Rear Brake Doesn't Do Much...

[Octet]

I've been noticing that my rear brake doesn't do much when I attempt to brake with it. I notice a marginal drop in my speed but apart from that I just continue forward.
When pulling it, the brake pads make contact with the rims and it is a new bike so I wouldn't expect them to have been worn out.
I've made sure that the rims aren't oily, which they aren't, so I can't understand why it just won't break.

I obviously don't want to be using my rear brake solely, but if I'm going down a hill I don't particularly want to rely on my front brake solely if I need to make a quick or emergency stop.

Does anyone have any suggestion as to what the problem could be and any advice on how to check it?
Thank you

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't know the technicalities of it all, but IMO the rear brake is secondary to the front brake. It assists the front brake but on it's own it's not upto much.

As long as it's set up correctly, the cable's not stretched and the pads are OK then I wouldn't worry about it.

FYI, stock pads are not usually upto much. Upgrading to Swisstop or Koolstops is always beneficial IME.

 

[potsy]

About 90% of my braking is done with the front brake only, if I need the extra stopping power then I'll use the back one too, but like you said it doesn't do much.
I will sometimes use it just to scrub a slight bit of speed off if hitting traffic or a junction, but always cover the front one if I might need to actually come to a stop

 

[Octet]

Thanks for the replies,

I've been used to a mountain bike where you would brake and both wheels would stop and you would end up skidding.
So the rear brake is designed to 'roll'?

 

[HovR]

As smokey has said, rear brakes tend not to be up to much.. Can the rear brake lock up your rear wheel? If so, it's already performing at it's fullest. If not, then replace the stock pads and ensure it's set up correctly (pads shouldn't be too far away from the rim).

Think I used my rear brake for the first time in a long time today, as my front brake started squealing at the bottom of a long descent - Not a nice noise for a club ride!

 

[Octet]

What happens in an emergency stop then? I was always led to believe that you did a 2-1 otherwise you would end up going head over heels?

 

[Pauluk]

Do you have v-brakes or is it a road bike with cantilever?

I would have thought that you should be able to lock up your back wheel in dry conditions even with rim brakes. If you are sure your rims are really clean it may be the pads aren't up to much or contaminated, although I doubt very much if its contamination.

You say the bike is new so I wonder if the pads still need wearing in. I'd just bear with them for a while and see if they improve, as long as you can stop safely which you should be able to do with just a front brake.

 

[Lee_M]

I must be doing it wrong all these years, my rear brake is my main brake

 

[Octet]

Do you have v-brakes or is it a road bike with cantilever?

I think they are side-pull cantilever brakes, it is on a Raleigh Airlite 400 road bike.

 

[Pauluk]

What happens in an emergency stop then? I was always led to believe that you did a 2-1 otherwise you would end up going head over heels?

Use your front brake to stop you quickly and safely. Straighten your arms and sit back in the saddle and you won't go over your bars.

Be careful in the wet or on greasy surfaces as a front wheel skid can be more dangerous then a back one. Also I'd avoid my front wheel brake with a front tyre blow out.

With practice front wheel braking is far more effective and stable if you do it correctly.

 

[smokeysmoo]

What happens in an emergency stop then? I was always led to believe that you did a 2-1 otherwise you would end up going head over heels?

If you grab two handfuls of brake the rear will offset the front. I had to do an emergency stop this afternoon when some dozy bint pulled out on me, I didn't go over the bars

I must be doing it wrong all these years, my rear brake is my main brake

Yep

I think they are side-pull cantilever brakes, it is on a Raleigh Airlite 400 road bike.

TBH the calipers aren't the best. Functional but they will have some flex in the arms.

Tektro are a relative budget brand, but even so they'll still be fine, but you would notice an improvement if you upgraded them eventually.

As Pauluk says, the pads may still be bedding in.

 

[Lee_M]

Lee_M said: ↑
I must be doing it wrong all these years, my rear brake is my main brake
Yep
Octet said: ↑

So it would appear but I've ridden like that for 45 odd years so might be hard to change.

I use my front if I need extra stopping power but just instinctively use my rear,

Although on a motorbike I do the opposite

 

[mickle]

Hello!! Pay close attention!

New bike = warranty!!

 

[Pauluk]

Braking techniques:

http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

 

[Octet]

Braking techniques:

http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

Thanks for the article, a good read and explains a lot!