Electra Bicycle - Manual (Page 15)

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understand the way the brake quick release works on your bike ( see figs. 12, 13.
14 & 15) and check each time to make sure both brakes work correctly before
you get on the bike.
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 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. It’s
important to develop a feel for the amount of brake lever pressure required for
each wheel at different speeds and on different surfaces. To better understand
this, experiment a little by walking your bike and applying different amounts of
pressure to each brake lever, until the wheel locks.
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).
A wheel with more weight on it will accept greater brake pressure before
lockup; a wheel with less weight will lock up with less brake pressure. So, as
you apply brakes and your weight is transferred forward, you need to shift your
body toward the rear of the bike, to transfer weight back on to the rear wheel;
and at the same time, you need to both decrease rear braking and increase front
braking force. This is even more important on descents, because descents shift
weight forward.
Two keys to effective speed control and safe stopping are controlling wheel
lockup and weight transfer. This weight transfer is even more pronounced if
your bike has a front suspension fork. Front suspension “dips” under braking,
increasing the weight transfer ( see also Section 4.F). Practice braking and
weight transfer techniques where there is no traffic or other hazards and
distractions.
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. The
way to maintain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly.
of the front brake may pitch the rider over the
handlebars, which may result in serious injury or
death.
3. Some bicycle brakes, such as disc brakes (fig.
11) and linear-pull brakes (fig. 12), are extremely
powerful. Take extra care in becoming familiar with
these brakes and exercise particular care when
using them.
4. Some bicycle brakes are equipped with a
brake force modulator, a small, cylindrical device
through which the brake control cable runs and
which is designed to provide a more progressive
application of braking force. 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
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.
1. 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, 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.
Most rim brakes have some form of quick-release
mechanism to allow the brake pads to clear the tire
when a wheel is removed or reinstalled. When the
brake quick release is in the open position, the brakes
are inoperative. Ask your dealer to make sure that you