Bicycle brake adjustment

Transcript

I have three bicycles. All of them are pretty old, but mechanically they're all in good condition. I ride pretty fast, so I try to keep them in good shape and properly adjusted, especially the brakes. My bicycle brakes have saved me quite a few times.

All of my bicycles have cantilever brakes. These brakes have little arms that stick out from the frame along each wheel. When the brakes are applied, the arms are pulled up and the brake pads swing inward toward the wheels and press against the sides of the wheel rims.

Maintenance looks simple, but good adjustment is harder than it looks. A bicycle has four brake pads, and each pad can be adjusted in several directions at the same time. It can slide up or down, tilt upward or downward, swivel head up or head down and toe in or out in relation to the wheel rim. It's a three-dimensional puzzle, and there's a huge difference between sloppy adjustment and getting each brake pad just right.

The work is a little tricky. It requires a lot of patience, but I suppose it's good for me. Maybe it builds character, especially since patience is not one of my virtues. The only way I can do it really well is to take my time and concentrate. Then when I ride I can be confident that my brakes will work well when I need to stop.