Rear Brake Doesn't Do Much...

[smokeysmoo]

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

If it 'aint broke don't fix it. I'm not saying what I do is 'right', and I've not read Sheldon's burblings on the matter, but it works for me as indeed your method does for you

 

[andrew_s]

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'?

You should be able to lock up and skid the rear wheel using the rear brake alone..
You can't usually skid the front wheel on the road - there's normally enough grip that you go over the handlebars first.

If you are braking much with the front brake, the rear brake will lock up much more easily.

 

[mickle]

Yoo hoo! Warranty?!

 

[sidevalve]

Same as on a m/cycle under heavy braking weight transferance lightens the rear and forces the front down on to the road which is why the rear wheel will lock and slide relatively easily. If you can't lock the rear wheel then somthing is wrong and needs sorting, even my old sidepulls will lock the rear wheel if I pull hard. If they will then you can ask no more of them and they are as good as they can be. Try swapping front - rear and see what happens [maybe on a quite bit of road first]. If pads are ok all that's left is cable and levers [the caliper / cantilever or whatever is just another type of lever]. If all is free and working then try some new pads. To have only one working brake is basically putting your self at risk, the rear brake might not be brilliant but it is better than nothing if the front one fails [and yes it can happen] or the road is covered in ice - mud - slurry and the front is a bit too risky.

 

[mickle]

Non of these essays on braking theory is relevent people. Its a new bike. The back brake doesnt work. It needs to go back to the shop. Srsly.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

what mickle says…

 

[TheDoctor]

+1
Tektro pads are rubbish though...

 

[Kiwiavenger]

one of the first things i did when i got my allez is bin the tektro calipers, get 105's and replace the front pad with aztec dual compunds! best decision i ever made!

also remember to clean the rims to remove the build up of crud as this can seriously affect your stopping power!!!

front brake only for me unless i think im gonna glaze the pads on a descent then i switch and feather the two.

 

[Davidc]

Mickle's right.

That said in my experience Tektro pads are rubbish and if the seller offers to improve matters by changing to different ones it may solve the problem.

If you change the pads or do anything else you could be voiding the warranty.

 

[Lee_M]

If it 'aint broke don't fix it. I'm not saying what I do is 'right', and I've not read Sheldon's burblings on the matter, but it works for me as indeed your method does for you

well i have to say after playing with it on my commute in this morning using the front rake doesnt seem to stop me any quicker than the back brake, so either all my brakes are shoot (they are!) or I'm so heavy that I add sufficient weight to the rear brake to make it super effective. I'll try the front brake technique out again when I take the road bike out later in the week

 

[Octet]

Non of these essays on braking theory is relevent people. Its a new bike. The back brake doesnt work. It needs to go back to the shop. Srsly.

Thanks Mickle, I shall take it back to the shop and have them take a look at it.

 

[Octet]

Ok, just had a good look at the brakes and I think the problem is that the brake cable may be tighter then the front brake cable, and so I can't pull it as much from the hoods (I normally use a couple of fingers instead of holding it full on).
Not sure whether that makes any sense, but simply I think it is because I can't get as much force on the handle and so the pads make contact but unlike the front brake I can't pull them tightly against the rims.... or I'm just going crazy?

I shall need to test ride the theory at some point.