Felt Bicycle - Adjusting the Braking Response with Road, Triathlon and Cyclocross Bikes; Adjusting the Tilt of the Handlebars and Brake Levers with Road Triathlon and Cyclocross Bikes

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Adjusting the braking response with road, triathlon and cyclocross bikes
Riders with small hands should check the lever position at the point the brake pads
have first contact with the rim. This distance should be adjusted by the FELT dealer
to the length of the rider’s fingers directly when buying the bike. This adjustment is
made with the clamping bolt directly at the brake (a). The knurled knob or nut you
will find there is only to readjust the brake, if the brake pads wear out.
Be sure to check whether there is still enough slack for the brake levers to move
a little before the brake pads hit the rim (b). Check the point, front and rear, at
which the brake pads touch the rims. If this point is reached after the lever has only
travelled a short distance, you will have to readjust the brakes (see the chapter
“The brake system“). Otherwise the brakes could rub on the rim if you ride out
of the saddle.
You should not be able to pull the brake levers all the way to the handle-
bars. Your maximum brake force should be reached before this point!
Shimano offers Dual Control levers which match small hands. If you have
problems reaching the brake lever, ask your FELT dealer.
With the SRAM Red group the lever position is adjustable. Ask your FELT
dealer for help.
ii
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Adjusting the tilt of the handlebars and brake levers with road,
triathlon and cyclocross bikes
Road handlebars
With road bikes, the straight extension below the drops should be parallel to the
ground or slant slightly downwards towards the rear (c). The tips of the brake
levers should coincide with an imaginary straight line extending forward from
the bar ends. Shifting the brake levers is a job best left to your FELT dealer, as it
involves retaping the handlebars afterwards.
To adjust the tilt of the handlebars, release the Allen bolt(s) on the underside or front
of the stem. Turn the handlebars to the desired position. Make sure the handlebars
are accurately centred in the stem.
Now carefully tighten the bolt(s) with a torque wrench. Try twisting the handlebars
inside the stem and tighten the bolt a little more, if necessary (d). Retighten the
bolts, if necessary.
Note that the bolted connections of the stem and handlebars have to be
tightened to the specified torques. You will find the prescribed values in
chapter “Recommended torques for bolted connections“, in the enclosed
manuals or on the components.
a b c d