I was riding to work out in Maple Ridge today, and shockingly, had the oh-so-typical cager turn left in front of me just as I was entering the intersection. I braked hard, but not excessively, and narrowly missed the guy. I noticed, however, that it felt like my back end was sliding sideways on it's way to becoming almost even with the front. As soon as the guy was out of my path, I let off the brakes and accellerated, which straightened me out. Boy, was I ever pissed. I talked to a guy later who was behind me when it happened and he commented on how close he thought I'd come to getting destroyed.
My question is: Why did the back end slide out like that? As far as I know I firmly and evenly applied increasing pressure to both brakes. Options I have entertained are that I loaded the front when braking thereby lightening the back end and reducing traction or that I did lock up the back. Do I need a new rear tire, perhaps?
I've experienced the sensation on my last bike, and occasionally I do feel like when stopping the back is sliding sideways, but only minutely, and I think it might be psychological (thought I felt it much of the way home tonight at midnight, though the roads were kind of slick).
One peculiar thing is that it always seems to be going to the right-hand side. Is there any way that it could be my body position during harder braking that disrupts the bike?
Anyway, any thoughts or input you might have are welcome as I'm really having a hard time figuring this out.
My question is: Why did the back end slide out like that? As far as I know I firmly and evenly applied increasing pressure to both brakes. Options I have entertained are that I loaded the front when braking thereby lightening the back end and reducing traction or that I did lock up the back. Do I need a new rear tire, perhaps?
I've experienced the sensation on my last bike, and occasionally I do feel like when stopping the back is sliding sideways, but only minutely, and I think it might be psychological (thought I felt it much of the way home tonight at midnight, though the roads were kind of slick).
One peculiar thing is that it always seems to be going to the right-hand side. Is there any way that it could be my body position during harder braking that disrupts the bike?
Anyway, any thoughts or input you might have are welcome as I'm really having a hard time figuring this out.