Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


Weak hand strenth
#1
My son has a very weak grip in his hands and is having difficulty stopping his new bike.

His bike has disk brakes, can you suggest a solution or give a guide on how to adjust the levers to help improve the power on braking.

At the moment he is afraid to ride his new bike in case he hits something.

Any help or advice would be welcome.
  Reply
#2
(05-17-2010, 09:01 AM)datastuff Wrote:  My son has a very weak grip in his hands and is having difficulty stopping his new bike.

His bike has disk brakes, can you suggest a solution or give a guide on how to adjust the levers to help improve the power on braking.

At the moment he is afraid to ride his new bike in case he hits something.

Any help or advice would be welcome.

Wandering if you watched this video, http://bikeride.com/childs-hand-brake/ . If so let us know.
Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Reply
#3
I assume they're cable brakes rather than hydros; lubricate the cables a fair bit, that makes a huge difference with cable brakes.

Do this in addition to Bill's posted video and it should be fine:
http://bikeride.com/lube-brake-shift-cables/
  Reply
#4
Just bought a bike myself...Have been having other issues with my disc brakes.

Anyway have you tried to adjust them?... Adjusting won't change the grip strength needed but may allow you to move the grip strength to a better position. For example I prefer to have my brakes to have some "dead space" in the lever as I first grab it so that I have (in my opinion) better control of the brakes. I could move this in or out as I desire. If you move it too close to the handle there is a chance you could eventually bottom out on the handle bar as the brakes wear if you don't adjust them regularly or as you notice it.

I can't remember what adjustment I made to do that but shouldn't be hard to replicate if you think this would help I could go try it...
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Bike lines @San Diego
Today 10:05 AM
The great thing about trikes
Today 09:58 AM
Pros and cons of hydraulic brakes
Today 05:18 AM
Pros & Cons of presta valve vs schrader ...
Today 01:19 AM
Peak Power - how to calculate
Yesterday 12:39 PM
Biking with helmet laws
Yesterday 09:56 AM
Velotric Nomad battery - does anyone els...
07-19-2025 04:57 AM
New rider — happy to be here
07-17-2025 10:47 PM
Best bike for tall and big rider
07-17-2025 09:43 AM
Continued learnings from bikepacking
07-17-2025 03:12 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. GirishH
30 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
19 posts
no avatar 3. rydabent
16 posts
no avatar 4. meamoantonio
15 posts
no avatar 5. enkei
15 posts