C. Brakes
!
WARNING:
1. Riding with improperly adjusted brakes or worn brake pads is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death.
2. Applying brakes too hard or too suddenly can lock up a wheel, which could cause you to lose control and fall. Sudden or excessive applica-
tion of the front brake may pitch the rider over the handlebars, which may result in serious injury or death.
3. Some bicycle brakes, such as disc brakes (fig. 11) and linear-pull brakes (fig.12), are extremely powerful. Take extra care in becoming familiar
with these brakes and exercise particular care when using them.
4. Disc brakes can get extremely hot with extended use. Be careful not to touch a disc brake until it has had plenty of time to cool.
5. See the brake manufacturer’s instructions for installation, operation and care of your brakes. If you do not have the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions, see your dealer or contact the brake manufacturer.
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. 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
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. 11, 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
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