- It is important to regularly check your brakes, both front and back. You never know when you may need to make an emergency stop. On some hills, brakes need to be in tip top condition to keep your speed under control.
- Pull on brake levers. The brake pads should hit the rim without too much effort. If it takes too long adjust the cable to improve braking performance. Also check how much you need to pull the brakes to actually exert a stopping power on the bike.
- Check the Brake pads for wear. Often they have a mark for where they should be replaced. Note, brake pads should not be used down to the last bit of braking material.
- Also check there are not any bits of gravel or grit in the braking pad as they will scratch the rim.
- On standard cantilevers and vee brakes squirt some WD 40 or lube at the back of each pivot to protect from rust and keep them working well.
- You can also spray the top of side pull brakes to prevent the mechanism from seizing up. Be careful to avoid getting grease on the rim and brake blocks as this will prevent you from braking effectively. It can sometimes be difficult to wipe away oil from brake pads.
Brake Pads at Wiggle
at Amazon.co.uk
at Amazon.com