+ lights connected to a Garmin computer do this today. Totally wireless.