Should my bike be having problems already?

[Cyclo]

I bought my bike at the end of July. Since then I have used it on average twice a week to work and back (about a mile or two each way - flat surface) and a few bike rides on the weekend, but nothing strenuous or far.

Despite this, already my brake disc is making quite a noise, and the handles are facing a different direction (admittedly not much of a difference). Should this be happening?


(I took my bike back to the shop I got it from at the weekend to sort out the above issues, which they said they did, but the brake noise happened almost instantly and the handles/wheel are already slightly different.)

 

[bonsaibilly]

What sort of noise is your brake making? If it's a metallic squeal, get used to it, disc brakes do that once they've had any exposure to moisture and surfactants.

Handles. Do you refer to the rubber grips? That also seems to be the normal way of things nowadays, though in days of old grips used to stay in place. There is a solution. Lock on grips cost a tenner or so and have one or two bolts on them to lock the grips in place.
BB

 

[bikeman66]

All noise is caused by vibration. Check that all the bolts and fixings around the brake calipers are correctly tightened. If you are confident in doing so, carefully remove the brake pads and apply a smear of high melting point copper grease to the back of the pad where it contacts the caliper piston. Obviously, make sure you don't get any of the grease on the friction surfaces of the pad or the disc as you're re-installing the pads. Cleaning the brake disc with a proper bike disc cleaner will also help things. The cleaner is usually available from most bike shops and comes in an aerosol. A quick spray and wipe over with a clean cloth should do it.

If you do mean the handlebar grips when you say about the "handles", then that is easy to put right. Twist and slide the grips off the bar. Make sure they are completely dry, and make sure the bar doesn't have any contamination on it. Buy some hairspray, spray some inside the grip. While wet, the hairspray will act as a lubricant, helping you to slide the grip back on to the bar. Leave it a few minutes and the hairspray will now be acting more like an adhesive helping the grips to stay exactly where you want them. Simples!

 

[Cyclo]

Thanks for replies.

The brake noise isn't a squeal, it's almost the opposite to a squeal. It's particularly noisy when I use the brakes, but also happens when the wheel turns. I may be wrong, but I think the brake pad may be rubbing against something.

I didn't mean the handlebars themselves. I meant the frame. If I sit on my bike and have the handle bat frame straight (I.e in the normal position) the wheel is not in line. It is angled slightly.

 

[vickster]

Thanks for replies.

The brake noise isn't a squeal, it's almost the opposite to a squeal. It's particularly noisy when I use the brakes, but also happens when the wheel turns. I may be wrong, but I think the brake pad may be rubbing against something.

I didn't mean the handlebars themselves. I meant the frame. If I sit on my bike and have the handle bat frame straight (I.e in the normal position) the wheel is not in line. It is angled slightly.

You need to straighten the bars then, or get the shop to do it?

What bike is it?

 

[bikeman66]

Small piece of grit or something similar caught between the disc and the brake pad possibly?? You'll find that most pads on disc systems stay very close to the actual disc, to the point where occasional binding (rubbing) can occur. It's not a massive problem, as long as the sound it makes doesn't detract from your enjoyment of riding. If you are not happy about it, take the bike to a cycle shop and get them to check it over!

 

[russ.will]

Stand facing the front of the bike. Grip the front wheel between your knees. Twist the bars [with your hands] until the wheel and bars align. Job done. You can't be too airy fairy with these things.

Can't comment on the disks. Mine (on the MTB) don't rub, despite my kack-handed crashing on a regular basis, following somebody who is deliberately leading me places I'm ill equipped to handle. I was born with two wheels on the ground, but that doesn't stop me trying....

Russell