Today I spotted that my rear bike brakes were no longer able to completely lock the wheel under load, which is not a safe state of affairs. When roads are wet and slippery, braking too hard is also dangerous but it is important to be able to control progressive braking with the levers rather than not to have much braking power at all.

Fortunately the design of modern brakes makes them pretty easy to replace and I had a spare pair ready and waiting so I fixed the problem this lunchtime, which should see me safely down the steep hill on Barracks Lane I’ve got to descend for a meeting in town tomorrow!