How to Adjust Mountain Bike Brakes

Video Transcript

Hi, my name is Debbie, and this clip will be about minor brake and gear adjustments on the trail. Most bike have the brakes and gearing controlled by cables, and sometimes those cables will stretch out while riding and you may need to make an adjustment. On the front of your bike are barrel adjusters for your brakes. The left one is for the front. If you have cable brakes, you can hold the cable, turn the barrel adjuster, and you can feel whether or not you are tightening or loosening the cables. So put your hand on the barrel adjusters and turn one way or the other till you feel which way is tightening, and tighten you cable ever so slightly. Make sure to check and make sure that you’re not tightening it too much. It’s the same idea for your gearing. This bike has cables, this cable goes to this housing. I can hold the cable, and if I’m having trouble shifting I can turn it one way or the other and feel it tightening. Tightening will generally improve you shifting if you’re having trouble shifting on the trail. You don’t want to tighten too much, half a turn or a quarter of a turn is generally all you’ll need, but by placing your hand on the cable, you can feel the tension changing so you have an idea of what you’re doing. There’s also for a rear derailleur a barrel adjuster here on the rear derailleur, often protected by a cover. This does the same thing. If you are having trouble with the chain staying in the right place at the back, you can make minor adjustments by turning this barrel adjuster one way or the other. Just be careful and make your changes in small increments and you’ll have a safer trail ride.

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