Operation Manual
With side-pull brakes the brake arms are suspended from a common
point, thus forming an integral system. When actuating the brake lever, both
arms are tightened by the cable, the pads touch the rim.
Check whether the brake pads are accurately aligned with the rims and still
sufficiently thick. You can judge the wear of the brake pads by the appear-
ance of the grooves. If the pads are worn down, it is time to replace them.
When you actuate the brake lever, both brake arms must contact the rim
simultaneously without touching the tyre.
The brake lever must always remain clear of the handlebars. You should not
even be able to pull them all the way to the handlebars in the event of an
emergency stop. Only a successful passing of all these points will ensure a
correctly adjusted brake!
Brake adjustment is a job best left to your bicycle dealer.
Release the fastening bolt of the brake pad by one to at most two complete
turns . Push the brake pad to the correct height and align it according to
the rim before retightening the fastening bolt to the specified torque.
With dual pivot brakes, turn the small (headless) screw, located at the side
or on top of the calliper, until the left and right brake pad are at the same
distance from the rim .
Furthermore, check whether the bolt connecting the brake to the frame is
still tightened to the prescribed torque, as specified in chapter
.
To adjust the brake, turn the knurled nut or bolt through which the brake
cable passes at the brake calliper until the travel of the brake lever suits
your needs. Following the stationary test, check the brakes in a place free
of traffic.
Always test the brakes’ function when stationary after adjust-
ing them, making sure the brake pads fully engage with the rim
when you pull them hard without touching the tyre. Verify that
the brake lever cannot be pulled all the way to the handlebars.
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Some cyclocross bicycles are fitted with additional brake levers to
ensure braking from a secure handlebar position, i.e. with the hands on the
horizontal part of a drop bar. These brake levers can be used on an equal
footing, but not simultaneously with the other brake levers. In cyclocross
conditions standard side-pull brakes would get clogged with mud. For this
reason cyclocross bicycles are fitted with cantilever brakes that provide
more mud clearance to the dirty tyres.
As with all rim brakes, the brake pads should be accurately aligned with the
rims and be sufficiently thick. They should hit the rim first with the front por-
tion of their surface. The rear portion of the pads should be a millimetre away
from the rim. Viewed from the top the brake pads form a “V“ with the trough
pointing to the front . The brake arms including pads must hit the rim
simultaneously. The brake lever must always remain clear of the handlebars.
You should not even be able to pull them all the way to the handlebars in the
event of an emergency stop.
Almost all cantilever brakes have a bolt located next to one brake pad for
adjusting the initial spring tension. Adjust this bolt until the distance between
brake pad and rim is equal on either side.
To readjust the brake, release the knurled lock ring located at the cable
hanger or brake lever. Unscrew the knurled, slotted adjusting bolt by a few
turns. This reduces the free travel of the brake lever.
Adjusting the position of the brake pads relative to the rims re-
quires a considerable degree of skill. Replacing and adjusting
the brake pads is a job best left to your bicycle dealer.
Always test the brakes’ function when stationary after adjusting
them, making sure the brake pads fully engage with the rim
when you pull them hard.
Hydraulic brakes are extremely powerful and require very little
maintenance.
With this brake type, as well, the brake pads wear down and the lever travel
increases. Most brake models are, however, fitted with a bolt or a small
knob at the brake lever to compensate the wear.
Manufacturers of hydraulic brakes deliver their products with
detailed instructions. Read them carefully before removing the
wheel or doing any maintenance work. Misuse can lead to brake
failure or accidents!
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