I'm having a problem. My front end brakes are tight against the wheel, that when I remove the quick release hub, the tire cannot slide out between the brakes. What can I do to be able to use the quick release function? P.S. total noob to bikes, so anything like "loosen brakes" isn't gonna help ha. I'll give as much detail as I can. Thanks!

If your brakes do not have a lever to open them up for this purpose you will have to let some air out of the tire prior to removal.
Then reinflate after installation.

Enjoy

there should be some kind of quick release for the brakes. What kind of brakes are they?

They are V style Brakes.

The black lever on the left

thanks, but my bike doesn't have that lever. The brakes in the picture are not similar to mine, they resemble more of a U style.

usually you can disconnect the cable at the noodle

Squeeze to brake together and pull out the brake cable on the left side.

do you have any pictures of v-brakes?

Welcome to the sport, hopefully minor frustrations like this won't make you give up. If you bought the bike at the LBS they should be happy to go over the features and the basics of user maintenance. Be sure to ask when you bring the bike in for the 30 day checkover.


On V-type brakes the metal bracket that holds the noodle has a slot. Hold the brakes closed by squeezing the arms together (not with the lever) and there should be enough slack to pull the noodle back until the bare wire can be lifted out of the slot. You put them back together the same way.

Here's a link to a good illustration of what I'm talking about.

This worked perfectly! Thanks everyone for your help!