Commencal ABSOLUT, Instruction And Maintenance Manual

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17
BRAKING SYSTEM INFORMATION
IMPORTANT
The braking system is an extremely important element for your security as it allows you to
adapt your speed accordingly to the traffic you encounter. Before using your bicycle for the first
time, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the brake levers and their correspondence
with the front and rear brake. To discover which lever corresponds to the front brake, lift the
front wheel so as to be able to rotate it in mid-air. Pull on the left lever. If the wheel stops
then the left lever corresponds to the front brake. If it does not stop the wheel then the left
lever corresponds to the rear brake. If the braking lever configuration does not suit you, or if
you have the slightest of doubts as to its perfect operation, ask someone who knows for sure.
WARNING! On a wet or slippery surface, braking distances are longer than in the
dry. The efficiency of your braking is limited due to the risk of locking the wheel,
much more important than in the dry. You should therefore reduce your speed in
order to reduce the risk of losing control.
Two types of braking systems can be found on COMMENCAL Bicycles:
- V-brake rim brakes
- Hydraulic disc brakes
WARNING! So that you ride in completely securely, it is essential that the braking
surfaces are clean and void of any oil or grease. Check the cleanliness of your rims
and discs according to the type of braking system you have.
INSPECTING AND ADJUSTING V-BRAKES AND U-BRAKES
WARNING! The wheel rim sidewalls, as well as the brake pads, are subject to wear.
It is therefore essential to replace the rim when it is worn. There is a wear indicator
on the rim that allows you to visualize the rims state of fatigue. If you do not
replace the rim when necessary, you run the risk of it breaking while riding, which
will inevitably result in a crash.
1. Check that the brake pads do not touch the tyre or rim when not in use
and if necessary, lift the wheel to make sure that it turns freely. If one of
the brake pads touches the tyre, or if it is not parallel to the rim, you will
need to adjust its position before using your bike. You can set it up using
the adjustment screw but make sure you refer to the Torque Settings
section in order to set the correct value.
2. At rest, the brake pads need to be 1mm away from the rim. To perfect
their travel, you will need to adjust the cable tension via the counter-nut
found at the brake lever A (fig.15). To reduce the brake pad spacing,
unscrew the counter-nut and then unscrew the cable tension barrel until
you have adjusted as necessary. Screw in the counter-nut.
3. Check that both brake pads come into contact with the rim
simultaneously. If this is not the case you can adjust the brake pad spacing
by using the lateral screws found on the brake arms. These screws act on
the spring preload (fig.16). Unscrew to bring the brake pad closer to the
rim, screw it in to pull it away from the rim. For example, to pull the left
brake pad away from the rim, you need to screw in the adjuster on the left
brake arm.
4. Once the adjustments have been done, it is essential that you test your
brakes at a standstill to ensure that they work correctly.
fig.15 fig.16
BEFORE YOUR FIRST RIDE
EN