45
PART 1
1. Brake Controls And Features
Section 4. Tech
GT Bicycle Owner’s Manual
1. Brake Controls And Features
It’s very important to your safety that you learn
and remember which brake lever controls which
brake on your bike.
Traditionally, in the U.S. the right brake lever
controls the rear brake and the left brake lever
controls the front brake; but, to check how your
bike’s brakes are set up, squeeze one brake lever
and look to see which brake, front or rear,
engages. Now do the same with the other brake
lever.
Make sure that your hands can reach and
squeeze the brake levers comfortably. If your
hands are too small to operate the levers
comfortably, consult your dealer before riding
the bike. The lever reach may be adjustable; or
you may need a different brake lever design.
Most rim brakes have some form of quick-
release mechanism to allow the brake pads to
clear the tire when a wheel is removed or
reinstalled. When the brake quick release is in
the open position, the brakes are inoperative.
Ask your dealer to make sure that you
understand the way the brake quick release
works on your bike (see figs. 12, 13. 14 & 15) and
check each time to make sure both brakes work
correctly before you get on the bike.
2. How Brakes Work
The braking action of a bicycle is a function of the
friction between the brake surfaces — usually the
brake pads and the wheel rim. To make sure
that you have maximum friction available, keep
your wheel rims and brake pads clean and free
of dirt, lubricants, waxes or polishes.
Brakes are designed to control your speed, not
just to stop the bike. Maximum braking force for
each wheel occurs at the point just before the
wheel “locks up” (stops rotating) and starts to
skid. Once the tire skids, you actually lose most
of your stopping force and all directional control.
You need to practice slowing and stopping
smoothly without locking up a wheel. The
technique is called progressive brake
modulation. Instead of jerking the brake lever to
the position where you think you’ll generate
appropriate braking force, squeeze the lever,
progressively increasing the braking force. If
you feel the wheel begin to lock up, release
pressure just a little to keep the wheel rotating
just short of lockup.
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Страница 192: ...192 PART 3 D Through Axle Pinch bolt Type 138692 Rev 0 04 22 8 Install Front Wheel GT Bicycle Owner s Manual...
Страница 193: ...193 PART 3 D Through Axle Pinch bolt Type 8 Install Front Wheel GT Bicycle Owner s Manual...
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