When riding a bike it is important to be able to stop. And that’s where brakes come in hand.
There are four main types: rim, disc, roller and coaster brakes. Disc brakes are the most powerful and they are operated either by a cable or the fluid that is pushed in the closed system of hoses and reservoirs into the caliper. There are different types of rim braking systems. The most common and powerful is a V-brake. This is found on most hybrid and town bikes. Road bikes come fitted with dual pivot calipers.
Although brakeless bikes are illegal in most of the cities some single speed bikes and track bikes do not have them installed, instead the rider slows the bike down by putting the pressure on the pedals and dropping the cadence.
Brakes are operated by levers placed on the handlebars. In the UK, the right hand lever operates the front brake and the left hand side lever the back one. However in Europe and the United States the brakes are operated the other way around.
If your brakes work properly they will provide you with great stopping power. However to work to their optimum they need to be checked and maintained on a regular basis. Poor brakes will lose their braking power and/or may make a squeaky noise. Here, you will find all the answers to your stopping problems. You will be able to learn how to change brake pads, learn how to stop disc brakes squeaking as well as set up the calipers and bleed hydraulic systems.
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Bicycle brakes are an integral part of a bike because they are what stops it from moving. If they don’t work properly, they will need to be fixed before you can safely use your bike again. A bike brake stops the bicycle from moving by jamming rubber (rim brakes) or metal and fibres (disc brakes) … Read more
Brake pads are an integral part of stopping. They rub against the wheel rim, causing friction that slows down the wheel. This process, together with the heat generated, wears the pad’s surface and, eventually, the rim surface. If the pads are worn beyond the wear line or the grooves are no longer visible then it’s … Read more
Most disc brake users have had issues with squeaking brakes. So, today we are going to look at how to stop bicycle disc brakes from squeaking, why it happens and what to do about it. Why do the disc brakes squeak? Contamination. This happens when brake pads and the disc rotors get in contact with … Read more
Do your brakes squeal like a pig when you apply them? Maybe you’re wondering If you can stop it. In this article we are going to be discussing the reasons behind squeaky brakes and more importantly how to stop bike brakes from squeaking. What are the main causes of squeaky brakes? There are a number … Read more
Here at Cycle Maintenance Academy we get lots of questions about bicycle maintenance and one of the main things we get asked about is disk brakes. Understanding basic cycle maintenance is a useful skill to have, not to mention the fact it can save you a lot of money. When it comes to bike tyres … Read more