Cr@p brakes

[GAVSTER]

Not sure is this is the right forum but it is about my commuter bike

I have a Dawes Galaxy - it's heavy, green and now has a Carradice Barley stuck on the back.

It has many advantages but brakes isn't one of them. They are not very good.

They don't so much brake as kinda slow you down.

My other bikes stop on a sixpence - the Dawes couldn't stop on a large blanket.

Tightening the brakes means they bind so they have been adjusted back again.

Your thought oh fountains of bikely knowledge??

Gav

 

[MacB]

Gav, are these cantilever style brakes with a straddle wire? If so then Sheldons site has some good info on straddle wire positioning and height. A new set of cantis could help as well, something like the Tektro CR720 are highly rated.

 

[andyfromotley]

Hi gav, if you look further down this page thier is someone with exactly the same problem with more or less exactly the same bike.

If you cant even find the strength to scoll then click on this
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=47916

If thats too much trouble then you dont deserve to know the answer!

 

[GAVSTER]

Cheers Andy - that thread is very handy.

Good to know that it doesn't just appear to be me :-)

The only thing is - is what to do now. I don't want to have to change the brakes but will do anything it it's safer.

I was out today and after 40 minutes of climbing found a really brilliant downhill - I had to keep the speed on the downhill to less than 15mph cos I was worried if I had to stop I might not be able to.

Gav

 

[swee'pea99]

Have you tried new brake blocks? They do vary quite a lot, and many older bikes have seriously crappy ones. I use Aztec; some swear by Kool-Stop - either might make quite a big difference. (They seem pricey for what they are, until you think about 'what they are' being 'the ability to stop under control and really really quickly if you need to', then they become pretty good VFM. Also, they last ages.)

 

[bicyclebelle]

Gavster I believe that we're having the same experience with old Dawes tourers so I thought I'd share the latest: I took mine to very reliable and trusted LBS who confirmed what many on here have suggested that the braking experience is likely to be fairly rubbish. On inspection my brakes didn't seem to be very worn but are covered in crud as the previous owner didn't seem to own a hosepipe in the entire 12 years she owned the bike so I've booked mine in for a full brakes service with new pads and potentially new cables too. I'm not holding out much hope that things will be much better tbh but better to be safe and all that. Anyway the next time I heading out of control at 26mph on the steep descent on the most dangerous road in the country with no real way of stopping at least I know I'm in good company!!

 

[amelia-jane]

Can i join your Crap Brakes Club too?

The old Dawes Synthesis' brakes are just as bad and they squeal at a volume and pitch that could brake glass...

The whole bike judders alarmingly and i regularly have to use my feet to bring it to a complete stop and occassionally a conveniently placed wall...

(sorry Synthe, but i'm afraid it's true...)

 

[bicyclebelle]

Can i join your Crap Brakes Club too?

The whole bike judders and i regularly have to use my feet to bring it to a complete stop and occassionally a conveniently placed wall...

Ohhh please do and welcome....

Ah yes the feet stopping technique - I'm learning quickly and how useful are those walls?! Great invention walls

 

[swee'pea99]

If your brakes really are crap, get some new (old) ones off ebay. People upgrade all the time, and/or break down old bikes. You can get perfectly good ones for a fiver a pair, like these, or these, and they're easy to DIY fit.