New to the sport.

[slowmotion]

Silly question but as a 18 stone guy what sort of weight do these wheels take on normal country roads before they fail ignoring hitting potholes kerbs etc I just want to set my mind at rest?

You mentioned potholes etc. I commute in London, but I'm far from being as experienced as some people on CC. I actually spend more time looking at the road surface and the dangers from grooves in tarmac, craters, raised manholes, etc than I do at the vehicles around me. You can get a feel for what the traffic's doing. It just takes a gentle groove that is a few degrees off your intended direction of travel and you can have an "Oh Sh#t" moment. Look at the road surface.

 

[Stevec047]

Can you post a picture of the "crack" on the rim and we can help, it should have a Seam or joint in it so this could just be that

also play on the brake callipers sounds like they just need tightening. As they close, do they close "Evenly" or does one side come over more than the other?, when yu then release the brake lever, do they open up evenly on either side, or does one pad kind of stay where it is?
J

Having taken the wheel out of the boot of the car and checked it you were spot on its just the seam that seems to be alot more pronounce on the rear tham it is on the front.

I will get an allen key out later and tighten the bolts holding the brakes in place. I am right in thinking that there should be no movement of the main bracket ie being able to twist them around?

 

[jonny jeez]

Having taken the wheel out of the boot of the car and checked it you were spot on its just the seam that seems to be alot more pronounce on the rear tham it is on the front.

I will get an allen key out later and tighten the bolts holding the brakes in place. I am right in thinking that there should be no movement of the main bracket ie being able to twist them around?

Cool

Yep, the caliper should not swing from side to side, there is usually a single nut and bolt that runs through the front fork and through the bracket between the rear stays. Try giving that a quick tighten.

Brakes seem daunting but there are two tricks to be aware of.

1. On the top of the caliper, just to one side, will be a tiny screw hole called the centre adjustment screw...it may take an alen key or a cross head driver. This adjusts how central the calipers are...tighten it up and the arms move one way, loosen it and they move the other. If you find one arm closes on the rim faster than the other, turn this until both arms are kind of centred.

2. When you fit your brake blocks, you can often get a squeal from them under heavy braking. This is caused by a thing called "toe in"...it may be spelt tow in I'm not an expert. Toe in is the amount of "angle" that the blocks have. Making the leading or trailing end of the block angle in, towards the rim, will solve the squealing.

Somebody will be along in a moment to tell you that the blocks should be parallel and I am sure, in an ideal world that should be. However these tiny tweaks will make the brakes feel like new and are worth "fettling" with each time you clean the bike.

Oh and there is a trick to getting the blocks close to the rim when adjusting them so that they don't rub and so that your brake levers don't have to travel loads to have good effect.

 

[cm2mackem]

If you have any doubt's about your bike take it to spokes in beehive lane , Chelmsford, most of the people I ride with use them, very friendly and cheap. We ride around your area most weekends when you're ready you could join us , for a few easy miles then build up , before you know it you'll be doing more miles than you thought possible, aldi is a good start for clothing,
the Chelmsford one is very well stocked, get bibs to stop the wind getting in.

 

[Stevec047]

If you have any doubt's about your bike take it to spokes in beehive lane , Chelmsford, most of the people I ride with use them, very friendly and cheap. We ride around your area most weekends when you're ready you could join us , for a few easy miles then build up , before you know it you'll be doing more miles than you thought possible, aldi is a good start for clothing,
the Chelmsford one is very well stocked, get bibs to stop the wind getting in.

Thanks I will keep Spokes in mind. I have already raided Aldi for a few little bits unfortunately they had sold out of the larger or should I say xl shorts or leggings when I went in on Saturday but will keep an eye open should or when they get more in.

Due to personal family reasons I won't be around the great Leighs area any longer which is a real shame for a number of reason. But hopefully once fitness levels are up and I have sorted myself out I wold love to maybe tag along on a ride with you all.

 

[Stevec047]

Cool

Yep, the caliper should not swing from side to side, there is usually a single nut and bolt that runs through the front fork and through the bracket between the rear stays. Try giving that a quick tighten.

Brakes seem daunting but there are two tricks to be aware of.

1. On the top of the caliper, just to one side, will be a tiny screw hole called the centre adjustment screw...it may take an alen key or a cross head driver. This adjusts how central the calipers are...tighten it up and the arms move one way, loosen it and they move the other. If you find one arm closes on the rim faster than the other, turn this until both arms are kind of centred.

2. When you fit your brake blocks, you can often get a squeal from them under heavy braking. This is caused by a thing called "toe in"...it may be spelt tow in I'm not an expert. Toe in is the amount of "angle" that the blocks have. Making the leading or trailing end of the block angle in, towards the rim, will solve the squealing.

Somebody will be along in a moment to tell you that the blocks should be parallel and I am sure, in an ideal world that should be. However these tiny tweaks will make the brakes feel like new and are worth "fettling" with each time you clean the bike.

Oh and there is a trick to getting the blocks close to the rim when adjusting them so that they don't rub and so that your brake levers don't have to travel loads to have good effect.

That's great thanks I will have a look at the weekend and tighten any bolts that seem a little use.