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'Make sure you carry all the tools, and a pannierful of patience' – Disc brakes are great, aren't they? Except when they're not

Forget the puncture fairy – the disc brake fairy is here, and he's one mean bastard

'Make sure you carry all the tools, and a pannierful of patience' – Disc brakes are great, aren't they? Except when they're not

Disc brakes have their advantages, but they can also be a source of frustration when they malfunction. During a recent cycling trip around the coast of Kent, England, the author experienced a rear brake problem that significantly impacted their journey. The rear brake began to drag heavily midway through the second day, and despite attempts to fix it, the issue persisted.

As a result, the author spent a considerable amount of time trying to resolve the problem, with limited success. The author advises that riders should ensure their hydraulic disc brakes are in perfect working order before embarking on long rides, as even minor issues can cause significant delays and frustration. The author's experience serves as a cautionary tale for cyclists who may be tempted to neglect regular brake maintenance.

Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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