If you are someone who appreciates stylish and comfortable cycling, you are likely a city bike enthusiast. There are many types of city bikes, and the selection is vast. How do you find the best city bike for yourself? If you want to thoroughly consider your city bike purchase, it’s worth researching which bike brakes best suit your riding style and needs.
Generally, bike brakes are divided into two categories: hand brakes and pedal brakes.
Pedal brakes also known as coaster brakes, brake the rear wheel when pedaling backward. Pedal brakes are often found on city bikes with internal hub gears. The advantages of pedal brakes are their low cost and durability. They are a closed system, meaning dirt, sand, or snow never gets into the brakes, making them reliable in all weather conditions. Pedal brakes last for years without needing maintenance.
Hand brakes are the brakes with levers located on the handlebars.
The most common type is V-brakes. There are also caliper brakes and U-brakes. V-brakes are actually a Shimano brand. Generally speaking, their operating principle is the same, but they are technically implemented differently. There are quite a few bikes with V-brakes, and their advantage is their low cost and ease of repair or replacement. However, it’s important to note that hand brakes require maintenance from time to time. Depending on the intensity of your riding, at least at the beginning of each season, these brakes should definitely be checked once. It’s worth checking if the brake pads are excessively worn. Additionally, sand, dirt, and dust can get between the brake pads, so they should be cleaned to avoid any unpleasant surprises when braking. It’s wise and convenient to have this work done at a bike maintenance shop.
City bikes designed for longer rides are often equipped with disc brakes.
Disc brakes should be on your city bike if you ride at high speeds and a lot. Disc brakes are definitely a must for electric bikes, as their speed can be quite high. Therefore, safe and effective braking is very important, if not crucial. The advantage of disc brakes over V-brakes is that mud and dirt do not get to the brakes as quickly. V-brakes get dirty even from a small puddle of mud because V-brakes press against the wheel rim, which is very close to the ground. For a disc brake to get muddy, you would have to ride into a very deep muddy pit. Disc brakes are definitely more effective if you have to brake for a long distance, such as when going downhill.
Some city bikes have roller brakes.
Roller brakes have the greatest advantage of requiring minimal maintenance. Because they are a closed system, dirt and dust do not get into roller brakes, not to mention sand. Therefore, they brake effectively even when riding in wet and muddy conditions. They have a discreet appearance and do not ruin the look of a beautiful city bike. Another point in favor of roller brakes is that in serious cycling countries (especially in the Netherlands), the majority of city bikes on the streets have roller brakes. Thus, the usability and reliability of roller brakes have proven themselves in practice.
