Bike Brakes Guide

Bike Brakes are a critical part of any bike, be that a BMX, Mountain Bike or Road Bike. Able to bring you to a safe and satisfactory stop in an incredibly short amount of time, braking systems are not just important for your safety as a rider, but also in allowing you to achieve the fastest times by having the right braking performance at your fingertips.

The braking system on a bike covers a number of different components, the braking mechanism itself, brake cables and also the brake levers used to apply the brakes. As there are many different types of bikes on the market, there are a similar number of types of braking systems - which we run through in this post:

V-Brakes Guide

V-Brakes were revolutionary when they first hit the market, providing greater rim braking performance for off road mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. Largely replaced now by disc brakes on many premium bikes, V-Brakes still provide strong braking performance - by using two arms to provide leverage on the brakes when the brake lever is pulled. V-Brakes typically use cartridge brake pads, so are easy to change and easy to maintain.

Cantilever Brake Guide

Cantilever brakes operate the same way that V-Brakes do. Using a cable to pull the brakes together and to activate the braking mechanism. Cantilever brakes are popular with cyclocross riders who enjoy high levels of performance, with the reduced chance of the braking mechanism clogging up with mud and grime. Although many new cyclocross bikes are fitted with disc brakes, many still use Cantilever brakes.

Caliper Brake Guide

If you are looking to increase the braking power of your road bike, looking at replacement and upgraded Road Bike Calipers is a good starting point. Although many road bikes are now being fitted with disc brakes, many road bikes continue to use rim brakes, and older road bike frames will be designed to use brake calipers.

There are a couple of different types of brake calipers available, with regular calipers being available alongside direct mount calipers. Regular calipers attach via a single bolt on the frame of the bike, or the fork. Direct caliper bikes are mounted with two mounting points and pivot, thanks to the higher number of mounting points - these brakes provide greater power and control.

Disc Brakes

Disc Brakes are the most popular and best performing brake types available. There are two types of brakes available, with mechanical brakes being available alongside hydraulic disc brakes. Mechanical disc brakes operate by a lever which is connected to the brake caliper by a cable, whilst hydraulic disc brakes use a lever connected to pistons/caliper by a hose which contains fluid - providing greater braking performance.

The biggest advantage of having disc brakes on your bike, is how they perform across varying weather conditions.  They also allow for lighter rims to be used, and take longer to wear out VS variations of rim brakes.

Buy Bike Brakes Online

At Westbrook Cycles, we stock and supply an excellent array of bike brakes - encompassing mountain bike brakes, road bike brakes and gravel bike brakes. All of the brakes and components have been handpicked from the world’s leading brands, and are held in stock for the lowest possible prices and quick delivery times.