It’s always insightful to check in on fellow cycling enthusiasts’ activities, and recently, spotting my brother Jacek’s Warsaw ride on Strava revealed more than just mileage. His ride description, “Some adventures. That’s why you shouldn’t improve your brakes during the Winter,” coupled with a Garmin crash alert photo, a broken mirror, and a shot of the Warsaw Mermaid, painted a concerning yet humorous picture.
My first thought jumped to brake failure, imagining synthetic oil mishaps in his Giant Trance E+’s hydraulic brake lines. A quick message confirmed it wasn’t brake failure, but quite the opposite. “They were too effective,” Jacek replied. Apparently, attempting a U-turn to photograph the Mermaid, a slight touch of the lever sent him tumbling. His post-service 203 mm rotors were, in his words, “damn effective!” He’d inadvertently replicated my past e-bike braking mishaps – those sudden, low-speed stops that send you sprawling. It seems upgrading your Bike Brakes, especially right before winter hits, might have some unexpected downsides.
Upgrading to more responsive bike brakes, particularly with larger rotors as Jacek did, drastically increases stopping power. In ideal summer conditions, this is a huge advantage. However, winter conditions present a different scenario. Icy patches, wet leaves, and generally reduced grip mean that wheels are more prone to locking up. Overly powerful bike brakes can easily overwhelm the available traction, especially when you’re not expecting it. This is precisely what happened to Jacek. The enhanced bite of his new brakes, ideal for aggressive trail riding in summer, became a liability on a casual winter ride in the city. The very improvement intended for safety and performance backfired, highlighting a crucial consideration for seasonal bike maintenance.
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Jacek’s experience serves as a valuable lesson. While upgrading your bike brakes is generally a positive step, consider the timing, especially if you frequently ride through winter. The enhanced performance might be counterproductive when road conditions are less forgiving. It’s a reminder that sometimes, ‘better’ in one context can be ‘worse’ in another. Perhaps the best approach is to adjust to new bike brakes gradually and always exercise extra caution when braking in winter conditions.
