What tools will you need?
When carrying out this task, you may need:
A brake pad spacer, brake cleaner, and a microfibre cloth.
To be able to brake effectively on your bike, it's crucial to bed-in your brakes.
The point of bedding-in is to heat up the pads and discs so that they grip each other properly.Before starting the process, clean the discs, replace them if you're changing that brake pads, and make sure you're properly kitted out: A helmet is mandatory and a GPS or cycle computer is recommended.Pick a spot that's calm, flat, and dry.
The bedding-in process means braking gradually several times in a row, at increasing speeds:
To carry out the bedding-in process properly, start by applying the brakes alternately, front and back.Then, do a series of ten gradual braking actions, first at 15 km/h, then at 20 km/h, and lastly at 25 km/h, in each case slowing down to 5 km/h.Between each set, let the discs cool down by riding a short distance without braking.
A few extra tips for bedding-in your brake pads:
When bedding-in your brakes, be gentle with them.Use only one brake at a time to prevent the whole system from overheating, ride on a flat road, and don't brake suddenly.The process can take up to 30 minutes.If the braking becomes less effective or you see rainbow-coloured reflections on your discs, it's more than likely your brake pads are "glazed":consider swinging by the Decathlon workshop