Learning to drive late in life. I’m good with awareness, changing gears, interactions, roundabouts, spatial awareness, yadda yadda - a lifetime of cyclist awareness.
I just can’t brake softly to save my life. It feels like I put the pedal half down, and nothing happens to the speed and then I do an inch more and suddenly the whole car locks up.
Is this normal? I just have to get used to finding a gentle breaking point somehow?
Plant your heel on the floor board. Use your ankle to regulate brake pressure.
Your foot and leg need to learn muscle memory which only comes with time, unfortunately. Alternatively, the brakes on the car you’re using are goosed.
You just get used to the feel of the brake pedal, it’ll come with practice. It’s just the same as finding the bite point on the clutch, you eventually do it without even thinking about it.
Does this happen in every car or just one? If it’s just one car there might be an issue in the braking system. Every car I’ve driven has different brake feel but never anything like what you’re describing.
There’s a joke I heard young from sponge Bob about driving, but it stuck with me and helped. Dont press the pedals with your whole foot - press them with just your big toe.
Also check out a video on “the chauffer/limousine stop” for addition soft braking technique
That’s actually pretty helpful, thanks for this I’ll keep it in mind, and who knows maybe one day I can do a limousine stop
