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Bike Shop 3-5 / Week 07 / Friday
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Week 07 · Brakes

Friday

Brakes must work every ride
// Friction that stops the wheel
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: Brakes Must Work Every Ride

Rocket pulls the shop bike off the rack. "Ready to ride!" he shouts.

Raven holds up a hand. "Wait. What do you notice about the back brake lever?"

Rocket squeezes it. It feels floppy and slow to spring back.

Nova blinks. "A good check finds problems before a ride," she says. "Who should look at it?"

"A grown-up!" says Rocket. "Thanks for slowing me down."

Check brakes before riding

Brakes must work well every ride.

With a grown-up, check that the brakes work and are not sticking.

A sticking brake does not let go the way it should.

Keep both hands ready to brake when you ride.

If a brake seems wrong, do not ride. Tell a grown-up.

  1. A grown-up holds the bike standing still.
  2. Look: are the pads near the rim?
  3. Squeeze one lever. Does it feel firm?
  4. Let go. Does the lever spring back?
  5. Do the same with the other lever.
  6. Tell a grown-up about anything that seems wrong.
For a grown-up
You handle any brake adjustment or tool. Kids look, squeeze and report.
If a brake needs work, fix it before anyone rides, or ask a bike mechanic.
Safety first
The bike stays still while you squeeze the levers.
Hands stay away from the chain, gears and spokes.
No bike? Practice the steps with a picture.

Keep the wheel rolling a little

A museum scientist explains a braking trick.

If the wheel stops spinning and skids, steering gets hard.

So riders squeeze firmly but smoothly.

Then the wheel keeps rolling a little, and the rider can steer.

GOOD BRAKE HABITS
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A brake lever feels floppy. What should you do?
Why keep the wheel rolling a little while braking?
BRAKE CHECK ORDER
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
Week checkTrue or false?
Brakes slow a wheel with friction.?
The lever pulls a cable on a rim brake.?
Water on the rim makes more friction.?
A coaster brake works by pedaling backward.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEBrakes need friction, and water lowers it.
What force do all brakes use to slow a wheel?
WHY THIS EXERCISEAll brakes add friction to slow the wheel.
In your Bike Shop Notebook, draw a brake lever. Add a sign that says check me first.

Brake experts! Tomorrow is Bike Shop Day. Your family will check brakes together.

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