Disc/rim/drum/coaster brakes; braking technique, maintaining brakes, nything else about stopping a bike.
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 ...
3
votes
5answers
566 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?
4
votes
1answer
3k views
How do I stop my brake from sticking?
The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim.
It's a ...
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 ...
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:
...
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
454 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 ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you adjust the set-up of road bike brakes for women with small hands
My girlfriend has recently bought her first road bike. While the frame size is pretty much spot on and comfortable for her, she finds that the brakes are difficult to use and she ends up with pain in ...
3
votes
3answers
670 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
939 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 ...
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?
0
votes
2answers
741 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 ...
2
votes
4answers
882 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
5k views
How to fix a detached brake cable?
My rear brake cable detached yesterday while riding. When I pull the level all the way back (which I can now do with no tension), I think I can see the end of the brake cable inside the brake hood, ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the stopping force of your average road bike?
Does anyone have any data on the stopping force of a modern road bike? IE when a road biker slams on the brakes the force applied to the ground is x.xxx Newtons (or lbf).
Another way to ask would be ...
5
votes
5answers
297 views
Is it ever legal in the USA not to have two brakes on a bike?
When using a bike on a road in the USA, is it ever legal not to have separate brakes on the front and back wheels?
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Brake lever placement on a road bike
I am just going to re-wrap my road bike's handlebar tape tomorrow. Before I do that I was wondering what the proper place is to put the brake levers. I know they should be pointed vertically, ...
22
votes
3answers
5k views
How do I make my brakes stop squealing?
I am having a very loud squeaking voice in the brakes of the rear tyre. I don't know what the problem is, but I am sure it has nothing to do with rain, because it happens all the time even if it is ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Adjusting the pull/reach of STI levers with top-brakes (Tricross)
Please excuse my terminology, I have a Specialized Tricross (2008) with Shimano Tiagra STI levers, and convenience brakes on the top of the bars, running through the same cable.
Naturally, adjusting ...
4
votes
1answer
530 views
One stripped post mount on suspension fork
I have a suspension fork, which has a stripped lower post mount, i.e. the bolt used to attach the brake caliper doesn't grip the post. Before anyone asks - yes, it is the correct size bolt, as the ...
3
votes
2answers
203 views
Is it ever legal in the UK not to have two brakes on a bike?
When using a bike on a road in the UK, is it ever legal not to have separate brakes on the front and back wheels?
11
votes
6answers
6k views
Why don’t fixed gear bikes have brakes?
It seems to be assumed you will not have any brakes on a fixed gear bike, why?
3
votes
1answer
451 views
RockShox Tora TK mountings for Hope Mini M4
I'm on the verge of buying a RockShox Tora fork for my bike, and plan to use them with Hope Mono Mini M4 brakes. I'm stumped as to what mounting to buy for these, how do you guys find out this ...
2
votes
1answer
336 views
How to service a 1995 Schwinn Phantom Coaster Brake hub?
I have a 1995 Schwinn Phantom beach cruiser with a coaster brake that I'd like to service. The coaster brake is staring to feel sloppy and hasn't been looked at in a long time.
What tools will I ...
12
votes
4answers
991 views
How to tighten a brake?
This is probably a really basic question but I'm confused by the whole brake mechanism so...
My left (front wheel) brake has to be pulled in really far before it actually starts to brake (I guess ...
5
votes
3answers
400 views
V-Brake pads for wet conditions
In wet conditions, my current brakes are pretty poor. Without switching to disc brakes, what are my options for v-brake pads that work better in the wet?
I'm only thinking about this for my commuting ...
8
votes
2answers
710 views
When to change disk brake pads
I was wondering how to tell when your disk brake pads need replacing. My front seems to be not stopping as quickly as it used to, or as I would like. I know this could be road grime build up, but I ...
7
votes
1answer
431 views
How do I change my disc brake pads?
How do I change my disc-brake pads? How do I avoid letting the fluid out?
8
votes
2answers
4k views
Hydraulic Disc Brakes Maintenance
I have Hayes Nine hydraulic disc brakes on my mountain bike. I have recently replaced the brake pads and after that it seems that the pads are almost touching the rotor.
How can I adjust it?
I have ...
