Bike Touring by Raymond Bridge

Author:Raymond Bridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781578051854
Publisher: Catapult
Published: 2018-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

Maintaining Brakes

Like derailleur cables, brake cables on a new bike can be expected to stretch, and brake pads wear with use. Brake cables should each have a barrel adjuster somewhere along the cable or at one end, but not all do. Without barrel adjusters, or when one has reached its limit, you’ll have to tighten the cable at the brake, unless you can move post-mounted brake pads closer to the rim.

The method will vary with the type of brake. With a center-pull cantilever brake, which is the most common type for touring bicycles, you’ll usually make this adjustment at the pinch bolt where the primary brake cable attaches to the straddle cable. Before unhooking anything, check to see how much slack needs to be taken out of the cable to achieve the right tension. This is bound to be a guess. Detach the straddle cable at the side that is slotted for quick release, eliminating the tension on the main brake cable. Loosen the pinch bolt (you need two wrenches or sockets) and move the clamp up the cable the estimated amount. Tighten everything, reattach the straddle cable, and try things out. You’ll probably have to make several attempts to get the adjustment right, though if you have barrel adjusters, you can fine-tune with those, so the pinch bolt positioning only has to be approximately right.

You should get a set of replacement brake pads when you buy the bike or soon after. Allow some time to learn and experiment when you first replace them. Many experienced tourists replace stock brake pads when they first get the bike, substituting high-performance pads for the originals. After all, bicycle tourists carrying a substantial amount of luggage have special braking requirements on long downhill grades. Kool Stop salmon or bicolor brake pads are widely favored as substitute or replacement pads. Pads vary widely with brake models, and you need to buy pads that fit your brakes.

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