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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2014 19:10:28 GMT
Evening all
Well I finally took my 3A out. I actually had a pulled hamstring and didn't want to rush it, in case I rode and then couldn't ride again for a while.
Really, it seems like a lovely bike, light and agile. Very different to my old MTB of course and it only needs to see a hairline gap in the rode to catch the jitters.
The part I found weird was braking when I was holding the upright part of the handlebar (sorry, I can't remember what it's called).
I found it difficult to get a good grip on the breaks and also my hand was aching due to not being used to the grip position.
If you have any tips to help me, I'd be really grateful. Is it normal for it to be painful? How many fingers should I be getting on to the brakes? Do you always have at least a finger or two on the brakes?
Thanks a lot
Nick
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Post by Steph on Apr 28, 2014 19:33:01 GMT
Sounds like me when I first started. Firstly, no, you don't always need a finger on the brakes. It took me a few outings to get that. It was a confidence thing with me, I just felt like I needed to be covering the brakes all the time but you really don't. How many fingers really depends on your hands and how you're braking. If you have big/strong hands and/or it's only light braking then you can probably get away with just using 2. Smaller hands, or braking quickly (emergency stop for example) then you'll probably want 3 or 4. Basically whatever feels most comfortable. There is no right or wrong. I'm not certain about the T3A, but I assume you can get the same little rubber inserts that go between the top of the brake lever and hood as you can on the T3. Look very similar to these: www.totalfitnessbath.co.uk/Specialized-Slim-Shim-Brake-Lever-Spacers-2014-p/2136-0100.htm?gclid=CK-UhIr0g74CFUoJwwodyE4A1Q If you didn't get them with the bike then contact Decathlon/take the bike in to the store, they should be happy to give you a pair and also fit them for you. The brakes will probably need a very slight adjustment. They aren't much they do make a difference.
Beyond that it might be other things that need to be changed. It took me a while to get that area of my bike set up correctly. In the end I had to move the levers when I had the bar tape off, and also rotate the bars slightly so the hoods were level rather than sloping down slightly. Rotating is easy and something you can try if none of the above helps but moving the levers is something I'd leave as a last resort as it means re-wrapping your bars.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2014 6:39:04 GMT
Hi @nickthenovice the beauty of a road bike over a mtb is that you so much more freedom on the bar rather than being stuck in one position as on the mtb bars. If you start getting numbness or pain just move your hands on the bars, if you're on the hoods move to the drops and vice versa or you can move to the middle. You should be able to brake from 2 positions, the hoods and the drops. Hoods being preferred as you can put enough pressure on to stop but not enough to go flying over the bars :-). For the "oh crepe I'm going to hit something moments" use the drops. That said if you are going Harry flatters down a decent, I would probably have one finger covering each brake just in case.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 21:11:51 GMT
Thank you both for your excellent advice. I took the bike out again tonight and did around 8 miles. Basically, when I am on anything approaching an upward incline, I am very comfortable.
As soon as I am on anything remotely downhill, it just doesn't feel right. I am finding it is hurting me to brake and I feel I am having to pull too hard (when in the hoods) to actually get the brakes to "work". I had the bike serviced, so I am sure they are okay but I just don't seem very good at getting the bike to stop and this makes me feel uncomfortable when going downhill.
Sorry, I am not explaining this very well!!
I know I cannot hit the brakes hard or I will go over the top but even just being firm with them doesn't seem to stop me. And, as I say, it is hurting me to pull them.
I can't but help think that I am doing something wrong!!
Thanks a lot
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 18:46:15 GMT
How much room is there between the rim and the brake pad?
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Post by baz on May 1, 2014 19:27:37 GMT
The brakes or the pads i dont really know which on the 3a are rubbish nick, if you had another/slightly better bike or calibers/pads you would feel the difference right away, the stock pads are rubbish altho ive switched back to them because the clarks pads ate my rims but have just received swiss stop pads, try some Kool stop pads or other brands (stay away from clarks ) and as ohoward asks is there a lot of distance between the pads and rims? try to keep the pads close enough to the rim without them actually touching it, means you shouldn't have to pull as hard as your doing atm.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 19:40:18 GMT
Slightly off topic baz but I just got the green swissstops and took the old Clarks pads out of the holders and replaced them with the new ones. Reading some of the swissstop reviews, they can be rim eaters too if not cleaned out regularly.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 20:11:52 GMT
Thanks guys. The brakes were serviced by my LBS so I am assuming they are correctly set up. I think they are pretty well as close as they can be to the rims. I phoned Decathlon today and they advised two things. Firstly to move the handlebars. They said I should raise them a little so my wrist is not pointing downwards when I brake. I followed the set up video on their website and have the bars parallel to the frame but he said everyone is different and I should make them a bit more relaxed. He also said the brakes were, well, not very good and recommended I buy some new inserts. I had a look back through this forum and saw these recommended: www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-road-brake-inserts-pack-of-4/ so I have bought them as I was thinking I have nothing to lose. It will certainly be interesting to see if they make a difference. I get them tomorrow so will report back over the weekend. Out of interest, how are your handlebars set up?
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