New bike and newbie biker

jon.giddy
jon.giddy Posts: 8
in MTB beginners
Hi all

I’ve ordered a new mountain bike (voodoo bantu) and can’t wait to get out on it,I pick it up on the 22nd of April.
What’s the first thing I should be doing in regards to the bike?
I keep hearing that I’ve got to bed the brake pads in and also bleed the brakes,this is all new to me as my last bike had brake blockes and I never had to do anything to it,it was a old muddy fox.
It all sounds a bit daunting,I don’t want to do something wrong and cause any damage.

Thanks

Comments

  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    Hi

    Yes I’m picking it up from the store so I’ll give it a check like you said,
    The brake bedding doesn’t sound that complicated then😂
    Think someone was winding me up.
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    Let YouTube be your friend. For example:

    Bedding in your brake pads
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWQxGzHQZVU

    Setting up your suspension
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhnKTZu2AKs&t=51s
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    Cheers
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    Didn’t realise I’d have to set the forks either,but that videos pretty good.
    The muddy fox had none of that,I’m starting to think it wasn’t even a mountain bike 😂
    As long as I can’t do any major damage to the bike,it should be all good.
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    I’ve just watched a video on YouTube on how to bed in your brake pads on the GMBN channel and it’s a lot different from the one posted on here,the GMBN video says brake sharply a number of times,does it matter which one you do?
  • Darius_Jedburgh
    Darius_Jedburgh Posts: 675
    Bedding in brakes is one of those things that cyclists must do. Absolutely must. If not you will die. It will be a worse death than being treated (left on a trolley) with Corona virus.

    It matters not that you don't have to bed in brakes made of similar material on a car or motor bike. Bikes are far more powerful and are just lethal if correct procedures are not followed.

    Brakes are only fully bedded in when you have slammed them on frequently enough to get pad depth down to 0.5mm. Then you have to replace them and start the bedding in all over again.

    You may occasionally find time to ride your bike, but be very, very carefull.
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    😂right I get it
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,715
    Ignore Frank, he's an idiot.

    When bedding in brakes, I tend to start with something similar to the Park Tool method (partly because at first your brakes will have no power), but as they start to come in I increase the brake force. I bed the front in until I can start to lift the rear wheel with one finger braking and not too much effort. The rear is a bit harder to work out when it's done because it locks more easily, but is also a bit less crucial.
  • Darius_Jedburgh
    Darius_Jedburgh Posts: 675
    Ignore whyamihere. He's just wearing blinkers.
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    Sound
    Don’t mind a bit of banter especially with what’s going on out there👍
  • jon.giddy
    jon.giddy Posts: 8
    Another quick question do I need a shock pump for my forks they are
    Suntour XCM DS HLO 120mm
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    No, its a coil fork with a pre load adjuster.
    https://www.srsuntour.com/products/fork/XCM-5868.html

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