General Cycling Discussion - Possible silly question?

Hi all

I lug my bike into car and go and ride for a couple of hours in the forest before a late shift at work. I do it this way, i deflate the tyre, so i can squeez it through the v-brake pads, at my destination i put the wheel back on and inflate.

Is it easier to adjust the brakes to ren=move the wheel, is this what should be donw, if so how.

Fell free to take pot shots at me if this is a silly question.:o

At work and supposed to be working so thanks in advance!

Isn't there a simple way to unhook the v-brake. A little nob at the end of the cable that hooks in. Simply unhook and pull the tire off. Its been a few years but I am pretty sure that is easier. :)

Ands its not nearly as much fun taking pot shots at someone asking to be shot ;)

When looking at your brakes, there is a 1/4 circle metal tube (noodle) thingy that your brake cable meets up with. That sit's in another piece of metal box like thingy that is attached to the left brake arm. Grab the brakes and squeeze them together with one hand. Grap the noodle with the other. Wiggle your noodle (seriously!) and it should come out of the metal box thingy. There is a groove in the metal box thingy and the cable will slide through. This will release the cable from the lever brake arm and allow enough room to slide the wheel out w/o having to deflate tires.

This is incredibly difficult to explain. Take it to your nearest bike shop and have them show you how to release your brake cable using the quick release!

Good Luck
L8R

You shouldn't need to deflate the tire to remove the wheel.

Most (all?) V-brakes have a quick release mechanism. The brake cable runs through a little metal tube as it enters the brake. The lower end of that tube has a raised lip on it. The lip hooks into a a little armature, which in turn is connected with a hinge to the top of one of the brake arms. If this doesn't make any sense to you, take a look at your brakes.

Squeeze the two brake arms together with one hand so that the pads contact the rim. This chould disengage the lip at the end of the tube from the armature. Swing the armature downward from the hinge. This disconnects the brakes from one another and should give you plenty of room to remove the wheel without deflating the tire.

When you put the tire back on, just reconnect the armature to the metal tube.

Good luck!

You chaps are so kind, no pot shots..yet! Will take your advice and check again in the morning, thanks again, boss walking towards me,see ya, and thnaks again.

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Wiggle your noodle (seriously!)

I wish I'd thought to put it that way!


Originally posted by a2psyklnut


This is incredibly difficult to explain.

Ain't it the truth? Maybe we should've left it to Sheldon Brown!

I looked here, but there wasn't an explanation of how to do it:
But there are some pictures of what I'm talking about

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_linearbrakes.shtml

Last picture at the bottom of the page. The metal box thingy is the black piece. The noodle is inside of the metal box thingy!

You guys need to just clean your minds!

L8R

Originally posted by s9s
You chaps are so kind, no pot shots..yet! Will take your advice and check again in the morning, thanks again, boss walking towards me,see ya, and thnaks again.

I used to deflate the tire to take my wheel off, but that was a real hassle - now I bring along cable cutters and spare cables, every time I want to take the wheel off I just cut the cable so that the brakes open wide..... Sorry, no one was taking that pot shot, I tried to hold back - I just could'nt help myself.

ssyco,

I may just buy a new bike everytime i want to go out riding, saves all the hassle:D

I hate late finishes.

I do it this way, i deflate the tyre, so i can squeez it through the v-brake pads, at my destination i put the wheel back on and inflate.

You gotta be kidding!!

Are you sure you know which end of the bike goes forward???

Originally posted by sscyco

I used to deflate the tire to take my wheel off, but that was a real hassle - now I bring along cable cutters and spare cables, every time I want to take the wheel off I just cut the cable so that the brakes open wide..... Sorry, no one was taking that pot shot, I tried to hold back - I just could'nt help myself.

I don't even carry a bike... I just go to the trailhead with a bunch of steel tubing and a TIG welder and build one right there.

portable TIG welder. Now thats what im talkin.

portable TIG welder. Now thats what im talkin

The extension power cord must be enormous.:D

CHEERS.

Mark

Originally posted by Dutchy
The extension power cord must be enormous.:D

Several folks I've gone four-wheeling with have onboard welders.

S9S

When I first got my bike, I took the brake pad off because I couldn't get the front wheel off. My cable/latch was under a black rubber hose that I had to pull back in order to see the cable/latch. If you are new, take it to the LBS and have them show you. ALSO, if you have presta valves on your tires (smaller than the shraeder valves on cars, have the LBS (local bike shop) show you how to change your pump. I also had them show me how to take the the back wheel off & to change a tire. Then go home and practice by yourself. Saves embarassment. Good Luck!

Also try to go the store when they're not busy. I also gave the mechanic a tip.---Something I learned on BF. I usually tip them whenever I go in, they change cassettes/wheels and all sorts of things for free. They have shown me how to adjust my brakes & derailers, take pedals off--all stuff new to me.

These pot shots are pretty tame, come on guys, when like me u live in the inner city and non of your friends are interested theres gotta be something that by passes you by completetly!

Thanks god for this forum, anyhows, I did it this morning, nearly shot myself for not spotting it myself, found the 'noodle' a2psyklnut and great link as well. Im an enginner you know, sometimes obviuos things are oblivious to ppl like us!

:beer:

Originally posted by s9s
Im an enginner you know, sometimes obviuos things are oblivious to ppl like us!


The funny thing is an enginner should know how to spell Engineer (sorry, but you seem to like the "pot shots")- About two years ago an engineer I work with asked me the same question about getting the wheel off, when I showed him - on his bike - he just walked away.

Originally posted by sscyco


The funny thing is an enginner should know how to spell Engineer (sorry, but you seem to like the "pot shots")- About two years ago an engineer I work with asked me the same question about getting the wheel off, when I showed him - on his bike - he just walked away.

sscyco
Engineers have no grasp of the simple things in life, and like doctors our speling and handwriting are appalling. ;)

I may change my id if the shots get worse, but they are mild at the moment.

PS Can you raise the height of the seat?:D

Rule Number One: There is no such thing as a stupid / silly question. The only questions that could fall in that catagory are the ones that aren't asked.

Originally posted by Raiyn
Rule Number One: There is no such thing as a stupid / silly question. The only questions that could fall in that catagory are the ones that aren't asked.

Rule Number Two: While there is no such thing as a stupid question, there are, nevertheless, countless smartass answers.

Originally posted by s9s
Engineers have no grasp of the simple things in life, and like doctors our speling and handwriting are appalling. ;)

There are simple things in life? |8^)

I agree though... I'm also an engineer and I tend to overanalyse things to the point where the obvious becomes hidden under a pile of convolution as a result of reverse-engineering a problem. And yes... my handwriting and spelling are also atrocious. It might not be obvious now because I use the backspace key as a technological crutch.

Originally posted by s9s


Engineers have no grasp of the simple things in life, and like doctors our speling and handwriting are appalling. ;)



Engineering question: What's Handwriting? ;)

Only one problem with those quick disconnects on "V" brakes....

Friends and co - workers who like to play jokes... :D