Learn Modulation for Mountain Bike Racers

Video Transcript

"So the brakes today, like I've been saying are really powerful and really good. They allow us to ride in ways that are really fun and in control. But, they don't work like the brakes in your car. They are not anti-lock brakes. The are almost more like light switches. When I pull these brakes, the wheels stop. And I mean, if I just grab on them indiscriminately, with a handful of brake, I'm going to stop real quick and not be in control. So, instead, what I do is I lightly feather the brakes, both front and rear, to be able to just slowly roll down a hill in control. Instead of going like this the whole way down the hill (which I've seen), I can just simply, lightly feather the brakes to remain in control. When you are braking, you can't turn. It's sort of an all-or-nothing proposition. And trying to think of it any other way isn't going to work. Left brake-front brake, rear brake- right brake. As little as possible for as short amount as possible is when you want to brake ideally. If it's a harder, steeper hill, with loose stuff, remember that when you brake you are going to lose some traction. So you need to be looking for smooth spots without pebbles and stuff like that to be braking in. And you just do that braking in controlled bursts; we call them modulation. "