Brake Adjustment
Spongy brakes, rubbing pads, or levers that pull to the bars — all fixable in minutes. Covers rim brakes (caliper and V-brake) and a basic disc brake pad check.
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The barrel adjuster is your friend. Turn it anti-clockwise (out) to tighten the cable and bring pads closer to the rim. Quarter turns at a time.
On a fixie like the SE Lager, your front brake is your only brake (plus leg resistance). Keep it in perfect condition — it's all you've got.
Brake pads have wear lines. If the grooves have disappeared, replace them immediately.
Toe-in your brake pads slightly (front of pad touches rim first) to eliminate squealing.
Spin the wheel. Check if pads are rubbing — if so, the caliper needs centring
CABLE TENSION: Turn barrel adjuster anti-clockwise ¼ turn at a time until brake bites firmly at half-lever pull
If the barrel adjuster runs out of adjustment, you need to pull slack through the cable clamp bolt
CENTRING (rim brakes): Loosen the caliper mounting bolt slightly. Squeeze the brake, hold it, re-tighten the bolt
Check pad alignment — pads should hit the rim squarely, not touching the tyre
For toe-in: bend the pad holder slightly so the front of the pad contacts the rim first
DISC BRAKES: Check pad thickness through the caliper window. Replace if less than 1mm of material
Test ride: brake firmly from moderate speed. Both brakes should stop you smoothly without pulling to one side
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