P
Peter Cole
Guest
Jasper Janssen wrote:
> On 15 Apr 2006 00:08:55 GMT, [email protected] wrote:
>
>> I think you are confusing the issues. Drum brakes have plenty of
>> stopping power and good stopping distance. What they don't have is
>> control that is essential in operating them at the transition between
>> tracking and skidding, especially in curves and on wet roads. I don't
>> contend that the Campagnolo Delta brake did not stop the bicycle, but
>> that its varying mechanical advantage made it difficult to control.
>
> Doesn't a brake that routinely skids the wheels have bad stopping power?
> If your wheels are skidding you're not stopping with anywhere near the
> theoretical maximum.. why ABS was invented.
>
A front brake, being the only important brake for rapid stopping, will
usually cause a near-instantaneous crash if it locks the front wheel. On
dry roads, you have a warning when the rear wheel lifts, on wet roads or
loose surfaces you often don't. Under slippery conditions, it's critical
to be able to control the amount of braking force precisely, a
non-linear response makes that harder. This isn't noticed too often when
riding on pavement, since the coefficient of friction is pretty good,
but riding off-road in sand, gravel, mud or leaf litter is much more
challenging. Predictable brakes are much more important than gross
stopping power.
> On 15 Apr 2006 00:08:55 GMT, [email protected] wrote:
>
>> I think you are confusing the issues. Drum brakes have plenty of
>> stopping power and good stopping distance. What they don't have is
>> control that is essential in operating them at the transition between
>> tracking and skidding, especially in curves and on wet roads. I don't
>> contend that the Campagnolo Delta brake did not stop the bicycle, but
>> that its varying mechanical advantage made it difficult to control.
>
> Doesn't a brake that routinely skids the wheels have bad stopping power?
> If your wheels are skidding you're not stopping with anywhere near the
> theoretical maximum.. why ABS was invented.
>
A front brake, being the only important brake for rapid stopping, will
usually cause a near-instantaneous crash if it locks the front wheel. On
dry roads, you have a warning when the rear wheel lifts, on wet roads or
loose surfaces you often don't. Under slippery conditions, it's critical
to be able to control the amount of braking force precisely, a
non-linear response makes that harder. This isn't noticed too often when
riding on pavement, since the coefficient of friction is pretty good,
but riding off-road in sand, gravel, mud or leaf litter is much more
challenging. Predictable brakes are much more important than gross
stopping power.