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Cantilever Brake Pads
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Featured Article:
You've heard of some nearby bike trails and now you're dreaming of off-road adventure. So what type of bicycle do you need? If you're just beginning, it is best to start small and work your way up, both in the investment of a bike and the level of terrain you wish to go cycling on.
Start with a budget. There's no sense buying a top of the line MTB (MounTain Bike), only to realize you either don't have the time or aren't as interested in off road biking as you thought. Talk to a sales clerk at a local bike shop, and try some models to get a feel for the ride. Larger department stores sell cheap bikes, but remember you get what you pay for, and you will not get the after-sales service that a local bike store will give you. Also, check your community newspaper for used bicycles.
No matter what the price, all mountain bikes have the following basic features. The difference between a $200 bike and one that sells for $3000 is the components, materials and add-ons, which we will illustrate:
Frame
A basic frame will be hollow aluminum or steel parts welded together. Perfectly round metal is equally strong on all sides, however, higher end bikes will be more oval, taller than they are wide. This is because most of the stress on a bike is up and down, not side to side. As you go up in price, the frame could be made of a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber, a lighter and stronger material that allows the manufacturer to build a frame in any shape.
Brakes
Most bicycles use cantilever or "v" brakes. Levers on the handlebars pull a cable. The cable is connected to a set of clamps with brake pads. The clamps tug to the rim of the bike wheel, stopping the bike. To perform best, the cables have to be well aligned and the rims have to be straight and free of dirt or water, which is often impossible in muddy terrains. The pads have to often be replaced, and your rims will wear down. However, they are a popular and reliable system.
A step up is disc breaks, which work just like those in your car. Introduced in the late 1990's, these use a hydraulic system to squeeze brake pads onto a disc situated in the inner part of the wheel. The performance does not suffer from dirt or water, they are much more reliable, and last longer than v brakes. However, besides the increased cost and complexity, they are also heavier.
Gears and derailleurs
Gears are used so the rider can move at a constant pace no matter what the terrain or slope. A bike with one gear is said to have a gear ratio of 1:1 (each time you pedal one revolution, the back wheel will rotate one revolution as well.) Usually you would wish to go faster than that, so gears are used to increase the speed of the back tire when you pedal. A comfortable gear ratio on a level highway is about 6.5:1. However, when you're going uphill, making the back wheel go that fast is impossible, so you would gear down towards a ratio of 1:1. Shift gears before you need to, as you need the chain moving smoothly to shift.
A derailleur is a device to switch the gears, controlled by shifters attached to the handlebars. A cable moves a spring, which forces the chain onto another sprocket (the cogs on the back wheel and between your pedals).
Suspension
The suspension gives the biker comfort, absorbing bumps and potholes similar to that of a vehicle. Styles range from no suspension (hardtail), to full suspension (front and rear). While suspension systems add weight to the bike, the trade off is better comfort and enjoyment. Many inexpensive, entry-level mountain bikes now come with full suspension, though hardtails are definitely less expensive. Higher-end suspension systems will deliver more shock absorbency and durability with less weight.
These features will help you decide what to look for in a mountain bike. To save even more money, look for special deals in the spring and fall. Once you have the right bike, you are on your way to enjoying yourself on the trails.
Chris is an avid cyclist and is the author and owner of http://www.tour-de-bike.com, an information and resource site on cycling parts, bicycle safety and bike repair.
Bike repair - How to Loosen the brakes ?
Before you can even think about fixing a flat or addressing any other tire or tube issue, you need to be able to remove the wheel from the bicycle frame. Fortunately, bike manufacturers have made the lives of bike riders easier by introducing things such as quick-release hubs and brakes.
Because brakes are typically designed to sit close to the wheel rim, their location normally prevents the wheel from being removed if the tire is fully inflated. If you want to remove a wheel, you first have to open the brakes so there's room for the tire to fit through the brake pads.
Many bikes have a quick release built into the brake, which quickly enables the cable to slacken and the brakes to spread. The quick release may vary depending on what type of brakes your bike has:
- Cantilever brakes: If you have cantilever brakes, squeeze the brake arms together with one hand to create slack in the cable and, with the other hand, lift the loose end of the cable out of its pocket. Release the breaks and they'll pop open.
- V-brakes: If you have V-brakes, pinch together the top of the brake arms to loosen the cable. Pull the rubber boot back to expose the cable Carefully pull the cable out of the narrow slot in the cable holder, and release it to open the brakes
- Side-pull brakes: For side-pull brakes, look for a small lever on the caliper where the cable is attached. Pull the lever upward and release the brakes just enough to allow the wheel to pass. In some models, you have to look for a button on the lever and push it to release the tension on the brakes.
Worst case, if you can't release the brakes to allow the tire to past through the brakes, let the air out of the tire; this will give you the clearance needed.
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brake pads for cantilevers?
I have Tektro cantilever brakes on a cross bike. I am looking for the best pads with the greatest stopping power. I use the bike mainly as an urban commuter so strong brakes are really a priority. Any ideas?
This is kind of a round-the-bushes answer, but hopefully will provide some insight.
First, do you know what rims are on the bike? Believe it or not, rims do flex (for that matter, so do the frame and fork) when brakes are applied so changing pads may make little or no difference. If you have single wall rims- found on bikes in the sub $400 range- this may contribute as much as anything to stopping power. If your bike has steel rims part of your problem is definitely with the rims.
Second, do you know which model Tektro brake you have? If you have access to the specifications of your bike it is usually disclosed. Tektro makes some REALLY GOOD brakes and some "only OK" ones as well. Again, if your bike is below the $400 range the brake arms might be flexing a bit. Not dangerous... usually.
Same thing goes with cables and housing. Cheap cables stretch each time they are used and housings compress as well. Think of it as having air in the brake lines of a car.
I hardly ever see people with a problem that their brake shoes don't grab enough except those in extreme or competitive environments, or if the bike is an entry level model.
You can try to upgrade the shoes to a softer compound (ask at your favorite shop), but were it me I'd likely put stainless steel cables and compressionless brake housing on first. Just a thought.
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