Brake Adjustment Question...
 

My shifter (brifter?) was getting stuck on the handlebar tape when I applied the rear brake. My LBT made an adjustment to the brakes that fixed this but now I notice that the quick release on the brake is open and if I close it the brakes grip the rim. Is it OK to ride with the quick release open? Did the mechanic adjust it this way for some purpose or should I take it back and have him readjust it so that I can close the quick release?

Thanks...

As the pad wears, you can adjust it farther closed. I have smaller hands so I have mine open a good half way, so I can pull lever in without the pad engaging the rim, and I open all the way to remove wheel.

I have seen it done like that before but I never really liked the idea, it usually makes it hard to get the wheel out since you can not open your brakes. My guess it it was a simple mistake.

probably a mistake. should be a quick fix though.

I had to take the wheel off today and it was a tight fit. Next time I'm at the LBS I'll have them readjust the brakes. Thanks for the info, guys...

you paid (?) them to do it wrong...

just FYI

No, free brake adjustments.

Free maintenance is worth exactly what you pay for it...

OP, you should try to learn how to DIY. Park Tool has some helpful repair guides:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

Definitely. I am tired of driving an hour to do two minute adjustments. I was thinking of doing Parktool School... Is Parktool's manual good? I think that is included with the class.

I, personally, wouldn't bother with a school. The Park Tool website will tell you, literally, everything you need to know. It's the only thing I needed to build 5-6 bikes from the frame up. I did take a class to learn frame building and I watched some YouTube videos to learn wheel building. For everything else, the Park website is more than enough.

Yeah, sorry I wasn't trying to be snarky. It just annoys me when bike mechanics don't do things properly for their customers.
I do all my own wrenching for three reasons: First, I know things are done correctly, Second, I save quite a bit of time and money, Third I really have come to enjoy it.
I guess fourth would be the level of self reliance it gives me when out on long rides or tours... always a good thing.

My advice to you would be to begin reading the park tools site (it is excellent) and Sheldon Browns site (ditto). Instead of paying for the class, start investing in some tools. A simple multitool will allow you to do many things on most modern bikes, including adjusting brakes and derailleurs and tweaking bike fit. As you get more comfortable with simple mechanical stuff, work your way up to more advanced skills like replacing chains, working on older bikes with loose bearings etc. Buy good quality tools as you need them, and they will last for years. Also, if there is a bike co-op in your city, they will often have hands on classes run by people who want to teach others mechanical skills...

power to the people :)

You can do a lot with a multi-tool, but I think you'd be happier with full-sized tools. I'd grab a pair of Pedro's tire levers, a multi-bit screwdriver, and a set of metric Allen wrenches. Buy a Park CT-5 chain tool if you want to work on chains; it's not full-sized but it'll get the job done. You should be able to get all of this stuff for $30-40, maybe as little as $20 if you're a talented shopper.

That's great to know that Parktool's website is so good and I like the idea of buying tools instead of paying for the class. First on the list for me is a repair stand. I do have have a multi-tool but as sstorkel mentions I think I might want a better chain tool. Should I get one of the ParkTool 3-way hex wrench for greater leverage? I am also going to get a pedal wrench, separate spoke wrench, and a chain wear indicator. Should I get cassette removal tool? If so, can you recommend a brand? Is there anything else I should add to the list?

A repair stand is a nice luxury, but not absolutely essential. I did quite a bit of maintenance with the bike resting upside down on handlebars and seat before I bought a stand. That said, I'm pretty happy with my Feedback Sports repair stand. If you can afford it, a quick-release mechanism is nice to have. It makes loading a heavy touring bike or mountain bike into the stand easier.

If the Park hex wrench you're referring to is the AWS-1 or AWS-8, I'd wait to purchase them. They're expensive, you only get three sizes (granted, they're the most common), the tool provides less leverage than a standard hex wrench, and the unused bits often get in the way (ex: when tightening many seat clamps).

If you need to remove cassettes, you'll need a cassette lockring tool, a chain whip, and an adjustable wrench. I own a Park lockring tool and chain whip. They're nice. I probably only use them once a year, on average. Unless you know that you've got a cassette which needs replacement, I'd wait to purchase these tools.

If your budget is tight, the Park CT-5 chain tool is really all you need. I have one in the seat bag for each bike. I also own a more expensive chain tool (Park CT-7), but frequently end up using the CT-5 because there's always one with the bike. Take the money you would have spent on an upscale chain tool and use it to buy a chain cleaning kit. I own the Park one. It's not great, but I don't know if the competition is any better.

For spoke wrenches, I like Park's 4-sided models (SW-40, SW-42). They make it much more difficult for a newbie to round the edges off a nipple (Hint: the wrench engages and leaves the nipple from the top not the side).

A 12-inch ruler works well as a chain wear indicator, though it's not quite as convenient as a tool.

Rather than buying a bunch of tools up and then finding that they're not necessary, I would suggest buying tools as you have projects which require them. Hex wrenches and screwdrivers are always necessary. Chain cleaning and replacement is a frequent activity if you ride a lot. So do tires changes and tube patching. Everything else happens pretty rarely in comparison...

Thanks very much. sstorkel. This is helpful. I've got my eye on the Park PCS-10 repair stand. BTW, I have the Park chain cleaning tool and really like it. I'll buy the tools as I need them. It looks like I'll have my first chain replacement in a few months...

I generally like the Feedback Sports repair stands better than Park. One thing that worries me about the PCS-10 is the clamp. I'll admit I've never used one, but the clamp looks like it might be a bit fussy (especially if you were trying to clamp the bike by the seat tube rather than the top tube. Have to admit, I'm also a little suspicious of the 2-leg design of the PCS-10. The ultra-wide tripod base on the Feedback Sports stands makes them very stable. That's nice when you're trying to remove a stuck crank or bottom bracket on a heavy MTB or touring bike.

+1 on the Ultimate aka Feedback stand. They are the best, and worth it in the long run.

This one is the best value, they've been selling it in essentially the same form for >decade:

http://feedbacksports.com/shop/Sport...tand-P3C1.aspx

That's the one I started out with. Eventually upgraded the clamp to match the one on their "Pro" stands. The "Pro" clamp is a luxury, but it's a nice luxury to have. REI sells these stands, so combining one of their 20%-off coupons with your yearly dividend payment is a great way to make the price more affordable..