Nearly Got Hit By A Car--Brake Cables
#1
The Broke Biker ;)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 48
Bikes: 1 Road Bike<-Won it =)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nearly Got Hit By A Car--Brake Cables
I was going down a hill towards an intersection. The hill ended right at the intersection. I had a green light, and so didn't slow down early. The light turned yellow, and so I had to apply my brakes harder then i would have liked. Suddenly i hear a snap, and my front brake stops working. My rear brake has never been very good, and i know i wont stop in time for the intersection so i pedal as hard as i can to speed past it. The light turns red, and a car has to screech to a stop almost hitting me.
I apologize and explain that my brake cable snapped, but they still aren't very happy with me.
My '78 motobecane was already ruined by falling off the back of our van, and my worn out specialized hardrock hybrid (road wheels) now has a broken brake cable.
Now i have 2 bikes with broken brake cables/brake housings and none work. I had already spent 16$ in brake cables and now i have to buy more.
How do I prevent any dangerous cable snappings in the future and how the hell do i tighten down the brake housing on a 78 motobecane?!?
I apologize and explain that my brake cable snapped, but they still aren't very happy with me.
My '78 motobecane was already ruined by falling off the back of our van, and my worn out specialized hardrock hybrid (road wheels) now has a broken brake cable.
Now i have 2 bikes with broken brake cables/brake housings and none work. I had already spent 16$ in brake cables and now i have to buy more.
How do I prevent any dangerous cable snappings in the future and how the hell do i tighten down the brake housing on a 78 motobecane?!?
#2
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Replace brake cables when they are not performing optimally, or when they're showing any signs of rust. Periodically squeeze the cables very hard, and if they feel wonky at all, check it out, replace if necessary. The brake cables on my current bike lasted 4 years (through all 4 seasons) before getting stiff. They weren't about ready to break, but they did get sluggish to release and pulled a little hard.
Basically, brakes should always feel crisp on both the pull and the release, and shouldn't feel spongy when applied hard.
I don't know what you mean by "tighten down the brake housing", sorry.
Basically, brakes should always feel crisp on both the pull and the release, and shouldn't feel spongy when applied hard.
I don't know what you mean by "tighten down the brake housing", sorry.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#3
On the road to health.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 603
Bikes: Specialized Allez, Cervelo RS is in process.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Sounds like you need to periodically perform some preventative maintenance on your equipment.
You would not (ok, well maybe you would) drive an automobile without ever doing any maintenance on it, why should a bike be any different?
You would not (ok, well maybe you would) drive an automobile without ever doing any maintenance on it, why should a bike be any different?
#4
Full Member
You nearly died. Find a LBS to maintain your bike if you aren't capable of doing it.
#5
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
if you're not using teflon tubing lined brake cable housings, a light coating of white grease on the cable before running it through the housing is a good idea, maybe even a good idea if you do have the teflon inners. White grease will prevent corrosion which is probably why you are snapping cables.
not sure what you mean about tightening the housing (?)
not sure what you mean about tightening the housing (?)
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Green Valley AZ
Posts: 3,770
Bikes: Trice Q; Volae Century; TT 3.4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Frighting!
When we ride fast and/or long our bikes cease being toys and commence being tools that demand maintenance. My favorite resources are the late great Sheldon Brown's collection and the Park Tools site.
When we ride fast and/or long our bikes cease being toys and commence being tools that demand maintenance. My favorite resources are the late great Sheldon Brown's collection and the Park Tools site.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 505
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
(Again, Monday morning quarterbacking...)
If you had applied the rear brake as hard as possible, are you sure you wouldn't have been able to stop? If so, I will argue that you probably were going too fast for conditions. Trying to beat the red made you look like one of the red-light running scofflaws that everyone gripes about.
But anyway, the important thing is that no one was hurt.
If you had applied the rear brake as hard as possible, are you sure you wouldn't have been able to stop? If so, I will argue that you probably were going too fast for conditions. Trying to beat the red made you look like one of the red-light running scofflaws that everyone gripes about.
But anyway, the important thing is that no one was hurt.
#8
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,398
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,698 Times
in
2,518 Posts
take the bike to a shop for a tuneup and complete brake cable/housing replacement. Sounds like that will bust the budget, but it's cheaper than the alternatives