Fisting the grips or covering the brake levers?

Hey Lee,

I’ve been working on my manuals and covering the back brake with an index finger to avoid disaster.

As a result this habit of covering the brakes has carried over to my technique on drops (and even jumping).

Is this a good idea or should I be grasping the whole grip for better control?

Cheers
Andrew

His Lopesness covers his brakes.

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for this question. It’s so much more gratifying than “Which fork should I get?”

Most riders in most situations should ride with their index fingers on their brake levers.

– This gives you consistent access to your brakes, especially if your levers are set up correctly. See: Ergon grips for DH riding?

– The other three fingers, especially your middle, are plenty strong for holding on.

Exceptions:

– Gate starts. You want to pull as hard as possible. Braking should be nowhere in your consciousness.

– If you desperately DO NOT want to use that brake. Say you’re cornering across a wet log, and you know you’re likely to stab the front lever. You can fist that grip, but realize it’s a crutch borne of fear.

Marla Streb DOES NOT want to touch her front brake as she turns across this slippery log. That’s why she’s fisting her left grip. (The Durango National DH course was sweet!).

The first edition of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills recommends fisting the grips in certain situations. I took that out of the second edition. Suggestions:

– Set your brake levers properly (details and photo on Page 8 of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills; basics in the link above).

– Learn to ride with your index fingers on the levers.

– Master your core skills. This will give you the confidence to brake with intention.

Rip it!

— Lee

Know more. Have more fun!

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