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bicycle brakes, rim brakes or disk brakes

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What will be the choice for your type of brakes? Bicycle brake systems are used to slow down your bicycle. There have been various types through history, and several are still in use today. The most used type of brakes are rim brakes and disc brakes.

Rim brakes

A rim brake puts force on the rim of the bicycle in order to slow the speed down. The brake is used by hand at the handlebars while a friction pad contacts the rim. It is mostly this pad, usually made of rubber, that needs attention (with of course lubricating the brake system)

There have been several different types of brakes in use:

• Rod-actuated brakes
• Single pivot side-pull caliper brakes
• Centre-pull caliper brakes
• Dual-pivot caliper brakes
• Cantilever, direct-pull, and linear-pull brakes
• Linear-pull brakes (or "V-brakes")

It goes beyond the scope of this website to go into the history of the different brakes. Many of the mountain bikes these days use Linear-pull brakes or V-brakes.

The V-brake system is easy to adjust which makes this type so useful on your journey. The V-brake system works well with the suspension systems too because they do not require a separate cable stop on the frame or fork. Due to their higher mechanical advantage, linear-pull brakes require levers with longer cable travel than levers intended for caliper brakes or traditional cantilever brakes.

Most of the new mountain bikes, if using a rim brake, will have a V-brake.

While being on the road, you will most likely have to change the brake pads. This is easy. Remove the safety pin, remove the old pad and slide the new pad in. Add the safety pad.

Advantages and disadvantages of rim brakes

There are many advantages of rim brakes, especially for touring. Rim brakes are cheap, light, mechanically simple and thus easy to maintain. Most of all, they are very strong. The big disadvantage is that in wet weather conditions they do not perform too good. With aluminium rims this is less a problem. Another problem is that mud easily clogs around the brake and in between the brake pad and the rim. This was in my case especially problem when I cycled in Guizhou China on bad roads in the rainy season. Every few kilometers I had to clean the brakes with water from the padifields.

Of course you will have your maintenance. Brake pads wear easy out, even the good quality pads so bring always a few spare sets. The rim will wear out, so it does have an effect on the lifetime of your rim too. This is a problem that can easily happen if you do a lot of mountain rides or heavy off road cycling where you use your brakes extensively.

Cables need lubrication regularly and need regular replacement (bring some). I have had the trouble that cables break. Yes, it does occasionally happen.

Your rim needs to be as straight as possible. If not, using the brake causes wobbles, very unhandy when you come down a mountain.

Because of the friction between the rim pad and the rim, heat is produced. When using the brakes, make it a habit not to use them constant but in phases. This let the heat flow into the air. However, on heavily-laden touring bikes and tandems in mountainous regions, the heat build-up can increase tire pressure so much that the tire blows off the rim. If this happens on the front wheel, a serious accident is almost inevitable. The problem is worse when descending cautiously at slow speeds because the brakes are "always on" and the cooling airflow over the rim is insufficient. The risk can be reduced by not over-inflating tires and adopting an aggressive riding style, only braking for the corners. Use your brakes wisely.

Disc brakes

Disc brakes consist of a metal disc which is attached to the wheel hub. The technique is used for a long time in motorcycles. The last few years disc brakes became cheaper and lighter and became standard on many bicycle types. Still, they are heavier then rim brakes and require more maintenance.

Disc brakes are in general better in use the rim brakes, especially in wet weather/road conditions. However, using a disc brake requires stronger spokes as the force of using the brake is partly put on the spokes. Not many touring bikes have yet such a brake system but should you decide to use disc brakes, you will need also specialized pannier racks.

Braking technique

How to use your brakes without bringing yourself and other users on the road in danger? The front brake is always stronger then the back. This can cause problems in case your need an emergency stop or if the brake is too tight.

The most common used technique is the 25-75 technique. In this method you use 75% of the stopping power on the front wheel and 25% on the rear wheel. It works very efficient. However, in wet weather the front wheel needs to be used more as there is less traction on the rear wheel.

And that can generate another problem. Too much traction on the front wheel can make you flip over the handlebars with whatever consequences. The best way to avoid problems is simply to use your break never 100%, slow down steadily while losing the grip on the brake every once in a while (like pumping).

When do you use the rear brake more then the front? If the road surface is slippery, wet, bumpy or loose. If you get flat on the front wheel, you will automatically use the rear more as the tire can come loose of the wheel.

Bicycle brakes auction

Bicycle brakes can be as cheap and expensive as you wish, depending on what type of brake you are using.

• Find our today's bicycle auction here

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