| Mountain bike parts are an essential part of | | | | Caliper brakes clamp down on the outer rim of a |
| responsible bike ownership, but you would be | | | | wheel. They sit just under the tread bead, where the |
| surprised at how many recreational bikers don't know | | | | tread meets the rim. They are set an eighth of an |
| their way around a bike. The brakes are a mystery | | | | inch or less from the surface of the rim, which is |
| to them, when in reality the brakes are pretty | | | | narrower than the tire tread. So in order to remove |
| foundational to the most common repair you'll have | | | | the tire, you have to unlatch the brakes. Most caliper |
| to perform on a bike: tire replacement. | | | | brakes feature a simple cord attachment between |
| Any biker who knows what they are about packs a | | | | the bottom of the front shock and the top of the |
| couple spare tubes along when they hit the trail. This | | | | tire tread; which allows you to release the brakes |
| is because blowing a tire isn't an indication of failure | | | | without having to adjust the posts behind the |
| on the rider's part, or even of the equipment. Blowing | | | | calipers. |
| tires happens while mountain biking; and it's the | | | | Adjusting the calipers themselves requires other |
| reason that spare tubes are the most common | | | | mountain bike parts and tools, such as a wrench. The |
| mountain bike parts in a biker's pack. But in order to | | | | posts are generally held in place with a simple clamp |
| change a flat, you have to be able to remove a tire, | | | | that can be loosened or tightened via a nut. Disc |
| and removing a tire requires tampering with your | | | | brakes on the other hand are located at the center |
| bike's brakes. The most common form of brakes | | | | of a wheel, and have larger stopping power. They |
| used to be caliper brakes, but disc brakes have been | | | | perform better under wet conditions, and since they |
| gaining popularity, both for their superior stopping | | | | are located away from the edge of the wheel that |
| power, ease of use, and durability. On a high end | | | | contacts the ground, they are less likely to become |
| bike, the choice becomes a personal one, though | | | | soiled. They last longer than caliper brakes as well, |
| many enthusiasts leap at the added control afforded | | | | but they can be tricky to disengage. More on how to |
| them by disk brakes. | | | | change a tire with disc brakes in my next installment! |