Why do my triban's brakes lock too much?

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NickJ95GB

Senior Member
Location
Fife
hello, i've noticed my triban 3's wheel lock way too often, especially in the wet. it appears they are either too weak, have a very tiny, and hard-to-find peak, then lock, causing me to crash nearly twice today. Is it my brakes which look a bit cheap or the tyres? i noticed the brakes squeaking a lot, and i wasn't exactly drifting on my tyres. And does anyone recommend any decent replacements that don't cost too much?
thank you.

edit: my wheels are 700 x 23. i think.
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Location
Chandler's Ford
The noise from the brakes makes me think they are not "toed-in" correctly.
That, and probably less than wonderful tyres are IMO the most likely cause of locking up.
 
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NickJ95GB

Senior Member
Location
Fife
The noise from the brakes makes me think they are not "toed-in" correctly.
That, and probably less than wonderful tyres are IMO the most likely cause of locking up.
ok, thank you. i just looked at the brakes, the look completely even.
 
Rear brake seems to do not a lot except slow a bit, until the wheel locks up - the front is far more effective and less likely to lock.
This is the same on the motorbike, so it is a two wheeled thing. Get used to using the front brake in conjunction with the rear.

As for squeal, clean the rims (baby wipes?) as a first attempt to stop it.
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
.....also when braking try and shift your weight backwards to keep weight over the rear wheel.
. Triban wheels are mediocre and do go out of true easily so worth checking your rear rim for buckling as this could cause you to lock up when braking too.
 
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NickJ95GB

Senior Member
Location
Fife
.....also when braking try and shift your weight backwards to keep weight over the rear wheel.
. Triban wheels are mediocre and do go out of true easily so worth checking your rear rim for buckling as this could cause you to lock up when braking too.
it is slightly...
will upgrade them in a while, and i tend to lean forward because i have a large frame, but normal body & long arms, i'll try what you recommend, thank you :biggrin:
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
I don't think the brakes are particularly shoddy - and they are locking your wheel so they're working. The OEM tyres are adequate - but many Triban owners have made them the first thing they altered. So if you're worried about how they grip in the wet - start there.
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
it is slightly...
will upgrade them in a while, and i tend to lean forward because i have a large frame, but normal body & long arms, i'll try what you recommend, thank you :biggrin:

Easy to true the wheels again. Just needs a spoke key and a little patience.
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
I don't think the brakes are particularly shoddy - and they are locking your wheel so they're working. The OEM tyres are adequate - but many Triban owners have made them the first thing they altered. So if you're worried about how they grip in the wet - start there.

May be worth buying a shorter stem or a stem riser too. This will bring you back and up slightly.


Lots of different lengths and angles available - but here's a nice short one......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/System-Ex...cling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item35c09efff7&_uhb=1
 
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NickJ95GB

Senior Member
Location
Fife
yes, if they lock they clearly work, but it's hard to find that 'sweet spot'. It's make sense that it's the wheels because it means the grip on the brakes is outweighing the grip on the tyres. so new tyres it is then. thank you :biggrin:
and mrandmrspoves, i'll look into that, too thank you.
looking into tyres at the moment. also, quick question, when releasing a rear wheel, do the gears stay in place? or do they fall? not got the confidence yet to put them back on. thanks :smile:
 
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Deleted member 20519

Guest
My brakes are awful on my Triban, I get more stopping power from the back than the front despite me tuning them to perfection.
 
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NickJ95GB

Senior Member
Location
Fife
May be worth buying a shorter stem or a stem riser too. This will bring you back and up slightly.


Lots of different lengths and angles available - but here's a nice short one......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/System-Ex...cling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item35c09efff7&_uhb=1
i don't think the height is the problem, i recently increased my seat height by nearly 2 inches, i'd actually considered removing on of the rings. but thank you for the suggestion though, really appreciate it.
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
yes, if they lock they clearly work, but it's hard to find that 'sweet spot'. It's make sense that it's the wheels because it means the grip on the brakes is outweighing the grip on the tyres. so new tyres it is then. thank you :biggrin:
and mrandmrspoves, i'll look into that, too thank you.
looking into tyres at the moment. also, quick question, when releasing a rear wheel, do the gears stay in place? or do they fall? not got the confidence yet to put them back on. thanks :smile:

When you take the rear wheel off the derailleur stays in place - you just have to pull the chain away from the rear sprocket once the wheel is released.
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Location
Chandler's Ford
The noise from the brakes makes me think they are not "toed-in" correctly.
That, and probably less than wonderful tyres are IMO the most likely cause of locking up.
ok, thank you. i just looked at the brakes, the look completely even.
Slack off the pads and see if you can adjust them so the front of the pad hits the rim about 1 or 2 mm before the rear of the pad.
Should certainly cure the squealing and likely give you better modulation too.
Personally, with long arms, I wouldn't go for a shorter stem, just stand up on the pedals when breaking hard in the wet, move your arse back behind the saddle to get your c.o.g further back over the rear wheel.
 
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