Specifications

11
Brake controls and features
Acquaint yourself with the setup of your brakes by alternately squeezing the left and
right brake lever and observing which brake lever activates the front brake, and which
one activates the rear brake. You should be able to reach the brake levers with your
hands and squeeze them easily. If you find out that your hands are too small to do so,
you should consult it with your dealer before riding the bicycle. In some models the
lever reach may be adjusted, or you may need a different brake lever design. On bicycles
with coaster brakes, the rear brake is controlled by the cranks, and there is usually one
lever on the handlebar which controls the front brake.
Operation of the braking system
The bicycle braking system’s function is based on friction between two braking surfaces.
To assure it’s proper functioning you should maintain the rims, brake pads, disc rotors
and calliper clean and free of dust, dirt, grease, lubricants, waxes and polishes. There
are special chemical cleaners available on the market designed specifically for cleaning
these surfaces. Bicycle brakes have been designed to control the speed of your bicycle
by reducing it or preventing the bicycle from moving. The maximum braking force for
each wheel is achieved just before the moment the wheel stops rotating (“locks up”)
and starts skidding. The instant it has begun to skid, the most of your bicycle’s stopping
power and all directional control is lost. Therefore, it is necessary to learn how to slow
down your bicycle and bring it to a halt smoothly avoiding a wheel lockup.
Lever operated brakes are activated simply by squeezing the levers on the handlebars. The
more pressure you apply, the more force will be applied to the wheels. Coaster brakes are
activated by turning the cranks backwards. You need to start with the pedal cranks in a
nearly horizontal position, with the front pedal in the 4 o’clock position. You then need to
apply downward foot pressure on the pedal that is in the back. Activation of the brake will
take place after approximately 1/8 rotation. The more downward pressure you apply, the
more braking force, up to the point where the rear wheel stops rotating and begins to skid.
You should learn a progressive brake modulation technique so that you could be able
to precisely and accurately control the amount of braking force with given amount of
input. Instead of applying the the force abruptly, it’s better to gradually increase the
braking force. The instant the wheel begins to lock up, slightly release pressure to keep
it rotating, just short of lockup. You should learn how much brake pressure is needed for
each wheel at different speeds and on different surfaces. Reducing the bicycle’s speed
by applying one or both brakes will transfer the weight to the front wheel as the rider’s
body continues at the speed at which it was going. Heavy braking will result in the trans-
fer of weight to the front wheel, which in extreme situations may send the rider’s body
flying over the handlebars. Greater brake pressure is needed for a wheel burdened with
a heavier load to lock up, whereas a wheel burdened with less weight will lock up with
less brake pressure applied. When the brakes are activated you should move your body
backwards in order to transfer weight to the back, simultaneously decreasing the rear