released position, the brakes are inoperative. Ask your dealer whether you have a quick release on your brakes; and if you do, make sure that you understand the way the brake quick release works, and check each time to make sure both brakes work correctly before you get on the bike.
!WARNING: Some bicycle brakes, such as
these brakes and exercise particular care when using them. Applying these brakes too hard or too suddenly can lock up a wheel, which could cause you to lose control and fall.
b.Adjusting your hand brakes
If either brake lever on your bike fails the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C.) you may be able to restore brake lever travel by turning the brake cable adjusting barrel (fig.
11)counterclockwise; then lock the adjustment in by turning the barrel’s lock nut clockwise as far as it will go. If the lever still fails the Mechanical Safety Check, have your dealer check the brakes.
!CAUTION: Some bicycles are equipped with a device called a Brake Rotor, which allows the steering mechanism to turn a full 360 degrees. Adjusting brakes equipped with a Brake Rotor requires special knowledge and skill. Do not attempt to adjust the front brake of a bicycle equipped with a Brake Rotor. Take the
bicycle to a dealer for service and adjustment of the brakes. A rotor may also decrease the clearance between the front wheel and the pedals when the wheel is turned backwards.
3.Braking technique
Brakes are designed to control your speed, not just to stop the bike. Maximum braking force for a 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 slamming on the coaster brake or jerking the brake lever to the position where you think you’ll generate appropriate braking force, apply progressive force on the pedal or 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 pressure required for a wheel at different speeds and on different surfaces. To better understand this, experiment a little by riding your bike slowly in an unrestricted area and applying different amounts of pressure to the brake, until the wheel locks.
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