Disc/rim/drum/coaster brakes; braking technique, maintaining brakes, nything else about stopping a bike.
2
votes
3answers
483 views
Replacing cantilever brakes
Just bought a winter beater to ride through the winter. I knew it needed some love but the frame (Giant Yukon) fit well and it was a reasonable price.
I just threw the bike up in my repair stand ...
6
votes
5answers
539 views
Do brake cables become more elastic with time?
I bought a used bike a few months ago, and I've noticed a drastic reduction in brake power.
At first, I was easily able to lock-up the rear wheel while squeezing the brake lever only half-way to the ...
0
votes
1answer
186 views
Are faceplates for different shimano brifters compatible?
I got a used brifter and the faceplate fell off. I am pretty sure it was a 105. It works well enough but it looks shitty.
Does anyone know if I can just order whichever shimano brifter faceplate, and ...
3
votes
3answers
759 views
What affordable rear brake can I get with nut/bolt rather than Allen Key?
I am looking for recommendations for a rear brake for a road brake. The problem is that I can see plenty of options for the newer 'Allen Key' style but not the older 'nut/bolt' style. I also want just ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How to set up bike so that back-pedalling stops the rear wheel?
My first bike was a 1976 Raleigh Strika. It was brilliant and was distinguished by having only a front brake lever. To get the rear wheel to stop one simply back-pedalled. This was a v. efficient way ...
1
vote
2answers
199 views
Is my brake line bad?
I recently purchased an old bike and got the brakes replaced. My front brakes are working as expected and my rear brakes are not. I am squeezing my brake lever which has a lot of resistance, but isn't ...
4
votes
4answers
779 views
Effectiveness of techniques to improve the performance of brakes
My bike does not perform badly at the moment, however browsing this site has lead me to wonder whether the performance of the brakes (the front one in particular) could be improved by various means ...
5
votes
2answers
753 views
Brake callipers not long enough to allow adjustment of pads
I upgraded the standard Tektro brakes on my SE Lager to Shimano 105s. The braking performance is vastly improved. I also have Charge Plug wheels, rather than the stock wheels.
However I've noticed ...
3
votes
1answer
294 views
What cantilever brakes are compatible with Surly Pugsley 100mm front fork?
I just purchased a Surly Pugsley project bike. The front hub isn't set up for a disc brake so I'm looking to install a cantilever brake. It has 65mm large marge rims. I've scoured the internets and ...
2
votes
1answer
337 views
How can I widen brakes on an '09 Specialized Transition Pro?
I just picked up an '09 Transition on craigslist, and was expectantly dismayed to find that the stock brakes aren't quite wide enough for my Zipp 404 firecrests. When I remove the straddle cable ...
20
votes
12answers
5k views
When should I not use my front brake?
I have only been riding for a short time and I remember when I was a child there was a belief that if you used your front brakes going downhill that you would fly over your handlebars.
However, my ...
8
votes
4answers
5k views
Front brake only on a fixed-gear bike
Is it considered safe-enough to only have a front-brake on a fixie in a urban area that has many hills? I've been considering buying one, but I want to get some opinions before I move forward.
1
vote
3answers
577 views
Bar end brakes and handlebar swapping
I have one road bike that I use mostly for commuting, sometimes for fast alone rides and infrequently for group rides.
I was thinking that since most of my riding is alone I should put my tri bars ...
6
votes
5answers
7k views
How often should disk brakes need bleeding?
The brake handles for my disk brakes became very loose four months after I bought the bike. The bike shop bled the brakes and put new oil in them, which sorted it.
They're feeling a bit loose again ...
7
votes
5answers
913 views
What is the recommended type of tire for riding on wet pavement?
I am commuting in rainy Seattle, and the rain has started. Right now I have Continental Gatorskin tires on my commuter, but yesterday I noticed I was braking to stop the wheels and skidding quite a ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
How to get more tire clearance with caliper brakes?
I've discovered the brakes on my Bike Friday Tikit don't allow for enough clearance to run Schwalbe Marathon tires. The bike - a folding bike with 16" rims - ships with Kojak treadless tires. It looks ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Enhancing brake force with steel rims in wet conditions?
I currently own an old racing bike, that still has ripped steel rims and a side pull caliper brake. The braking power is acceptable when the street is dry, but as soon as it gets wet (even morning ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
Front wheel “shudder” or “pulse” when braking
When I apply the front brake I can feel a "shudder" or "pulse" through the front wheel, fork and handlebars. It's faster when I'm travelling faster and slower when I'm moving slower.
I assume there's ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
My brake lever is coming loose from my handle bars; how can I tighten it?
I have a road bike with drop bars, and the left brake lever is slightly loose - it can rotate a few degrees around the handle bar from side to side. How can I tighten it? Is it possible to do so ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Do cyclocross/interrupter/touring brake levers reduce brake performance?
I have bullhorn bars, with a Tektro cyclocross lever and a TT style bar end lever as well, operating rim brakes. The calipers are Tektro dual pivot. The pads are cartridge style pads (I don't have the ...
0
votes
2answers
907 views
Adjust reach on Ultegra ST-6510 levers?
I'd like to adjust the reach (distance from the drop bars to the brake levers) on my Ultegra 6510 levers. The Shimano instructions don't mention the ability to adjust this at all, which seems odd to ...
2
votes
3answers
249 views
Brake piece grinding against fork
This brake was installed on a fixed-gear that did not come with any brakes. The nut on one side rubs against the fork, and over time it rotates and presses the pad against the wheel.
Here is where ...
1
vote
0answers
130 views
New brake pads, whining brakes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Fixing noisy V brakes
I have quite an old mountain bike, that has become quite rusted over the past few years. I just tuned up the derailleurs and replaced my brake ...
4
votes
3answers
662 views
Dia Compe Brakes for 1991 Bridgestone RB-T
I have a 1991 Bridgestone RB-T. This bike has passed through many hands so much of the stock parts are gone. The original Dia Compe XCE brake arms have been replaced by Dimension canti arms.
My ...
6
votes
3answers
771 views
What bicycle design factors affect stopping power?
I've been under the impression that bikes and motorcycles cannot stop as quickly as cars. I'm curious what factors have the largest impact on bike stopping distance.
What comes to my mind are:
...
2
votes
4answers
208 views
Brakes won't stay tight
I have plain ol' v-brakes and I have to tighten them all the time, every three or four weeks. I've been given to understand this is not usual. I'm not sure what's wrong though -- am I hitting them too ...
21
votes
7answers
7k views
Why don't brakes come with 'Safety Levers' any more?
It used to be very common to see bikes with dual pull brake levers (if that's even the right name) as shown below. However now it seems almost impossible to find brakes like this. Even finding a ...
3
votes
5answers
567 views
Removing lubricant from the rear brake and rim?
I accidentally got lube on my rear brake (v-brake) and my stopping power seems diminished. What is the best way to get it off the brake pads and the rims?
0
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I fix sticking/tight hydraulic brake calipers?
I took my wheel off my front forks to repair a puncture. I had the bike upside down when I removed the wheel. When I came to replace the wheel back into the fork slots, the hydraulic disk calipers ...
2
votes
2answers
89 views
Putting brakes from a fat frame onto a skinny frame
I took a bunch of parts off of a bike with a hybrid titanium/carbon frame (it died), and am using them to build up a bike from a sweet steel frame I got on ebay for a song. It's my first time building ...
16
votes
6answers
3k views
Why is the front brake lever on the right if you 'drive' on the left and vice-versa?
I live in the UK and I expect my front brake lever to be operated by my right hand. However, I recently went on a friend's bike that had the brakes 'back to front', which would be the 'right way ...
2
votes
4answers
7k views
Direct Pull (V-Brake) vs. Center Pull Cantilevers (pros and cons)
I am looking around for an old mountain bike to ride this winter (and this summer when it is wet).
I was just browsing around and was curious what the difference was between
Direct pull brakes:
...
0
votes
3answers
443 views
Is there 28 hole front/rear drum brake hub
No time research this now, so has there ever been made a 28 hole front or rear drum brake hub? I know that Sachs and Sturmey-Archer have done a lot of drum brakes. Neither to my knowledge have such a ...
2
votes
3answers
689 views
How can I adjust for uneven brake wear?
Well, my problems with brakes have turned out to be not an issue with pad longevity at all -- see the following picture:
Note how the one pad is excessively "toe-in" worn.
Here's a picture of the ...
1
vote
4answers
457 views
Can anyone suggest a way to mount my rack to prevent it impeding the rear brake?
I have a topeak rear rack the mounting of which is interfering with the operation of the rear brake.
Unfortunately, my frame (a 2009 Scott Sportster P4) only has mounting lugs on the outside of the ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Fixing noisy V brakes
My V brakes make a lot of noise when I brake!! I am annoyed by such noise not to mention the pedestrians. My Mechanic said that it will not make those noise after using for couple of days, but it is ...
3
votes
3answers
674 views
Fixing off-center Caliper brakes
The brakes pads of my front brake are off center, so far that when the brake is disengaged the right pad rubs slightly against the wheel even though there is plenty of clearance between the wheel and ...
4
votes
3answers
941 views
Why does my back wheel keep becoming untrue?
So I broke a spoke a week ago, and when I put a new spoke in you know I trued it. Now, a week later, the bike feels like a kayak, because the back wheel is not very straight. Any idea why this would ...
14
votes
6answers
12k views
Why don't road bikes use v-brakes?
In my experience, linear pull brakes (v-brakes) have more stopping power than other types of cantilever brakes (let the flames start ;). Modern road bikes always come fitted with dual pivot brakes. ...
8
votes
5answers
870 views
Weight of disc brakes
People say (for example here) that disc brakes are relatively heavy, giving this as a reason for not using them.
How much heavier than rim brakes are disc brakes? Is the extra heaviness in the ...
12
votes
4answers
988 views
What kinds of brake designs exist, and what are their general pros and cons?
Here are the ones I'm aware of:
Center Pull Cantilever
Slightly better braking than side pull brakes.
No recentering problem.
Relatively rare
V-Brakes
Cheap to produce.
Similar in braking power ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I choose brake pads?
I use the plain self-centering side-pull cantilever brakes found on 99.9% of road bikes. (Well, it's a road bike. ;) ) I've got alloy rims. Both my current internship location and back home are ...
0
votes
2answers
121 views
Quick question about V-Brakes?
I'm interested in purchasing a bike, however due to my location can't get into a bike shop, so will need to order it online.
The 2009 GT 2.0 Transeo I am interested in does not explicitly say it has ...
1
vote
3answers
229 views
Could road rims be damaged by using v-brakes?
I once heard that road rims aren't strong enough to deal with the force of v-brakes, is this true? What about your standard cantilever brakes?
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Do aluminum rims provide better braking than steel ones when wet?
When I upgraded the brakes on my bicycle recently, the shop asked if I wanted to also switch from my (chromed) steel rims to aluminum rims, saying the aluminum rims would provide better braking power. ...
0
votes
2answers
744 views
Are the rear brake mounts on my Boardman Team HT post-mount or IS?
Boardman Team HT
Last weekend I broke the rear brake lever in a crash. I'm looking for a replacement brake disc kit for the rear brake, but I don't know what kind of mounting I've got. There seem to ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
What's the difference between galvanised brake cables versus stainless steel?
I'm looking at buying a set of new brake cables and I'm wondering what the difference is between the stainless steel ones and the galvanised cable? I'm only getting relatively cheap ones but I can't ...
15
votes
5answers
3k views
Can your rims wear down from too much braking?
I have a question about rims based on information in another question. The person asking states that he doesn't want his rims wearing down. Is this really a problem? Assuming you don't wear the ...
2
votes
4answers
887 views
Best brake pads for long distance travelling?
Me and a friend of mine are going on a long bike trip (which will take us a month) and we're finetuning our bikes for this.
We will be bringing about 14kg of luggage each, only riding on paved roads ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
Why do the front and rear brakes work independently?
Why do bicycles have two individual brake levers that work independently to brake each wheel? I've always used my right brake lever because it is more comfortable to do so and I haven't noticed any ...
