Adjusting brakes of S works (built in) Venge Vias

Wheels of Happiness

Due to wear and tear and passage of time, the brakes of S works Venge Vias have become weak.  No amount of barrel adjustment would make it work.  

I thought over what could be wrong.  ?   The cables may have stretched and the limit of the brake line  barrel adjuster was reached.   So I removed the wheels, adjusted the cable of the brakes (about 2 mm tighter) and barreled down the barrel adjuster to the max.  So that when I turn it counter clockwise, there is a lot of travel for the adjuster to tighten the cable.

Solved.  Saved P200.00 pf for the bike mechanics

Investing in good braking system

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

7.12.2021

While a famous TDF champion said that "when you brake you do not win" it does not mean we should

be able to brake safely

In Mahabang Parang, a rider overshot the dog leg and nearly fell into the ravine (and died probably)

In Tanay, a container van lost brakes hit several motorists and caused several posts to fall

I noticed that in a cycling group, the members do not mind if they bike and have defective or non functioning brakes.  They will invest in something that will beautify them, but not in brakes.  

Every rider must think of his/her safety above all others  and therefore must mind his/her brakes

Fixing my S works Venge Vias

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
July 15, 2019



I have not used  my Venge Vias S works bike shod with Cosmic wheel set Kenda tires, SRAM red groupset (which is light)  for a while  More than a year  Because 1. The bike is not that strong  it feels
vague compared to Shimno brakes (VV has built in V brakes)  2.  There is a clanking noise at the rear chain stay which is rather annoying.   I bought this bike from a Globe Electronic Engineer from Batangas who used the money to buy a Bianchi    Nakatawad ng mga P12,000 sa original buying price niya sa BN.  Now I know why. he disposed. it. Because of the internal brake cables at the handlebar and steerer, the cables are likely to get kinks and not function well....  He was obviously troubled by the braking efficiency.... The external bikes and external cabling works better.

When the bike news featured again the bike of Peter Sagan, a Venge S works, I decided I must bring out my S works again.  First I had to do something with the brakes   Many mechanics from the area, including the  Cainta area.   Some hope from #Dante of Lifecycle at Greenhills, Mechanics of Jay  Gotangco at Calumpang, and Jun of Christy's.

As stop gap measures:

1.  I adjusted the front brake adjustment so that the pads are closer.  It worked. Lumakas na preno. Sa
    rear, hinatak ko ang cable much tighter para mas dikit ang pads to brake line.  It worked too.  Maybe
    the brake efficiency is now 75% instead of 50% before.

2. As for the unwanted sound at the rear stays:  

   1.  I cut a plastic tube  about 3/8 in diameter  2 inches long  into two wrappped the  RD cable entry into            the rear stay so that it is not loose;

   2.  From the BB side, I cut a length of the same plastic tube wrapped the metal spaghetti cable of teh
       RD cable so that the clanking against the tube could be dampened.  Nabawasan na kalampag.

So you see, you do not have to bring all your problems to the mechanic or hope for a high cost solution like bringing the bike to Missing Link or Bikezilla (where the repairs may cost me a thousand)

I am happy now with my S works bike.  Naitravel ko na nang Morong.    Maasahan na

Direct mount brakes - a new development

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 18, 2018

A new knowledge was acquired in connnection with an OEM bike project I have (Bianchi x4).  It is to be fitted with a direct mount brake.  Research research.    Canvass

I saw one in Olx for Ultegra 6810.   For P4,500 others are selling for P6,000.  So punta na lang ako sa meet up.

This is the latest for T de F, and other newer bikes. There are two bolts that attach to the front fork, rear seat stay (for Bianchi) or underneath the chain stay for some model.   It is supposed to be more aerodynamic, since it is attached closer to the body of the bike, less dirty air, and lighter.  Braking would seem to more sure because of stronger fitment (two bolts vs one in current model)  Some mechanics still are not familiar.  So let us the user be familiar first.

Some mechanical issues in my Ambuklao loop ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 16, 2016

I had some concerns about the mechanical fitness of my bike yesterday.  But discounting them (which are minor) I love more my bike, and that should make more attentive to some of the issues with MTB:

1. Its front wheel tire orientation relative to rotation direction is wrong.

2. The cleats mechanism. I could  not engage or disengage fast after we passed the dirty, dusty road between Halsema and Ambuklao dam

3.  I lost brakes at the rear. It happened too to Long and Dino.  Too much heat degrade the mineral oil and cause the expansion of the brake lines containing the hydraulic fluid. To avoid this, some mods have to be made on brake lines:   SS or braided lines at least near the chain stay to avoid this thermal expansion of the brake lines.

4.  Suspension and tire pressure:  I was challenged at the dirt off road section of the provincial highway (17 km) because of two things:

    1.  The recommended tire pressure is 40 psi. for off road   Mine was at 65 psi.  I had no gauge so I could not estimate the right pressure, I wanted to be conservative as in road bike, we prefer to have  tire pressure of 100 psi to avoid flats

   2. I had the suspension adjustment wrongly set at lock, and not at soft setting

  This caused me to have jarring jack hammer like ride that even caused the flashlight and seat mount to loosen.  I braked frequently and moved slowly and was left behind by 2 to 3 minutes.  The MMS rider were kind enough to wait for me.

Well it takes a lot of practice and maybe crashes.  But Dino advised that to avoid the jarring vibrating ride aside from having  rough ride, he advised me to ride fast so that the bumps look some 25 ft ahead to see obstacles.  Once it is 10 ft or less, you are committed and dont panic if you make a mistake. Just Go go. Bumps, berms, rocks  are evened out (that is the reason why we have 29 tires for the rough x country ride\  I have to work on my techniques too.  I must not do this where there are cliffs and passing vehicles

I learned my lesson and I will do better next time