mr,grumpy
01-17-10, 08:06 AM
What are these tab thingies on my Marathon Brakes?
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http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff57/noreasterDL/Bicycles/January10030.jpg
Bicycle Mechanics - What are these tab thingies on my Marathon Breaks?
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Trakhak
01-17-10, 08:13 AM
Wheel guides.
HillRider
01-17-10, 08:18 AM
First, a nit-pick; its brakes, not breaks.
The tabs are called "wheel guides" and they help guide the tire between the brake pads to speed wheel changes. They can be useful for racers where a flat tire during a race calls for a very fast wheel change. They are less useful for the rest of us where saving a second or two during a wheel installation is not an issue.
The tabs are called "wheel guides" and they help guide the tire between the brake pads to speed wheel changes. They can be useful for racers where a flat tire during a race calls for a very fast wheel change. They are less useful for the rest of us where saving a second or two during a wheel installation is not an issue.
fuzz2050
01-17-10, 11:43 AM
They are called 'wheel guides', but as far as I can tell, they don't actually help with getting the wheel back in after a flat. I've never actually seen them be useful, so I'm inclined to thing brake manufacturers had some ulterior motive in adding them.
operator
01-17-10, 12:16 PM
They are called 'wheel guides', but as far as I can tell, they don't actually help with getting the wheel back in after a flat. I've never actually seen them be useful, so I'm inclined to thing brake manufacturers had some ulterior motive in adding them.
They help prevent the wheel from suddenly stopping against the flat surface of the brake shoe itself. It *does* make it easier to replace a wheel blindly or in less than ideal conditions where speed is paramount (e.g race flat fix).0-
If those were useless maufacturers would've removed them immediately and promote that as "weight savings". For example the new 7900/6700 groups still retain brake shoes on their calipers with the guide fins.
They help prevent the wheel from suddenly stopping against the flat surface of the brake shoe itself. It *does* make it easier to replace a wheel blindly or in less than ideal conditions where speed is paramount (e.g race flat fix).0-
If those were useless maufacturers would've removed them immediately and promote that as "weight savings". For example the new 7900/6700 groups still retain brake shoes on their calipers with the guide fins.
mr,grumpy
01-17-10, 12:17 PM
So, um, what are they doing on a touring bike?
operator
01-17-10, 12:29 PM
So, um, what are they doing on a touring bike?
You realize a feature of convenience does not only apply to the one specific application I mentioned right
You realize a feature of convenience does not only apply to the one specific application I mentioned right
mr,grumpy
01-17-10, 12:33 PM
Yep. I suppose. I am in no way shape or form any kind of an expert but i have had several bikes pass through my hands in the last year or so and the only one to have this "feature" is a touring bike made during the company's "huffy" stage. Just make one wonder is all.
vredstein
01-17-10, 01:27 PM
You realize a feature of convenience does not only apply to the one specific application I mentioned right
Before tightening the brake anchor bolt, I find the tabs are a convenient place to squeeze the calipers close to the rim without using a third-hand tool.
Before tightening the brake anchor bolt, I find the tabs are a convenient place to squeeze the calipers close to the rim without using a third-hand tool.
DRietz
01-17-10, 01:36 PM
Before tightening the brake anchor bolt, I find the tabs are a convenient place to squeeze the calipers close to the rim without using a third-hand tool.
I find this as well!
I find this as well!