RavenShield Posted February 11, 2012 Posted February 11, 2012 Hi guys and girls, so today i got my first proper MTB (Giant Trance x1). Rode it around the block but it seemed to be harder than it should be to pedal. When home i picked up the bike and spun the wheels and saw that both front and rear only makes about 1 - 1.5 revolutions before coming to a standstil. Is that normal?? I dont think its normal, looks to me like the brakes are not releasing enough to let the wheel spin freely. How can i fix this?? Please help as i am not so clued up with MTB!
Johan Bornman Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Your post doesn't say if this is a new or 2nd hand bike so I assume the latter. It could be loads of things, worn pads but at a rough guess, I'd say you probably just need to bleed....the brakes. The quickest way to learn is to read... That or take the bike to your nearest LBS and watch.Very poor advice this. The symptoms described don't require brake bleeding. Brake bleeding is not the panacea for all brake-related ills. OP - you need to give us much more info on this. If the wheels turn by themselves for 1 1/2 revs after being spun and you find it hard to pedal, you will have to adjust your perceptions of what is hard and what is easy. No binding brake will let the wheel spin that much.
Actionman Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Very poor advice this. The symptoms described don't require brake bleeding. Brake bleeding is not the panacea for all brake-related ills. OP - you need to give us much more info on this. If the wheels turn by themselves for 1 1/2 revs after being spun and you find it hard to pedal, you will have to adjust your perceptions of what is hard and what is easy. No binding brake will let the wheel spin that much. Sorry lads, that's exactly what I went through in the last couple weeks, bled the brakes and it solved MY problem.
RavenShield Posted February 12, 2012 Author Posted February 12, 2012 Ok, it is a second hand bike. Let me ask this, if the wheels are in the air and you give them a spin as hard as you can, how many revs should they make before coming to a standstil, if everything is 100%
rUpton Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) ' how many revs should they make before coming to a standstil ' You should become bored counting the revs. Edited February 12, 2012 by rUpton
Tumbleweed Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 ' how many revs should they make before coming to a standstil ' You should become bored counting the revs. Hahahaha! Could be that the pistons pushed out while the wheels were off, or maybe the calipers are not set properly. As it's second-hand, I'd take it to the LBS for a once-over. Enjoy the new ride.
Dicky DQ Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) Disk brakes, rim brakes? if they are binding you will see or hear it. With rim brakes you can release the cable/calipers and spin the wheel and see if there is a difference. With Disk brakes you can normally look down at the caliper and see if the pads are rubbing. I know mine rub a bit sometimes as one of the pistons don't always retract right away. Remember MTB feels and just is waaaay harder than a road bike. 30kmph on a road bile with the same effort on an MTB will prolly be about 23-4kmph on MTB for the same route if you are lucky. Edited February 12, 2012 by Dick
Capricorn Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 ' how many revs should they make before coming to a standstil ' You should become bored counting the revs. hahahah what a winning first post. You should be loads of fun
Big H* Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Undo the quick release, remove the wheels, hold them by the axles and let somebody spin the wheel for you. If still the same your wheel bearing may be shot or need a service and proper adlustment. Put the wheels back properly. Make sure the axles seat properly in the dropoutes. Close the quick release. Finger tighten the retaining nut. Release the QR and tighten the nut one turn. The QR should close with a some difficulty. If not readjust untill it does, not too much and not not too hard. If it is not the wheels let us know.
covie Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 tyre is propably not seated correctle or the brake calipers arent aligend properly. reseat the wheels properly and then have a go.
Crash Gordon Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Hi guys and girls, so today i got my first proper MTB (Giant Trance x1). Rode it around the block but it seemed to be harder than it should be to pedal. When home i picked up the bike and spun the wheels and saw that both front and rear only makes about 1 - 1.5 revolutions before coming to a standstil. Is that normal?? I dont think its normal, looks to me like the brakes are not releasing enough to let the wheel spin freely. How can i fix this?? Please help as i am not so clued up with MTB!Get your first PROPER mtb. Sell the Giant and get a Commencal or a Merida or a Kona. They're proper bikes.... If not, take it to you Local Bike Shop and ask them to have a look. Easier still, have a look yourself. The advice Eccentric has given will help you figure out whether your bearings in the hubs are shot or if the brakes are binding. How big was the old owners legs? Maybe he didn't care if they were buggered or not and it made him strong Either way, I still see a trip to the bike shop on the cards
Big H* Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Get your first PROPER mtb. Sell the Giant and get a Commencal or a Merida or a Kona. They're proper bikes.... If not, take it to you Local Bike Shop and ask them to have a look. Easier still, have a look yourself. The advice Eccentric has given will help you figure out whether your bearings in the hubs are shot or if the brakes are binding. How big was the old owners legs? Maybe he didn't care if they were buggered or not and it made him strong Either way, I still see a trip to the bike shop on the cards Not nice shooting his first bike down. Your choices are not much more spectacular and are made in the factory right net to the Giant factoy.
The Drongo Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Get your first PROPER mtb. Sell the Giant waffle waffle waffle.... If not, take it to you Local Bike Shop and ask them to have a look. waffle waffle waffle Either way, I still see a trip ..... Indeed, Who Needs Drugs, when we have you around mate?? Stunning advice. Here's mine. Stick with your day job.
RavenShield Posted February 12, 2012 Author Posted February 12, 2012 No worries! I fixed it! took off the calipers, pressed back pistons and pads, put the caliper back on, pulled the brake lever so the caliper can center itself over the disc, tightned the calipers and bob's your uncle!! Now i get bored counting the revs if i spin it!! No trip to the LBS needed, and btw, my LBS is 120km away...
Mojoman Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 No worries! I fixed it! took off the calipers, pressed back pistons and pads, put the caliper back on, pulled the brake lever so the caliper can center itself over the disc, tightned the calipers and bob's your uncle!! Now i get bored counting the revs if i spin it!! No trip to the LBS needed, and btw, my LBS is 120km away...Should be plenty of mountains for you in Vryheid, I started riding a mountain bike when I lived and worked in Utrecht. Not much else to do!
covie Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 Get your first PROPER mtb. Sell the Giant and get a Commencal or a Merida or a Kona. They're proper bikes.... If not, take it to you Local Bike Shop and ask them to have a look. Easier still, have a look yourself. The advice Eccentric has given will help you figure out whether your bearings in the hubs are shot or if the brakes are binding. How big was the old owners legs? Maybe he didn't care if they were buggered or not and it made him strong Either way, I still see a trip to the bike shop on the cards Lol, poor chap if he has seen any review by the major players that puts merida or a kona ahead of a Giant he should go revisit his pshycologist, especially the Trance got bike of the year three years in a row by one of the best known magazines in the world for trail bikes, not only for its reliability and awesome ride but for its pricetag which is not utterly ridiculous. And commencial is known for their downhill bikes not their trail rides. So OP many happy miles you have a gorgious bike and she will give you a million happy miles.
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