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Brakes – Rim Brakes
& Disc Brakes
Riding with improperly adjusted brakes
or worn brake pads is dangerous and
can result in serious injury or death.
Applying brakes too hard or too suddenly
can lock up a wheel, which could cause
you to lose control and fall. Sudden or
excessive application of the front brake
may pitch the rider over the handlebars,
which may result in injury or death.
Some bicycle brakes, such as disc brakes
and linear-pull brakes, are extremely
powerful. Exercise particular care when
using them.
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.
See the manufacturer's instructions for
operation and care of your brakes. If you
do not have manufacturer instructions,
call your dealer or the brake manufacturer.
Brake Controls and Features
It's very important to learn and remember
which brake lever controls what brake.
Your bike will come already set and adjusted
so that the right brake lever controls the rear
brake. The left lever controls the front brake.
Make sure your hands can reach and squeeze
the brake levers.
NOTE:
In the UK and Japan, the right lever
controls the front brake while the left
lever controls the rear brake. All brakes
should be adjusted according to local
regulations.
How Brakes Work
The action of a rim-actuated brake on 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. Another important bicycle brake is a
disc brake. To install disc brakes, special disc
brake mounts on the frame and fork and special
hubs are necessary. These brakes are small and
rely on brake pads that squeeze both sides of a
small disc rotor that is mounted on each wheel.
Disc brakes are quite resistant to weather and
provide very strong stopping power on steep hills
or on wet terrain and are well suited for heavy
riders.
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 completely lose directional
control.
NOTE:
Make sure that no oil or lubrication
touches your brake pads or the bicycles
rims' braking surfaces. Please replace
worn brake shoes only with factory
authorized brake replacements.
08
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