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BrakeAce PF2 Braking Sensors Claim to Help You Brake Smarter and Ride Faster

brakeace pf2 braking sensor mtb telemetry analysis tool
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Dr Matt Miller, founder of BrakeAce, has announced that he is now shipping his PF2 Mountain Bike Brake Sensors to customers following a successful Kickstarter Campaign. The BrakeAce PF2 is essentially telemetry for braking; it collects data from strain gauges measuring braking events at each caliper mount, combining it with location information, firmware, wireless protocols and apps to deliver insights on how a rider can descend faster by changing when and where they are braking at specific locations on a trail.

BrakeAce PF2 MTB Brake Sensors

brakeace pf2 tr sensor braking analysis mountain biking ride faster data analysis

If you’ve ever received any mountain biking coaching, it is likely you’ve been told that corner exit speed is far more important than corner entry speed. Get your braking done early, set up wide, then rail through the turn. We all know it intuitively, but forcing actual application of that knowledge in the heat of the moment, on the trail… well, it’s a lot easier said than done. BrakeAce is looking to give you data to support that, by showing you exactly where on the trail you could be braking more effectively in order to get to the bottom faster.

The brake sensors themselves are strain gauges, built into an over-sized post mount that sits between your frame and the caliper. Indeed, you will need to up-size your rotor by 20mm to add the sensor. There are two versions: the BrakeAce PF2 TR for 160/180mm PM frames/forks, to be run with a 180mm or 200mm rotor, respectively, and there is a BrakeAce PF2 DH that fits 200/203mm PM frames/forks to be used with a 220mm or a 223mm rotor, respectively.

brakeace pf2 braking sensors analyze braking data help riders brake smarter ride faster

The BrakeAce PF2 Sensor strain gauges measure braking torque at a frequency of 1000 times per second. The braking is processed post-run, with each braking event categorized as Stabs, Brake Checks, Critical, Modulated, Heavy, or Long, etc. The exact location of each braking event is also logged, allowing the BrakeAce App to build up a comprehensive picture of how a rider is controlling their speed down a specific descent.

Using the data amassed, the BrakeAce App then pulls out three actionable insights, or “Key Opportunities”, highlighting locations where braking earlier or later could reduce your overall time, or where you are brake checking unnecessarily. The goal is to help the rider “brake smarter, ride faster and perform better on any trail”. As the rider improves, taking those learning points on board, the App will begin to pull out more Key Opportunities to help you find seconds elsewhere.

brakeace app data analysis key opportunities insights

“The BrakeAce PF2 is the tool we always wanted. It didn’t exist, so we built it ourselves. It’s like the power meters every cyclist uses, except it’s for mountain bikers – where braking is everything. We have an epic team and we’re stoked to get these out in the wild.” – Matt Miller, BrakeAce Founder.

“Considering all the pieces needed to make the PF2 a reality, it’s no surprise it hasn’t been done before. We’ve combined sensors, firmware, GPS, wireless protocols, mobile & web apps, and a heap of scientific research. But the fact that you as a rider simply see how and where you can improve on the trail you just finished, makes it all worth it.” – Rohan Martin, BrakeAce CTO.

brakeace rider data analysis key opportunity identification

Pricing & Availability

BrakeAce PF2 Sensors are made in Rotorua, New Zealand. Pre-order pricing is $1,199 USD for a set of two sensors. Orders for a limited batch at that price are now open on the BrakeAce website, with shipping due in June 2023. When the pre-order batch is sold out, pricing will go up to $1,599 for the set. There is a free analysis app, but a paid-for Pro version is coming this year.

brakeace.com

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Exodux
1 year ago

So basically this is something you would install on a new riders bike, then once they get the skills, you remove?

SpaceRaccoon
SpaceRaccoon
1 year ago
Reply to  Exodux

You could definitely use this to find speed on different tracks, similar to the testing F1 drivers do. If anything, it looks more useful as a race tool.

Sweaty Techie
1 year ago
Reply to  SpaceRaccoon

Every level of rider could use this. Just like any level of rider can benefit from technical skills coaching/analysis. Going faster isn’t the only benefit of improving your skills / identifying your main weaknesses.

Beginner riders (or a skills instructor they take a session with) would be able to identify poor technique early in their riding progression. Pro racers would be able to identify the best sections on a track to focus their practice and gain valuable seconds. However, I would say that beginners will improve from any skills instruction and pros are looking for any small improvements…while high intermediate to expert level riders get massive improvements due to braking giving an insight into what’s going through your brain on different sections of trail.

Your riding might be held back because you don’t recognise that you’re unnecessarily losing flow through a particular type of trail section. These sensors and app will help you discover that, letting you know what to try and change, where to practice, resulting in more confidence, more commitment, more control, more efficiency…finding your flow and riding faster even if that wasn’t your goal.

And you can prove to your mates that you did that trail without touching the brakes, or that you stayed off the brakes longer than they did. Important ✌️

Rider
Rider
1 year ago

I’m definitely not the target, but I totally love the idea. I’m sure the key factor here is how good the advice you get from the app is, but if it that is properly sorted out, then it’s pretty cool!

Andrew
Andrew
1 year ago

This is such a great idea. I’m constantly trying to brake less and less through my regular trails. But it’s hard to get a consistent feel for progress.

Old Boston Garden Fan
Old Boston Garden Fan
1 year ago

For 1100 USD I imagine lots of frustration based on non synching, apps that dont work together, etc.

Mathias
Mathias
1 year ago

With those UGLY Sram Centerline disc rotors braking is not under Your control because width of braking surface is not wide enough for brakepads and You end up with rubbing “wings” of the rotor and front fork starts to wobble as hell. Get out with this CRAP! Sram should replace Centerline rotors for free with HSM rotors where this problem does not occur.

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