How to Install Road Bike Brakes

How to Install Road Bike Brakes
Road bicycles are the original style of bicycle and an icon of entire countries. Road bicycles are designed for paved or smooth dirt trail riding and are fast, sleek, and extremely nimble. Road enthusiasts perform a variety of maintenance on their bicycles, but one item that they may deal with most frequently is the bicycle's brakes. Installing road bike brakes is simple and can make your bike feel as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. .

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:
  • Allen wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
Step 1
Use the Allen wrenches to loosen and remove the cable mounting bolt on the right side of the brake set. Pull the cable free.
Step 2
Loosen and remove the bolt on the back of the front fork crown. Slide the brake calipers off of the fork and away from the front tire.
Step 3
Slide the new brakes over the tire and push the mounting bolt through the fork crown. Tighten the mounting bolt down on the back side of the fork crown.
Step 4
Slide the end of the cable through the brake arms and mount down tightly with the cable mounting bolt. If there is any slack left in the cable, use the barrel adjuster to tighten it up.
Step 5
Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the rear brake.

Tips & Warnings

 
Make sure to position the brake pads in the directions indicated on the sides of the pads themselves. This will help them wear and stop correctly.
 
Make sure to position the brake pads in the directions indicated on the sides of the pads themselves. This will help them wear and stop correctly.

Resources

Article Written By Nathaniel Miller

Nathaniel Miller is a technical writer for an environmental division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc. He has a Master of Science from Ohio University. With over eight years of technical writing experience, Miller has a diverse skill-set and enjoys a wide-ranging client base. He is widely published on numerous writing websites and runs a small writing business out of his home in Marietta, Ohio.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    Backcountry Camping Tips

    Backcountry Camping Tips

    You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...

    More Backcountry Camping...
  • Popular Article

    Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

    Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

    Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...

    More Beach Camping...
  • Featured Video

    Common Sense Hiking Tips

    Common Sense Hiking Tips

    The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.

    More Camping Basics...

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword