It's common for beginners to feel that road bikes have poor braking power.

You could call it a "common beginner experience."

But is this actually true?

Road bikes are designed for speed, but is it possible they can't stop well, or their stopping power is weak?

Public Opinion

Many people seem to agree with this sentiment.

Road bikes are often light, making it easy to pick up speed.

However, some people believe that while they are "designed for speed," they "sacrifice stopping power."

Furthermore, some even think that sudden full braking is dangerous.

They believe it can lead to losing balance, slipping, or other adverse effects.

Road Bikes are Special Vehicles

Road bikes can be considered special vehicles, differing from other bicycles in many ways.

One such difference is the handlebars.

Unlike other bicycles, drop handlebars offer multiple grip positions.

Even the hoods alone offer two ways to grip: "bracket normal position" gripping from above, and "bracket aero position" gripping from below.

Bracket Normal Position

Typically, riders often use the "bracket normal position," gripping the hoods from above.

The main advantage is that it's easy to grip.

It can be used on flat terrain, uphill, or downhill, and is suitable for any situation, from relaxed riding to high-speed riding.

By extending the elbows slightly and raising the upper body, breathing becomes easier.

To grip, place the palm over the top of the hood.

Many riders grip the hood itself with their ring and pinky fingers, while resting their index and middle fingers on the brake levers.

When riding on public roads, you never know when you might need to brake suddenly.

To react as quickly as possible, riders keep their fingers on the brake levers.

The pinky finger is the strongest among human fingers, and it's the most important for gripping.

With the strong grip of the pinky and ring fingers securing the handlebars, the brake levers are then squeezed with the index and middle fingers.

The author believes this is actually why some perceive the brakes as "not working well."

Bracket Position and Braking Effectiveness

The effectiveness of braking is related to the bracket position.

Those who don't pay attention leave it exactly as it was when they bought the bike.

However, this is actually a point we encourage you to be particular about.

First, due to differences in hand size, men generally find it easier to grip the brake levers than women.

People with smaller hands or those who are not used to it may find the brake levers difficult to grip, leading them to feel that the brakes are less effective.

Additionally, a straight wrist is the most natural and stress-free position.

However, when gripping the brackets, depending on their position, you may need to bend your wrist to grip the handlebars.

And, an unnatural angle can make it difficult to extend your fingers or apply sufficient force with them.

In other words, it can make the brakes feel less effective.

Bracket Aero Position

Another way to grip is called the "drops" or "aero position."

This involves a deeper forward lean, with the upper body almost horizontal while riding.

As you ride with your head up, it puts strain on your neck.

You grip the handlebars, and when riding, you again keep your fingers on the brake levers.

At this time, the angle of your wrist has a significant impact.

Depending on the angle, your fingers might not reach the brake levers easily.

If you can't apply enough force, you won't be able to grip them properly, and the braking power will be reduced.

Why Bracket Position is Difficult

Adjusting the bracket position itself isn't difficult at all; you just loosen the screws and move it.

The reason it's hard to set the bracket position is because you grip it in two ways: from above and from below.

Suppose you set the position to be easy to grip from above, making sure your wrist is as straight as possible to avoid stress.

Then, when you grip from below, you'll have to twist your wrist quite a bit towards you to grip it.

This requires a compromise.

When gripping from below, you should lean your upper body significantly forward and grip the handlebars and brake levers in that position.

Considering this when setting the bracket position will make it relatively easier to decide.

Instead of viewing the multiple grip options as a disadvantage, let's see it as an advantage that allows for many different positions.

This is something that flat handlebars cannot do.