How To Resurface Vintage Bike Rim Brake Tracks - Bicycle Restoration

This is the cherry on top of your bicycle restoration. Nicely finished brake tracks are a small detail that separates a professional looking restoration from a so-so job. If you really want to take your restoration to the next level, check out my video on restoring vintage tires: • How To Restore And Pre...
Links to key products used in the video from Amazon:
Fine Grit Sanding Sponge (320 or finer): amzn.to/40kPZkJ
Isopropyl Alcohol (with handy sprayer): amzn.to/40gSKne
Park Tool WH-1 wheel holder: amzn.to/3tToRgL
Schwalbe Tire Levers (the absolute best): amzn.to/3sjBvVC
This is how I resurface rim brake tracks on vintage bicycles. This process works with any aluminum alloy bicycle rim that is within wear limits. Note that I trued this wheel beforehand.
Bonus content at the 4:40 mark if you want to convert a Schrader valve rim to Presta valve tubes The Right Way.
Why resurface rim brake tracks? There are really only two reasons I can think of:
1. To optimize performance when installing a new set of brake pads.
2. To create a great aesthetic for your bicycle restoration.
Creating a nice fresh surface for brand new pads to bed into isn’t completely necessary, but it does remove old pad material residue and gives the new pads a fresh surface to bite into. Keep in mind that some more deeply grooved brake tracks may need more aggressive grit sanding. Also make sure that the rim you are working with has a safe amount of material left on the rim. If the rim you are working with is so thin that the brake track itself is warped, it's time to replace it.
All of my top level restorations leave the shop with resurfaced brake tracks. Some customers want a bike ready to display, unridden. Others want it ready to thrash, brakes bedded and good to go.
Other products used:
- Isopropyl alcohol (any drug store)
- Paper towels/rags (grocery store)
- Harbor Freight vise and mount (yep, HF)
- Velox rim tape (LBS or web)
- Wheels Mfg Schrader to Presta adapters (Wheels Mfg or LBS)
- Panaracer Dart front tire (LBS or web)
- Liquid Death mountain water (web)
We may receive a small commission from items purchased from the links in this description. This helps us keep creating videos, and we sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you!

[@BSS22193]

Nice work! 👍 The only thing i do different when i put new tires with logo on my Bikes is to line up the logo on the opposite side of the valve stem because i think it looks more professional when the bike hangs on the wall with the valve stem at the bottom of the wheel and the logo on the top of the wheel.

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Good tip!

[@janeblogs324]

If you want to clean them without removing aluminium..... Put your bike in the stand, put green scourer scotcbrites under the pads, rubber band the brake levers and then rotate the rims 20 times

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Nice

[@randalbladel2817]

You will still remove some aluminum.

[@peterkerr803]

Outstanding presentation.

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Thank you kindly!

[@icantgivecredit871]

Does this process help braking effectiveness as well? My rims' braking surfaces seem to be worn over smooth and I'm hoping I can sand back the affected layer. Stopping power at the moment is compromised because it looks like whoever had these wheels back in the day rode the brakes hot.

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Yes. A fresh surface will improve braking performance. I highly recommend new pads at the same time for best results.

[@thenormalberries6767]

Galled up the track on an NOS Araya RM-400 pro rear rim because I’m not good at setting up cantis. Ima try this.

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Take your time with the cantis. This will clean up those rims for sure.👍

[@loukreu]

Great video, thanks!

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Glad you liked it! Thanks

[@Johnny_RB]

Gppd job, good work. 😊

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Thank you 😁

[@oreocarlton3343]

Excellent tips, I wanted to sort out my rims butcwasntcaware of this method, Ill be doing this in the future. Have you noticed any improvements in braking performance after sanding them this way?

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Yeah, with fresh pads. It makes a huge difference. Like bedding in new pads and rotors on a car. Thank you for checking it out!

[@danielklein5574]

The Rim-Tapes Job is to protect the inner Tube from getting punctured by the Nipples right or are there any more uses ? And how necessary is the Rim-Tape when you are „rebuilding“ a Wheel ? Could it be left out ?

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Correct. You definitely need rim tape or a rim strip (or even electrical tape in a pinch), or you risk in inner tube puncture from head side of the nipples. I don’t recommend leaving it out. Thanks!

[@danielklein5574]

@@ReferenceBicycle okay, good to know. Specially when im shortly before rebuilding a Bike myself. Thank you very much and keep up the nice videos

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Thank you!

[@EriebyCycle]

Nice. Any tips to deal with an uneven joint on the brake track?

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Thanks Josh. Unfortunately, I have no tips for fixing wonky rim joints. By the time you either beat on it or try to grind it smoother, the rim is more than likely toast. One of those things you either tolerate or replace.

[@EriebyCycle]

@@ReferenceBicycle Gotcha. Thank you.

[@trekkeruss]

I have successfully used two adjustable wrenches on either side of a pinned joint to align the brake tracks flush.

[@EriebyCycle]

@@trekkeruss good call.

[@peterwillson1355]

Yh but its still going to wear out. Rims are consumables. Cheaper than tyres, too.

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Whoa! Please tell me more about those rims that are cheaper than tires!

[@peterwillson1355]

@ReferenceBicycle You can easily find a rim for £20 to £25. Ryde Sputnik, for example.

[@LavalleeLures]

Thoughts on the panaracers ?

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Personally, I love them. Grippy in most conditions. Great in rocks and loam. Okay on hard pack. The complaint back in the day was that the highly-directional tread on Dart front tires wasn’t great for braking. They don’t work like a modern tire, but I feel like they work quite well to me. Thank you for checking out the video!

[@anonymously241]

What is the top speed? 🚴🏽‍♂️

[@ReferenceBicycle]

;)

[@gregatter831]

Removing material from the braking surface is not something i would want to do, the rim will wear out quicker

[@ReferenceBicycle]

Material is removed from the braking surface every time the brakes are applied. The amount of material this method removes barely impacts rim life beyond normal wear. This is why manufacturers such as Mavic sell their own branded sanding blocks for this purpose. Will it wear out “quicker”? I guess that depends on your definition. Thanks for watching.