Not impossible, it just requires patience and a bit of understanding of how they work. Read Sheldon Brown's advice here.
Not impossible, it just requires patience and a bit of understanding of how they work. Read Sheldon Brown's advice here.
Nope I refuse to believe its possible and shall not hear another word.
Stolly brakes do need adjusting alot. Especially if its wet when you've been out. I got thru a new set of pads on my road bike during a very very wet weekend in the lake district.
If you've got the cash and intend on doing lots of cycling its worth getting some discs. Last ageeeees longer and really easy to adjust
Thanks very much for your help everyone - I sort of know what to do now . Its all about trial and error, fiddle-faddle to space the brake pads the right height, angle and distance from the wheel rim. Managed to do it okayish just now although it took me almost 20 minutes.
My bike is really old and lumbering and I don't want to spend money on it changing the brakes if I can help it!
Brakes are for wimps anyway.
Stolly, you are going to struggle getting truly impressive stopping power out of those (Shimano ?) slimline canti's - the very things that feed anti-canti-phobia like dear old Calf's.
Have a look at www.zepnat.co.uk and their Tektro CR520's ( just £32 for a complete bike set - what you already have costs £20 / wheel ). I've had mine on the cyclo-cross bike for 4 weeks and they are a revelation. Several guys on the 3Peakscyclocross.org.uk forum are raving about them. If you take the plunge, go another £20 and upgrade to Koolstop Salmon & Black dual compound brake blocks.
And as 'nobbutalad' says - Sheldon Brown (RIP) is the guru. And he praises the CR520's. Also google for Keith Bontrager and his canti set-up pages.
Last edited by wheezing donkey; 13-07-2008 at 03:54 PM.
Or, £27 for a pair of Shimano LX V brakes and levers which seem to be a doddle to set up,
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalo...And_V_336.html