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Post by crankcase on Oct 27, 2016 8:51:13 GMT
Shamelessly pinched from the internet, my bicycle has this kind of release mechanism for the brakes (below). When I want to release the front wheel, it's almost impossible to get the noodle out of the little holdery thing on a hinge. If I do get it out, then it's almost impossible to put it back in. I took it for a service, and while it was there, asked about it. He said he would adjust it, and on picking up, showed me it working easily and quickly. When I got it home, it was almost impossible. Every time I get the car serviced, I put the bike in it, and remove the wheel. Every time it's a nightmare of blood and struggle. This time I eased off the brake cable a bit by undoing the holding screw (sorry for the technical talk here, oh I see now it's called an anchor bolt), which gave me some slack, and then the noodle released fairly ok. And then when I came to put it back, it was entirely impossible again, and I had a small rage at the elements. My bike is now un-noodled and front brakeless. It simply won't go back together. Even when I do get the thing on, it always catches, binds, locks up, and if you turn the wheel left a fair way then the brakes come on full. Before I give up my bicycle, and given the service bloke didn't apparently sort it, or perhaps did sufficiently long enough to get me out of the shop and paid - what do I do to remedy this nightmare, hmm? www.sheldonbrown.com/images/vbrake-overallsm.jpg |
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 8:59:53 GMT
It should release easily enough if you grasp the two "arms" of the brake calliper and squeeze them together ( as if the brake was on ) same process for re-assembly. But if that's not giving you enough slack, there will be a cable tension adjuster at the brake lever end. When you want to remove the wheel, simply back that off a couple of turns to slacken the tension, count how many turns you make and tighten it back up the same amount when you re-assemble.
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 9:09:33 GMT
Ok when you re-assemble it, it all needs to be lined up straight. Easiest way to do that is to tension the cable so that the brake is actually "on" as in touching the rim. This centres the mechanism and to be doubly sure, pull the brake lever quite hard a couple of times to make sure it's all bedded. Then, using the tension adjuster at the lever end, just back it off enough for the wheel to spin freely. Should work !
Edit - if doesn't, then something is sticking, make sure all the surfaces which move against one another are lubricated/greased ( except of course the rim and pads ! ) and if you can be bothered, take the inner cable out of its sleeve and grease it before replacing.
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Post by crankcase on Oct 27, 2016 9:21:40 GMT
Thanks Humph - I'll have another go when I get home. But from memory, in my desperation,. I twiddled some twirly bit around the cable up near the brake lever on the handlebar, and it made No Difference To Anything. Maybe I was undoing something I shouldn't have been.
One of my many hopelessnesses is anything mechanical - I just don't get it. I did a weeks' "competent crew" sailing once, and it took all week for the instructor to get me through the knots section. He thought he was going to have to fail me. I just can't fathom "this goes behind there, and under there, look, it's obvious what that's doing" type information.
I'll let you know if my dullard brain can make sense of your post when the bike is front of me though.
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 9:32:16 GMT
Well, if it so happens that I'm online when you do, let's see if I can maybe help you through it. I'm far more interested in doing that sort of thing than I should be. Haven't serviced rim brakes in years mind you. All ours are now hydraulic systems on discs. Now they are a faff ! But very very efficient to use when set up.
Edit - Hmmm, if adjusting the tension at the lever end made "no difference" then I suspect a sticking cable. They do wear out and get a bit "hairy" inside in time. Might be worth replacing or certainly lubricating.
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Post by crankcase on Oct 27, 2016 10:18:00 GMT
Oh my word, Humph. Replacing?
At least we have many cycle service places in Cambridge!
Anyway, appreciate the offer - see how it goes.
Be nice to get it working so I can feel more confident in taking it out. I do recall once taking it apart with the usual struggle, getting it in the car, getting to the place I wanted to cycle, failing to get it put together again, having a small strop and coming straight home again. Be better not to have to do that.
I have thought about a rack of some sort, but it's very expensive, for the rare occasion I'd use it.
Mrs C has a bike as well but has long since announced she is way too scared to cycle on any roads near us (I can see why too), so we don't do that. I will cycle on a road but I'm not very happy about it. When you can get onto a cycle path it's enjoyable though, or we have hired bikes in Thetford Forest and enjoyed that.
The kind of proper mountain biking you do is but a dream for us - and I don't think she would do that anyway, although I'd quite like to try.
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 10:30:05 GMT
Well, most mtb centres will hire out decent bikes. It does make a huge difference to the experience. I've seen so many people put off the hobby because they were on poor equipment. Classic scenario for that is dad on a good bike, kids on something usable and the poor wife on a bicycle shaped piece of crap huffing and puffing to keep up at the back and clearly not enjoying it !
I've sometimes thought of leading "oldies" expeditions in the forests. I think I'd be able to relate to them better than some Lycra clad teenager. Nothing too heavy duty unless they were up for it sort of thing. Off road cycling doesn't necessarily need to involve getting airborne or muddy, ( although at least one of those is great fun ) It can just be a great way to get "out there" and cover longer distances and see more remote sights. You don't need to spend fortunes on bikes, there are some very good budget options, but there are some very poor ones too.
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Post by crankcase on Oct 27, 2016 10:55:12 GMT
We are geographically not over-endowed with suitable places though, so it's either a really long journey to get somewhere for a bike ride, or we'd have to make it part of an annual holiday, so at best a day a year or something.
One day, we will be able to move, and then who knows? We fancy places like Exmoor, Shropshire, Scottish Borders, and so on, so there may be more chance then.
I like your oldies idea though - be a bit like the Ramblers but on bikes. There is a "cycling group" in my very village, but they only go on weekdays, and they are all about "let's get 30 miles down the road in as fast a time as possible and then get back again", whereas we would prefer a slower pace and a stop for lunch, at a weekend, Oh, and not on a road, thank you.
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 11:14:16 GMT
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 11:21:27 GMT
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Post by crankcase on Oct 27, 2016 11:54:27 GMT
Hey, that's pretty good, the Grafham thing. There's nothing much there other than a big patch of water and some flat nothingness with an expensive carpark, but I didn't know about the trail. Shall look more into that one.
Roofrack looks very good too, especially at that price. Of course, the Zoe can't take a roofrack, and the Volvo needs the bars and so on, at a billion quid an inch, but even so.
Thank you. I'm minded to get the blasted noodle sorted and at least have a spin round the village this weekend for a starter. Your work here is done.
I'll post again on Monday from ward 10.
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Post by Humph on Oct 27, 2016 12:11:03 GMT
Try not to spin. Never ends well !😉
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Post by crankcase on Nov 2, 2016 9:11:51 GMT
Spin! Didn't even get to try at the weekend in the end. Stuff got in the way. It will have to be another try next weekend.
Incidentally, dear reader, are you a "this" or a "next" person when it comes to weekends?
I always say "next" meaning the weekend in a couple of days time, but I know some say "this" and reserve "next" for the one afterwards. Confusing or what?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 9:17:48 GMT
"This" is the one relevant to this week. "Next" is the one relevant to next week.
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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 2, 2016 9:35:52 GMT
"This" is the one relevant to this week. "Next" is the one relevant to next week. ...start of, or end of.......? |
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