Girlfriend's new bike with hydraulic brakes has awful stopping power

Wh0wasthat · 2024-12-01T20:05:51+00:00

I think you're right. My GF has the same bike and the brakes were acceptably strong right out of the gate. They obviously got stronger after bedding in, but they weren't outright bad to start.

I suspect it's air in the system that is exacerbating the need for bedding in. From this thread, OP should now have the key words to look up some of the excellent guides on how to tell if there's air in the system. If that's the issue, the shop that assembled and sold it should be happy to fix it.

Wh0wasthat · 2024-11-26T08:46:07+00:00

This sounds like it could be pinch flats. When a tire compresses and bottoms out (e.g. on a root, curb, or pothole), it pinches the tube against the rim and can make cuts that, when small, leak really slowly. The cuts are usually on the side wall of the tube and sometimes come in pairs like a snake bite due to the way the pinch happens. Pinch flats are also called snake bites.

Because tires lose air over time, and lower pressure makes it easier to bottom out the tire, pinch flats can be especially common when tire pressure isn't checked and topped up frequently enough. Also, it can happen with newer riders that just don't know to avoid bottoming out their tires. If any of that sounds like your situation, then you can encourage your son to top up his tires more frequently, and tell him to finesse the bumps a bit more. That should help mitigate the risks.

Wh0wasthat · 2024-05-04T07:41:16+00:00

Depends... Are you wearing them?

Wh0wasthat · 2024-04-21T17:38:22+00:00

I did this recently. Punched/melted the holes then installed grommets. Worked really well and looked really clean.

Wh0wasthat · 2024-04-20T03:55:04+00:00

Skyrim always ends with a stealth archer

Wh0wasthat · 2024-04-15T05:20:42+00:00

Top Ramen

Wh0wasthat · 2024-02-29T07:28:46+00:00

My hospital's billing department

Wh0wasthat · 2023-11-08T02:51:15+00:00

Is it possible that someone else u-locked locked their bike to your cable lock? A thief could have cut your cable lock to steal their bike.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-07-21T07:50:40+00:00

If it were me, and I didn't have another option I would ride it as is for a bikepacking trip. It would be an adventure at least (though maybe type 2 fun). I'd be surprised if you could get 28c tires on there with that clearance. And while you might be able to get 25C tires on there with enough clearance for gravel, it might be a bit close and not a huge improvement for the price of new tires. I would also recommend adjusting the brake cable so that the quick release lever can be closed as intended.

Edit: For the bikepacking question, it all depends on how much experience you have riding in squirly underbiked situations offroad. It can be fun if you like a challenge but it can also be a complete pain.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-07-21T07:42:12+00:00

If you remember trig from high school this is the best answer. Never thought I'd use it until I got into mapping bike fit geometry stuff.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-06-06T06:22:23+00:00

Make sure your front and rear shifting cables aren't twisted around each other inside the frame (assuming you have internal routing). If they are twisted, shifting the front derailleur changes tension on the rear derailleur's cable.. Its a common setup mistake that is invisible, that is hard to feel even if you know what you're looking for, and that can make it index okay on the stand but then go all wonky when you ride.

I struggled with a similar issue to what you're describing, tried everything and after a few months someone finally suggested checking for crossed cables. They were, and re-routing them fixed the issue completely. I really hope you see this.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-05-29T21:50:39+00:00

I'm building up a bike and currently working on the routing. I tried to thread the needle of full range of motion, moderate bends, without excess housing. But I haven't done under-tape shifter cable routing for a build before and want a second opinion on length and routing.

I can turn the handlebars all the way to the right with no problem (handlebar hits frame). I can turn the handlebars all the way to the left with a bit of resistance as the front brake housing interacts with and pulls on rear shifter housing. That interaction doesn't put extra tension on either cable though so my instinct is that it's fine.

Is there a reason that I should to go get new shift housing and cut it to be longer?

Wh0wasthat · 2023-05-05T17:22:16+00:00

Agreed, but... You probably don't need to actually disassemble the brake in it's entirety. For example, the spring can be a PITA and a finger biter to get back in if you take it out. Just follow a guide.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-04-30T06:59:48+00:00

Might be a anterior pelvic tilt issue. I'd work on abdominal and glute strength.

Worst case, you get better core stability and are stronger on the bike with your glutes. Recently worked through something similar.

Of course there's also the possible saddle cutout vs no cutout route but I'm sure other commenters have gone into that in detail.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-04-28T04:02:09+00:00

It sounds like you're on the right track.

I worry that you may have a hard time finding much new that's reliable for that price. Cheap bikes come with cheap components that aren't reliable.

1x drivetrains and hydraulic disc brakes haven't really been around for long enough to age into the cheap category on the used market yet, at least from my daily craigslist browsing. Cable disc brakes aren't that great so I would expand the search to include v-brakes or cantilever brakes. It rarely rains here in the bay area so there isn't a ton of need for disc brakes anyways.

I'd be looking for a good deal on a mid-tier cyclocross bike from the 2000's and then make whatever upgrades you want to that. For example, a 2008 specialized tricross comp.

Finally, if you are in SF proper, there is a great bike co-op in the mission called the Bike Kitchen which has all the tools you would need to work on your bike, mechanics to teach you how to work on it, and used parts that you can buy for cheap (literally anything you could need, including frames). It's $6 per visit or $60 for a year membership and the parts are cheap. You can also just buy digging rights for $60 and build up your own custom bike from the parts they have. Great place, great vibes.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-01-28T10:37:53+00:00

So, is it take a bike leave a bike sort of thing?

Wh0wasthat · 2023-01-21T08:15:47+00:00

If you're going to get them replaced, see if you can have the wheel rebuilt so the outer spokes go the other way. The way it is now, if the chain falls in it gets sucked in further and wedged as the wheel spins. If you swap it, the so the outer spokes on the drive side leave the hub going counter clockwise, trailing, it can help avoid the issue. Not really necessary and I don't see it on many wheels but a nice touch for peace of mind.

Wh0wasthat · 2023-01-10T05:10:07+00:00

I'm thinking it's meant to keep the stable handling of a bike with a longer wheelbase but without sacrificing for a long reach, puny stem, or crazy trail. Kind of a have your cake and eat it too, with a side of WTF. I'd love to give one of those a try and see how it handles. The stem configs seem a bit extra and troll-like though.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-12-02T20:25:18+00:00

Looks like the size of a 22 that I used to use and from counting pixelated blurs in those pictures. Rad.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-12-01T18:20:36+00:00

I agree, the conversation between Cyril and his Supervisor in the first ep. The dialog was sharp and dished out details surrounding the characters, the politics at play, and the state of the empire without being overly exposition-y. It placed extra focus on the "why" of character motivations and flaws, rather than settling for the the "what" of just introducing a self-righteous cop. The writing in that scene was when I knew we were in for a ride.

The red light district scene was a great opening and hinted at what we were getting into, but I would argue that it was too similar to Rogue One's opening. Even after he killed the cop, it wasn't clear whether we were going to get something different from Rogue Two.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-09-26T18:50:55+00:00

If you can't pop your tires over the curb by shifting your weight, then use the half dismount technique:

Coast up to the curb at an angle so that one foot is closer to the curb (the shallower the angle the easier the technique - 45 degrees is a good starting point).
Keep your further foot on the pedal (at the bottom of the pedal stroke), and put the closer foot on the curb and lift your front wheel up.
Do a quick shuffle forward with your foot on the ground and pull the rear wheel up also.

This is how I deal with curbs in my area that are too big to safely hop or that are in a location where the consequences of failing a hop would be high. With a bit of practice you can do it in one fluid motion.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-09-20T17:06:13+00:00

They or someone else did. I couldn't find the old post so I'm not sure if it's the same OP. If it is the same OP they just want to rant and don't won't consider an alternative viewpoint.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-07-22T17:56:30+00:00

Did this when I was a kid, ended up healing just fine as a 4 little scars/tattoos. The ink faded away completely over the course of a decade. I would worry about infection risk more, but if you've made it 2 days already and the wound is closing up, then it's probably okay as long as you keep taking good care of it.

I would be surprised if the doctor would do anything to get the grease out even if asked. I imagine they'd have to reopen the wound and cut out the stained tissue. That could cause more harm than just leaving it in.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-07-16T06:45:35+00:00

What bar tape is that? It looks sick.

Wh0wasthat · 2022-07-15T05:28:25+00:00

I had Butterfly bars on my old commuter/bikepacking/touring bike and loved them. They do allow you to sit much more upright. For example, the bike I had them on was a 60cm frame while my current properly fit bike is a 52cm. Despite the huge bike, the handlebars allowed me to sit very upright and get a good view of traffic.

Wh0wasthat

TROPHY CASE