| Bike Brakes Guide Your bicycle's brakes are its main | | | | Side pull |
| safety feature. They help control your speed and stop | | | | Side pull brakes have a single cable running down the |
| when you are ready to stop. There are many types | | | | side of the caliper and work similarly to linear pull in that |
| of bike brakes for different applications. They all have | | | | the housing and cable work together to actuate the |
| advantages and disadvantages depending on use. | | | | brake arms. The big difference between linear pull and |
| There are brakes designed best for road bikes and | | | | side pull is that side pull calipers have both arms on |
| some that work best on a mountain bike. There are | | | | both sides of the caliper and pivot around the anchor |
| different styles of rim brakes that apply stopping | | | | bolt. |
| power to the rim and different types of hub brakes | | | | Mounting style |
| that apply stopping power to the hub area of your | | | | The manner in which a rim bike brake is attached to a |
| wheel. We'll break all of this down for you in a way | | | | bicycle frame and the way that the brake functions is |
| that is as easy as possible to understand. | | | | the other key defining characteristic. |
| Brake | | | | Cantilever brake |
| Brakes are the component of the braking system that | | | | Cantilevers are characterized by two separate brake |
| actuate the brake pads and directly apply stopping | | | | arms that pivot around two separate bolts mounted |
| power to either the rim or the hub of a bicycle wheel. | | | | into the frame on opposite sides of the wheel. The |
| Brake pads | | | | two styles are standard cantilevers with bent arms |
| Brake pads are pressed to the rim or disc to apply | | | | and a center pull straddle cable, and Shimano's |
| stopping power. They are made of many different | | | | patented V-brake style with straight arms and a linear |
| compounds for different applications. Each style of | | | | pull cable. |
| brake has a specific style of pad that will work | | | | V-brake |
| properly with that brake. Some pads have cross | | | | Shimano developed a straight arm cantilever that is |
| compatibility and can be used for multiple platforms, | | | | actuated from a linear pulled cable. This system offers |
| mainly cantilever and V-brakes. It is important to check | | | | more mechanical advantage than traditional cantilevers |
| brake pad wear and alignment to ensure safe riding. | | | | requiring a brake lever that applies less advantage. |
| Brake levers | | | | Caliper |
| Brake levers actuate the caliper and are normally | | | | A brake caliper mounts to the bicycle frame at a |
| located on the handlebars. They are the rider interface | | | | single, central point that also acts as a pivot point for |
| with the braking system. There are two main types of | | | | the brake arms on both sides of the rim. Calipers can |
| levers: those intended for drop bars and those | | | | be actuated with a side pull or center pull. |
| designed for flat bars. From there, there are levers | | | | - Single pivot: In single pivot caliper brakes, both brake |
| designed to work with the different variations of the | | | | arms pivot around a single, central point that also |
| calipers and dual control levers that control braking and | | | | anchors the caliper to the bicycle. |
| shifting. With dual control levers you have to determine | | | | - Dual pivot: Dual pivot brakes anchor and pivot around |
| the proper brake interface and shift interface. | | | | a central point with an additional pivot on one side that |
| Drop bar levers | | | | adds mechanical advantage. Dual pivot brakes are the |
| Drop bar levers are ergonomic levers that mount to | | | | norm in today's road cycling market and are generally |
| the front, curving section of a drop bar. They act as | | | | lower profile and higher quality than single pivot brake |
| the main hand placement position on most road bikes. | | | | calipers available today. |
| Drop levers are typically designed to work with | | | | Hub Brakes Hub bike apply stopping power to your |
| center-pull or side-pull brakes. If you are using linear pull | | | | wheel's hub. Sometimes they are internal (drum and |
| brakes with drop levers, you must use a lever that is | | | | coaster brakes), and sometimes they are external |
| designed to function with the increased mechanical | | | | (disc brakes). Internal hubs can be actuated via levers |
| advantage that linear pull brakes afford. | | | | or by applying reverse torque on the crank arms. |
| Flat bar levers | | | | External hub brakes are generally actuated with a |
| Flat bars have their own set of levers, typically called | | | | lever attached to the handlebars |
| mountain bike levers or BMX levers. It is important to | | | | Disc brakes |
| know which type of brake the lever will be used with. | | | | Disc bike brakes use a caliper attached to the bicycle's |
| Center pull and side pull use one type of lever, while | | | | frame or fork that apply stopping power to a metal |
| linear pull brakes need a special lever. | | | | disc attached to the corresponding hub. Disc brakes do |
| Aero levers | | | | a much better job at dissipating heat than traditional rim |
| Aero levers are special levers that attach to the end | | | | braking and, because they don't interface with the rim, |
| of bull-horn-style handlebars for time trial or triathlon | | | | don't cause any rim wear. They have become |
| use. They typically attach to the inside of the handlebar | | | | extremely widespread in off-road bikes and with |
| with an expansion nut. | | | | tandems for these reasons. The main things to |
| Rim brakes Rim brakes apply stopping power (friction) | | | | consider when purchasing disc parts are whether the |
| to your wheel's rim. Rim brakes are generally actuated | | | | brake is hydraulic or mechanical, the disc rotor |
| with a cable which is pulled with a lever mounted on | | | | diameter and interface, and the caliper mounting |
| the bike's handlebars. There are a few different ways | | | | interface. There are adapters that can be used to aid |
| in which the cable attaches to the brake. Another way | | | | in cross-compatibility, but not all brakes work with all |
| to classify brakes is by mounting style. Most brake | | | | bikes. |
| types crossover, so defining them can become | | | | Drum brakes |
| confusing. | | | | Drum brakes are actuated by a brake lever, generally |
| Cable interface | | | | mounted on the handlebars. The brake actuation |
| The manner in which a cable connects with and | | | | presses brake pads against the inner wall of the hub |
| actuates a brake and brings the pads to the rim is a | | | | shell. They are popular on tandems and motorized |
| key characteristic to consider when shopping for the | | | | bikes. Since they are internal, they work well even in |
| proper brake. | | | | the worst weather conditions. |
| Center pull | | | | Coaster brakes |
| Center pull brakes have a split or "straddle cable" that | | | | Coaster brakes work in a similar fashion to drum |
| connects to the two opposite brake arms and is pulled | | | | brakes. The large difference is actuation; while drum |
| from the center to bring the pads to the rim. | | | | brakes are actuated via a brake lever, coasters |
| Linear pull | | | | function with a reverse pedaling motion. Pedaling |
| Linear pull brakes use a cable stop to act as one | | | | backwards forces a brake cone to push the pads |
| anchor point, stopping the cable housing and anchoring | | | | against the internal hub shell. Normal pedaling motion |
| the cable's end on the other brake arm. When the | | | | disengages the brake cane, allowing for normal |
| cable is pulled, the two arms are actuated and | | | | pedaling. Coaster brakes are only installed on the rear |
| stopping power is applied to the rims. | | | | wheel of a bicycle. |