Scared of hydraulic brakes - any advice

[midlife]

For true braking terror try steel rims in the wet

 

[Alan O]

Mentioned it to the lbs then and they were the ones who told me to pump the brakes.

Don't go back to that bike shop again, try a competent one instead.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

And don’t be too tough on yourself. Stroud has some big, fast, curvy hills. Any one would be right to be cautious.

 

[roadrash]

As @Alan O says don't go back to a shop that's telling you you need to pump the brakes, that's bolox

 

[Slick]

Thanks for the replies. I have got disc brakes on my road bike and have no problem with those, these hydraulic ones are another kettle of fish.

I did by it new and had it serviced, though not ridden it much in those 6 weeks due to injury. Mentioned it to the lbs then and they were the ones who told me to pump the brakes.

I'll go back to them to see about getting the brakes serviced.

My LBS tried to tell me a bike was a perfect fit despite a blind man running for a bus could tell it was far too small, he even followed it up with some guff about advice now smaller frames and larger stems, ffs. Don't always listen to these guys who are in effect a sales team.

 

[MontyVeda]

Don't go back to that bike shop again, try a competent one instead.

Good advice... often, LBS stands for Local Bull Something.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Great, thanks.

I'll get the brakes serviced and then try to build up my confidence with them on the flat and small hills.

 

[Tim Hall]

Thanks for the replies. I have got disc brakes on my road bike and have no problem with those, these hydraulic ones are another kettle of fish.

I did by it new and had it serviced, though not ridden it much in those 6 weeks due to injury. Mentioned it to the lbs then and they were the ones who told me to pump the brakes.

I'll go back to them to see about getting the brakes serviced.

Can you just clarify something? The bike with the dodgy brakes, are they rim brakes or discs? Hydraulic brakes can be either

 

[Alan O]

Can you just clarify something? The bike with the dodgy brakes, are they rim brakes or discs? Hydraulic brakes can be either

Ah, I assumed discs - I didn't know there were hydraulic rim brakes.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Can you just clarify something? The bike with the dodgy brakes, are they rim brakes or discs? Hydraulic brakes can be either

They are discs

 

[Deleted member 1258]

For true braking terror try steel rims in the wet

Yes, on a bike fitted with suicide levers, and basic side pull brakes.

 

[midlife]

Yes, on a bike fitted with suicide levers, and basic side pull brakes.

Not forgetting the steel dimpled rims and the "wheeeeee" noise on damp days they made as absolutely nothing happened on the braking front lol

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Not forgetting the steel dimpled rims and the "wheeeeee" noise on damp days they made as absolutely nothing happened on the braking front lol

Yes you'd have more success using you're boot against the tyre.

 

[vickster]

Find a good LBS and get them to look at it. Maybe better with one that is more mountain bike than road bike oriented

 

[Deleted member 26715]

When I bought mine everything was fine took it in for it's 6 week service & the brakes were horrific afterwards, snatching, screaming rather than squealing, took it back to the shop & they found that the rear pads were all contaminated with oil, I know it wasn't me as I don't do cleaning or servicing, they cleaned them all up & put new pads in, since then they have been great.

As to pumping do you mean you have to do that to get any grip or are you trying to cadence brake to stop locking up?