What's new at sheldonbrown.com
John added photos and a quite a lot of additional information to our page about cables, and the page got too long — so we have split it into two pages. The original cables page now includes more background information — why use cables, the different types, and a video showing how they work. The cable installation page has many new photos, added details, and tricks and tips.
New article about drum brakes — how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, installation, maintenance, safety considerations.
Pages about tandems and tandeming Sheldon Brown and family on home-built tandems[/caption] have been updated. We have more about disc brakes, brake levers, Gates synchronizing belts, and details about upgrading a cheap beach-resort tandem to ride with a child.
A band brake, common in Japan and occasionally seen in the USA, is an inside-out drum brake. Instead of brake shoes which press outward against the inside of a brake drum, a band brake has a flexible band which wraps around the outside of the drum. A band brake is easy to install and adjust, and we show how. While a band brake can be very effective for flatland cycling, it is not good for downhills and should never be used on a front wheel. Read why in our new article.
We have made major additions and updates to our article on locking and securing your bicycle against theft
Sheldonbrown.com makes a point of providing information which is hard to find elsewhere and which will help keep older bicycles working like new — or better. Shimano Parallel-Push V-brakes have a very nice feature in that the brake shoes approach the rim squarely rather than rotating, with the risk of damaging the tire or diving under the rim. Reader Paul Rintoule has kindly sent in information on how to refurbish Shimano parallel-push direct-pull brakes to stop them from squealing, even though Shimano parts kits are getting very hard to find. This information has now been added to our page about direct-pull brakes.
A brake quick release lets you remove and replace a wheel without deflating the tire. Our new video shows how a brake quick release works. The video appears in our article about flat tires, and the glossary.
Our page listing internal-gear-hub cable pulls lengths is now updated to cover the new Sturmey-Archer rotary (pulley) shifting 3-speeds.
We do minor updates on an ongoing basis and often don’t announce them. Latest is to the cribsheet on cable-pull adapters.
