Bicycling

IDemo

(16,926 posts) Sat Oct 3, 2015, 04:38 PM Oct 2015

Question on V-brakes

I dug the Giant Boulder SE out of the storage shed this week and am attempting to get it in riding condition. I noticed that on the front brake, there is no kind of retention mechanism for the "noodle" pictured below. It just sits cradled openly in the right-hand brake arm and looks like a good bump could pop it out. Is this normal on a V-brake?

4 replies

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Question on V-brakes (Original Post) IDemo Oct 2015 OP

I have brakes like that on my Trek 7.2 FX. It's not going to pop out. Goblinmonger Oct 2015 #1

Does yours look like the picture you posted? PoliticAverse Oct 2015 #2

No, looks more like the one in the video IDemo Oct 2015 #3

That's what the springs are for jberryhill Oct 2015 #4

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)

1. I have brakes like that on my Trek 7.2 FX. It's not going to pop out.

Reply to IDemo (Original post)

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 04:42 PM

Oct 2015

There is a spring on the outside of the arm that holds everything in pretty tightly. At least I've never had a problem with it. Certainly I don't have a mountain bike, but it's in there pretty solid.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

2. Does yours look like the picture you posted?

Reply to IDemo (Original post)

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 04:44 PM

Oct 2015

The noodle can't pop out because the combination of the springs in the arms and tension in
the cable holds it in. To use the quick release feature you push the top arms together and pull
the noodle back out of the holder until the cable is exposed, the cable can fit
through the narrow slot in the noodle holder.

Here is a nice short closeup video which demonstrates how the noodle is held in and how
to use the quick release feature:

IDemo

(16,926 posts)

3. No, looks more like the one in the video

Reply to PoliticAverse (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 05:02 PM

Oct 2015

Just seems like there would be a clip or something additionally for secure retention, but I guess not.

Thanks!

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

4. That's what the springs are for

Reply to IDemo (Original post)

Mon Oct 5, 2015, 10:39 PM

Oct 2015

The bigger problem is that if you remove your wheels a lot (I often disassemble and reassemble for travel), then you can forget to return the noodle to the cage before setting off again. This can lead to results ranging from amusing, to frightening, to tragic.

Approaching the stop sign at the end of your street is no place to be reminded that you forgot to re-set the brakes.

I always do a quick brake check, first thing, upon mounting the bike.

I do know how you feel, though. I grew up on Mafac center pull brakes:

..and was utterly confounded by what they've done to brakes since I had been away from cycling.

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