Self-conscious

[Maylian]

So.........being a fully signed up member of the cycling movement there is not much that embarrasses me. Lycra - tick, luminous glasses - tick, general smugness - tick.

However, the one thing I've noticed since the weather has turned is that I worry people think I don't look after my bike. Having recently bought a Giant 2015 disc brake road bike, whenever braking in the wet I get that lovely "squeal" that makes it sound like you don't maintain your bike. This must be about the most annoying thing of having a disc equipped road bike

 

[earlestownflya]

very embarrassing...and annoying....it's gonna drive you nuts.what possessed you to buy a disc brake road bike,it takes away all the beauty and sleekness away..(in my opinion) from how a road bike should look.it'll never,never catch on..it's criminal

 

[Profpointy]

I had a colleage comment "your chains a disgrace, but it's not gone rusty like mine". The moral is keep it oiled but don't worry overmuch about clean

 

[MichaelW2]

Sleek and sexy roadbikes are great until you need to do an emergency stop on a dark, rainy night. Disks keep on stopping.

 

[earlestownflya]

performed many an emergency stop on dark rainy nights,finishing work at 10pm on my 8 mile route home thru pitch black country lanes,my callipers have'nt let me down yet...still the brake of choice for the pro peloton..lets hope it stays that way

 

[sbeqs]

I hear my brakes screech occasionally and I smile in relief that they're still doing their job. If someone reacts to them, they're welcome to help me fix them.

 

[Markymark]

It's easy to fix. Make the pads slightly angled so they touch the rim at the front first. You can do this by putting a bit of card between the pad and rim at the front to give you the angle

EDIT Ignore above, discs, not pads!

 

[Poacher]

It's easy to fix. Make the pads slightly angled so they touch the rim at the front first. You can do this by putting a bit of card between the pad and rim at the front to give you the angle

The OP has squealing disc brakes. I know diddly squat about discs, but I'd hesitate and get a second opinion before angling the pads.

 

[Markymark]

The OP has squealing disc brakes. I know diddly squat about discs, but I'd hesitate and get a second opinion before angling the pads.

Ah, didn't read properly!

 

[Sim2003]

Any time my Disc brakes start squeaking I give the discs a wipe down with some kitchen roll. Usually I see a fair bit of muck come off. If the squeaking persists I wipe the pads down with kitchen roll too. its not usually the rain that makes them squeak.

It definitely gets annoying when it happens because there is always someone watching when it happens lol

 

[mythste]

I find that long gentle modulations seem to stop them squeeling, even in the wet.

I await someone telling me that it's a good way to make them explode or something.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

There are road bikes and bikes that get ridden on roads.
Be happy in the knowledge your riding enough for your bike to warrant being maintained, a little squeak or creak here and there adds to the bikes personality

 

[si_c]

Coming into work this morning past one of the Uni libraries, loads of people about, and my brakes made the most god-awful squealing noise. Driver in the lane next to me gave me a proper dirty look.

Really embarrassing.

 

[Maylian]

Nice to know it isn't just me. They only make a noise when they're wet, although the feathering/ modulation clears them so they're quiet.

I decided to have a disc brake bike as my everyday commute bike, still keep a few other bikes for other scenarios. This was after my calipers didn't bite in the wet, I ended up only just managing to squeeze between two cars stopped at a set of traffic lights and just avoid the cars coming from the side road that missed me by about 10/15 feet. After that I pulled over and to calm down as I was so shaken. I can not fault the brakes performance in any conditions so far and would recommend them, just the noise can be a pain

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cleaning the rotors with some Isopropyl alcohol will silence your brakes and they will still work. I spray the actual pads with some disc brake cleaner as I am crap at maintenance and don't fancy taking them out to clean them with the ispropyl.