Chris_MdR@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I tried a bike with hydraulic disk brakes (Hayes Sole V6) yesterday
> for the first time, and would appreciate your input on my impressions:
>
> - On the first bike I tried, it was not possible to block the wheel
> with the disk brake. I checked and found that the disk was oily. On
> another bike (same brake) I was able to get the wheel to block, but
> with application of extreme force to the brake handle, MUCH more than
> required by any V brake I ever tried.
>
> Question: Are Hydraulic Brakes really weaker than V brakes, or was this
> bike just assembled by monkeys?
My guess is that monkeys are to blame. I recently rode a couple of
bikes with hydraulic brakes. You should have a very solid feel to the
lever. You should be getting a lot of braking for a light touch on the
lever. I could get plenty fo braking power with just two fingers on
teh brake. I have relatively weak hands, so that says alot about the
braking power. I was very tempted to run with one finger on the brake.
> - I noticed that the hydraulic disc brakes have a much 'spongier' feel
> than the cable actuated V brakes.
This is a clear indication that something was wrong. Hydraulic brakes
should feel
very solid and hard. Spongy probably means air in the sytem.
>This I guess was related to the
> hydraulic hose / brake line expanding under pressure, because it was ok
> on the front brake (1/2 of the brake lever way until full braking), and
> not acceptable no the rear brake (had to pull the brake lever almost up
> to the handle bar to get full breaking power)
Air is the most likely culprit, not the hose.
> - After playing with the brakes for a few minutes, I noticed that the
> discs get noticeably warm, around 170F. Are there ever heating issues
> with disc brakes on longer downhill segments? Seems a stupid question,
> but they did get quite warm just by playing around on level ground for
> about ten minutes.
Brakes are supposed to get hot. That's how they work. They turn
kinetic energy into heat.
> So monkeys or Neanderthals are definitely a possibility in that store.
> But the bike is on sale, so I might still buy there. Uh. Uh. Uh. I
factor a new rotor and pads into the price discount.
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