USE YOUR BRAKES THE RIGHT WAY

► There's a massive difference between skidding down an alleyway at 15km/h on a cruiser with a coaster brake, and pumping your rim or disc brakes in the rain on a mountain descent at 35km/h. Unless you were part of a youth development programme or raced as a young adult, chances are nobody has ever formally shown you the most essential of skills: how to brake correctly on a bike.

REDISTRIBUTE YOUR WEIGHT // "Push your weight back as you brake to keep weight on the back wheel and even out the braking forces," says Josh Horowitz, owner of The Broken Bones Bicycle Co. and a cycling instructor. If you have to brake hard at high speed, this will help prevent you from going end over end. "The faster you have to brake, the more you should push your weight back. I've actually thrown my butt behind my saddle, where my stomach is on the seat. It makes a huge difference in your braking power and control."

STAY OFF THE BRAKES IN TURNS // Scrub enough speed before the turn so you don't have to hit the brakes in the turn. Approach the curve with your hands on the drops, which gives you better braking leverage, keeps your centre of gravity lower, and improves your bike control. Shift your weight back and apply even pressure on the brakes. Then release the brakes and carry a manageable amount of speed through the turn. If you come in too hot and need to brake, use a very light touch.

RELAX // If your arms and shoulders are tense as you hit the brakes, the stopping forces can cause your hands to close and you to suddenly brake harder than intended. That can make it very difficult to maintain control of your bike.

BRAKE LIGHTLY IN THE WET // It can take about three times as long to stop in the wet as on dry pavement. "Your tyres have less traction in the wet, so an even lighter touch is called for," says John Verheul, head coach at JBV Coaching. Many people end up pulling the brakes too hard, too late. That can lock up your wheels and send you into a skid or crash. Scrub speed by feathering your brakes. If you need to apply more pressure, err on the side of hitting your rear brake instead of your front brake.