Picture yourself riding your head turning new bike down the road. It's a warm summers day and people can't help but notice what a sexy looking bike you have. As you pull up to an intersection an almighty screech pierces the relative quiet and everyone turns to see who is making that god awful noise. You can feel the angry stares, your face turns crimson red and you wish the earth would swallow you whole.
Unfortunately, this is an all too common problem for a lot of riders. But it doesn't have to be this way and you don't have to pay crazy money to get it fixed at a bike repair shop. You just need to treat the source of the noise.
How can you quieten down the screeching brakes?
The most important kit in your armoury is a disc brake cleaner spray. This is then applied to the rotor, caliper and disc brake pads. The four steps are outlined below:
- Shake the can to activate the formula
- Apply to entire brake area so pads and discs are treated
- Allow disc brake cleaner to evaporate
- Wipe away any excess with a clean microfibre cloth
It is easier when the bike is on a stand so that you can apply the spray at a comfortable height but this isn't necessary.
If you find that the brakes still screech after the first attempt, you may need to apply one or two more times before the noise is reduced to your satisfaction.
For ebike riders with hub motors just be careful not to spray it on the hub motor. Any excess spray should be wiped away immediately.
Follow this simple maintenance tip and you should no longer have to nurse your bike to a stop or worry about whether you will become the wrath of your neighbourhood. It's also important to reapply regularly if you are riding a lot or if the noise returns.
The below video provides a short guide on how to apply the brake cleaner: