← Back to course
Bike Shop 3-5 / Week 07 / Bike Shop Day
6/6
Week 07 · Brakes

Bike Shop Day

Bike Shop Day: Brake Check
// Friction that stops the wheel
⏱ about 15 min

Bike Shop Day: Brake Check

The whole family gathers in the driveway shop. A grown-up holds the bike steady.

Rocket reads the brake check list out loud. Raven points to the pads.

"What do you notice when the lever is squeezed?" Raven asks.

Nova hovers beside the wheel. "Watch the pads," she says. "Feel the wheel slow."

Everyone gets a turn to look and squeeze.

  1. Brakes add friction, usually on the wheel, to slow and stop the bike.
  2. On a rim brake, the lever pulls a cable, and pads press the rim.
  3. A coaster brake works when you pedal backward.
  4. Water lowers rim brake friction, so wet stops can be longer.
  5. Check the brakes with a grown-up before every ride.
◇ FAMILY BRAKE CHECK
A grown-up holds the bike and walks it forward slowly.
You squeeze one brake lever. Feel the bike slow and stop.
Try the other lever the same way.
Look at each lever. Does it spring back when you let go?
Write what you noticed in your Bike Shop Notebook.
No bike? Roll a toy car along the floor.
Then press a finger gently on its roof to slow it.
Safety first
The grown-up walks the bike. Nobody rides for this check.
Your hands stay on the levers, away from the chain, gears and spokes.
Wash your hands if you touch the chain.
For a grown-up
You hold and move the bike, and you handle any tools.
If a brake feels weak or sticks, fix it before anyone rides.
BrakeDid the bike slow?Did the lever spring back?
right lever
left lever
BRAKE CHECK REVIEW
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Who moves the bike during the family brake check?
The lever is squeezed. What do the pads press on, on a rim brake?
A lever is squeezed, then let go. What should the lever do? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEA good brake lever springs back. A sticking one needs a grown-up's help.

Wonderful teamwork! Next week we learn how a bike should fit and how a helmet should fit.

← Friday