Brake Controls And Features; How Brakes Work - Flash FLASHV1 User Manual

A modulator makes the initial brake lever force more
gentle, progressively increasing force until full force is
achieved. If your bike is equipped with a brake force
modulator, take extra care in becoming familiar with its
performance characteristics.
5. 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.
6. See the brake manufacturer's instructions for opera-
tion and care of your brakes, and for when brake pads
must be replaced. If you do not have the manufacturer's
instructions, see your dealer or contact the brake manu-
facturer.
7. If replacing worn or damaged parts, use only manufac-
turer-approved genuine replacement parts.

1. Brake controls and features

It's very important to your safety that you learn and remem-
ber which brake lever controls which brake on your bike.
Traditionally, the right brake lever controls the rear brake
and the left brake lever controls the front brake; but, to make
sure your bike's brakes are set up this way, 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.

2. How brakes work

The braking action of a bicycle is a function of the friction
between the braking surfaces. To make sure that you have
maximum friction available, keep your wheel rims and brake
pads or the disk rotor and caliper 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 stop-
ping smoothly without locking up a wheel.
The technique is called progressive brake modulation. In-
stead of jerking the brake lever to the position where you
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