Fifty Plus (50+) - Don't you just hate it...

when you come back from a ride. You were slower than usual and feel like crap. Then when you put you're bike away you notice that one of the brake pads was dragging!!!! At least I have a reason why I was so slow. Well slower anyway.

Bill

Ouch! I know your pain. In a cyclo cross race, last Sunday, at the end of the first lap I noticed my front wheel skidding on loose gravel while I was pedaling. The front V brake's spring was not opening back up and one shoe was dragging. The course took us through a sand pit and I think sand got into the brake. By the time I got the brake working properly the 45 minute race was two laps older. I petitioned the organizers to allow me to race in the following race and they OK'd it. Problem is the next race was 1 hr long and filled with the Cat 1,2 and 3 studs.

Sometimes I check the brakes to see if they're dragging, then I realise I'm just f'n slow. It is what it is.

Look at it as power training.

I often set the brakes to drag and lower the pressures in the tyres----On my mates bikes.

This happened to me:
The Tour leader and Chief Mechanic changed tires for me and installed the wheel.
My biking performance was very bad after that. I thought it was psychological on my part due to multiple flats I had on that day.
No, the Tour Leader and Chief Mechanic installed the wheel with a drag and I was too trusting to check him.:o
That will never happen to me again.

I've only ever thought a brake pad was rubbing on a ride. It's never actually happened. I was just slow that day.

Look at it as power training.

I often set the brakes to drag and lower the pressures in the tyres----On my mates bikes.


Good one.

Good one.
Only if your not one of his mates.lol

Only if your not one of his mates.lol

True

This just happened to me today. During my commute from work I was slow and felt like crap. After reading the OP's suggestion of the brake pads dragging, I checked my bike. Mechanically my bike checked out flawless. I am so disappointed that I couldn't find a mechanical excuse for the way I felt.

I don't mean to sound uppity, but that never happens to me because I check the bike over before I ride.
Well, it happened to me ONCE, and that's why I check the bike now. Takes less than a minute.

Had it. Hated it. Worse than a headwind or false flat. Finally replaced brakes.

Sadly enough, Velo Dog, brakes can work perfectly for a pre-ride check and still end up dragging.

Been there. I actually like tinkering with my bike now before a ride. I put it up on the stand, make sure everything shifts perfectly and the brakes are dialed in perfectly. For some reason, having a perfectly tuned bike really encourages me to ride.

Before I used to just jump on the bike and then adjust while I was riding. Not near as fun.

I don't mean to sound uppity, but that never happens to me because I check the bike over before I ride.
Well, it happened to me ONCE, and that's why I check the bike now. Takes less than a minute.

Actually that is sort of why it happened. I was checking the bike. Looked down and saw the rear wheel was just a bit closer to the left chainstay. Centered the wheel after tightening the skewer a bit. Forgot to check the wheel for free spin.