5
8. Adjusting the bike to the rider
8. Adjusting the gripping distance
of the brake levers
With most brake systems of MTBs, city and
trekking bikes, the distance between the brake
levers and the handlebar grips is adjustable.
This gives riders with small hands the conven-
ience of being able to bring the brake levers
closer to the handlebars. The length of the
rider’s fingers also determines how the lever
position for first brake contact should be set.
Check the point, front and rear, at which the
brake pads touch the rims. If this point is
reached after the lever has only travelled a
short distance, you will have to readjust the
brakes when altering the gripping distance
(for more information see chapter 9. “The
brake system“). Otherwise the brakes could
rub on the rim after the gripping distance has
been changed.
On most bikes, there is a small (headless)
screw near the point where the brake cable
enters the brake lever mount. Turn the screw
clockwise and watch how the lever wanders
as you do so.
When you have set the levers to the desired
gripping distance, be sure to check whether
there is still enough free travel for the brake
levers to move a little before the brake pads
hit the rim.
You should not be able to pull the
brake levers all the way to the handle-
bars. Your maximum brake force should be
reached short of this point!
8.5 Adjusting the tilt of the handle-
bars, brake levers and bar ends
The handlebars of mountain bikes and trek-
king bikes are usually slightly bent at the ends.
Set the handlebars to a position in which your
wrists are relaxed and not turned outwards
too much.
With road racing bikes, the straight bar ends
should be parallel to the ground or slant
slightly downwards toward the rear. The tips
of the brake levers should coincide with an
imaginary straight line extending forward
from the straight extension below the drops.
This is only a recommendation. What is
important is that the brake is at easy reach
at any time. Shifting the brake levers is a job
best left to an expert, as it involves retaping
the handlebars afterwards.