Introducing the main types of brakes for bikes - rim brakes, hub brakes and disc brakes. Explaining pros and cons of each type and which types of bikes they suit.
The faster you go, the more important stopping power becomes. And although some of the fastest bikes in the world have no brakes, in general stopping power means braking power.
Brakes divide into three main categories:
Rim brakes.
These are the most familiar and are pretty much universal on road bikes, hybrids and so on. There are various types (e.g. side-pull, centre-pull, cantilever and V-brakes) but all operate by the pressure of rubber or composite brake blocks on the wheel rim.
Advantages are lightness and mechanical simplicity, and therefore also cheapness. On high-speed road and time-trial bikes they are also favoured because they can be aerodynamically efficient.
Disadvantages, especially when used on mountain bikes, are exposure to the elements. Braking efficiency is reduced when rims are wet, and grit and grime can form an abrasive mix that erodes wheel rims, reducing the life expectancy of lightweight wheels. It is not unknown for heavily worn wheel rims to fail catastrophically. Brake blocks also tend to wear rapidly and require frequent adjustment and regular replacement to maintain effective braking.
Internal (hub) brakes.
Mostly found on utility bikes, but their appearance on cruiser bikes earns them an honourable mention in the early history of mountain biking. Similar to the drum brakes used in automobiles prior to the advance of disc brakes. Often operated on rear wheel by back-pedaling slightly, which can be very disconcerting for riders not used to it.
Advantages are that the unit is completely sealed from the elements and therefore should have a long life-span with low maintenance.
Disadvantages are that they can be heavy, mechanically complex and more difficult to get at when maintenance is required. Braking response in practice may be less instant than disc brakes or good rim-brakes (though unaffected by wet conditions).
Currently almost entirely confined to high-end mountain bikes, but starting to appear on a few glitzy hybrid or ‘city’ bikes. Disc brakes operate by pressure on a disc (or rotor) which is mounted on the wheel hub. Some simple disc brakes are purely mechanical but most are hydraulic.
Advantages include the crucial one of greater stopping power than any other type. Also, disc brakes are much less affected by wet trail conditions than rim brakes. Hydraulic brakes in particular offer a sealed system which should require only infrequent adjustment or maintenance.
Disadvantages: discs are heavier than rim brakes, and less aerodynamic. The initial cost is higher (but disc brake pads last much longer than rim brake blocks so ongoing costs can be less). Disc brakes - especially hydraulics - are more complex so when maintenance is required it can be more demanding.
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