Operation Manual

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6. See the brake manufacturer’s instructions for operation 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 manufacturer.
7. If replacing worn or damaged parts, use only manufacturer-approved genuine replacement parts.
8. Brake controls and features
It’s very important to your safety that you learn and remember which brake lever controls which brake on your
bike. Traditionally, in North America, the right brake lever controls the rear brake and the left brake lever
controls the front brake; but, to check how your bike’s brakes are set up, 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.
1. 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. Once the tire skids,
you actually lose most of your stopping force and all directional control. You need to
practice slowing and stopping smoothly without locking up a wheel.
The technique is called progressive brake modulation. Instead of jerking the brake lever to
the position where you think you’ll generate appropriate braking force, squeeze the lever,
progressively increasing the braking force. If you feel the wheel begin to lock up, release
pressure just a little to keep the wheel rotating just short of lockup.
When you apply one or both brakes, the bike begins to slow, but your body wants to continue at the speed at
which it was going. This causes a transfer of weight to the front wheel (or, under heavy braking, around the front
wheel hub, which could send you flying over the handlebars).
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather. It will take longer to stop on loose
surfaces or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less cornering and braking traction and
can lock up with less brake force. Moisture or dirt on the brake pads reduces their ability to grip.