In Norway using both brakes is even a part of the bike education for kids. theoretically this is so elementary that it is difficult to take any other assertions seriously. However, the back brake helps little and can confuse the rider, so in practice whatever you do faster is faster, and for most people that means not thinking but gripping both brakes. Locking up the back wheel will often occur with good brakes, and that should be prevented to get the last percentages of braking power.

Something else to drop in this mix might be: a smaller wheel is also stronger because the curvature of the rim is higher. I think there’s a more technical way to describe what I mean, and maybe this reflection is so obvious that it doesn’t really need mentioning, but there you go.

Careful
People are quoting Jan Heine and Bicycle Quarterly like he is the new Sheldon Brown.
He has made some comments that I question and people are accepting as if it is gospel.
Like braking with the front stops faster then using both front and rear.
My motorcycle instructor would question that assertion. Also his many pages of tires that must be supple. No where in the article did I see a clear definition of what is meant by supple.

A fair point, Jeff!

I might just pull that section from this resource as it may make it seem there’s a significant speed difference between the two wheel sizes. The ACTUAL difference in rolling speed is absolutely minimal when you take into account factors like wind resistance. Alee