Brakes
HP
Velotechnik
39
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Danger!
Never touch neither the
brake disc nor the brake caliper after long
braking as this may cause serious injury
(risk of burns).
New braking systems, new brake pads and
new brake discs need a break-in period to
achieve maximum brake power. This period
lasts for about 30–40 stops from about
30 km/h (20 mph), which should be done in a
safe area without traffic!
Danger!
Do not operate the brakes
when the bicycle is lying or standing upside
down. Bubbles of air may get into the sys-
tem and cause malfunctions or a complete
fail. Check the brakes before every ride.
Maintenance of the brakes
Attention!
Always read the brakes
manufacturer's manuals carefully before
doing any maintenance or repair jobs on
the brakes! Here you can find detailed in-
formation and pictures of how to do it!
The brake pads suffer from wear due to fric-
tion and have to be exchanged then. Depend-
ing on riding conditions, they can last between
a few hundred up to several thousand kilome-
tres. Please read the manual of the brake
manufacturer carefully.
Check before every ride:
•
that the braking system does not have any
damages or leaks by activating the lever,
holding it and checking the hose connec-
tions for possible leaks
•
that the brake lever pressure is ok by
pulling the lever and ensuring that full brak-
ing performance is achieved before the
lever touches the handlebar. If this is not
the case, adjust the cable or change the
brake pads. For hydraulic disc brakes, pull
the lever several times (pump) until it feels
firm
•
check the hydraulic braking system for the
correct pressure by pulling the lever, hold-
ing the pressure and checking the hose
connections, bleeding screw and compen-
sating tank for possible leaks
Cable operated (mechanical) brakes
Attention!
Keep the brake cable
clean where it is not protected by the ca-
ble housing. Due to the mounting position
of the brake lever, moisture and dirt may
enter the cable and cause drag and exces-
sive wear. Lubricate the ends of the cable
to protect against moisture.
Attention!
Damaged cables with
single wires sticking out have to be re-
placed immediately. Otherwise your brak-
ing system may fail.
Please take care that the cable ends are al-
ways protected with a cap. Always keep the
cables shortly trimmed. Leaving too much
cable extending past the cable anchor can
result in the cable catching in the wheel caus-
ing the wheel to lock up.
The brake pads of your brakes are worn
when you can pull the lever further and fur-
ther to the handlebar before the pads touch
the rim.
To compensate the wear of the brake pads
you can tighten the cable with the adjuster
barrel where the cable touches the brake
lever. First loosen the locknut, then unscrew
the barrel so far that the wheel still turns
barely not touching the pads, hold the barrel
and tighten the locknut again towards the
brake lever housing. Take care that the bar-
rel’s slot points downwards to prevent mois-
ture from entering.