Mildly Stupid Question

[ninerfan]

I feel like I'm missing something very obvious, perhaps one of you kind folks can help me.

The time had come to replace the brake pads on my front break. My bike is a Trek 1000 wsd. I figured this would be a relatively easy thing to do. So, I bought new break pads and set about installing them. I got them in and then pressed the break release back down- and it won't go, not enough room.

Ok fine, I thought. I had adjusted the breaks a couple of times so my levers remained tight in the months of riding prior. But now I can't get them back to where they should be. I'm not even sure if I am "adjusting" them correctly.

Can anyone explain what I might have been doing wrong? Btw, please be careful with the bike parts terminology you use, I am learning but am still not fluent in "bike."