Hello, this is ICAN. Today, we'll be discussing the current status of V-brakes installed on road bikes and gravel bikes. While V-brakes have fewer components, they are known for their strong braking power and tend to be more affordable. Let's take a closer look.

V-brakes, often found on gravel bikes, gained popularity when Shimano introduced them on mountain bikes in the late 1990s. However, Shimano didn't invent V-brakes out of thin air. Initially, they used "cantilever brakes," known for their excellent stopping power. V-brakes were developed by slightly improving upon cantilever brakes. After Shimano started selling bikes equipped with V-brakes, other manufacturers followed suit. Other well-known brakes include V-brakes, disc brakes, and caliper brakes. V-brakes were increasingly installed on cross bikes because they are more robust for off-road use compared to caliper brakes.

In short, mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes, and gravel bikes are primarily transitioning to "disc brakes." This means V-brakes are being used less and less, to the point where they are almost completely phased out. Therefore, it's becoming very difficult to find bikes, such as gravel bikes, equipped with V-brakes. This shift from V-brakes to disc brakes largely occurred around 2019.

Upgrades for V-brakes have already ceased. Manufacturers are now focusing on upgrading disc brakes and caliper brakes. In fact, Shimano, who initially popularized V-brakes, is only upgrading disc brakes and caliper brakes. This information is available on their official website.

As mentioned earlier, V-brakes were primarily installed on mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes, and gravel bikes. Due to their fewer components, they are offered at a lower price. Despite having fewer components, they are known for strong braking power. Furthermore, their large clearance allows them to accommodate thicker tires. There's actually another type of V-brake: the compact mini V-brake.

While standard V-brakes have an arm length of 107mm, compact mini V-brakes are around 90mm, making them slightly shorter than regular V-brakes. Unlike standard V-brakes, compact mini V-brakes are not compatible with wider tires. Next, we'd like to introduce our recommended frame!

Brakes are essential for gravel bikes. Since off-road trails are unpaved, there are times when you need to stop suddenly. That's why this frame uses "flat-mount disc brakes." These disc brakes, advocated by Shimano, can be mounted onto the frame without protruding. Also, to maximize brake performance, the gravel bike's frame and fork need to be securely fixed. Therefore, the "AC388" frame eliminates quick releases and adopts a 12mm thru-axle. Quick releases, by the way, are components that allow you to remove wheels without tools. The "AC388" frame is reinforced with Toray T700 carbon fiber, making it a very stiff frame. This rigidity also helps with increasing speed. Finally, we offer a range of colors including black, red, yellow, blue, light blue, and a blue-to-light blue gradient, so you're sure to find a color you love.

Thank you for reading this far. This time, we've discussed V-brakes, which were primarily used on gravel bikes and other types. V-brake upgrades have already ceased, and both cyclocross and gravel bikes are transitioning to disc brakes. Therefore, it's also good to explore the performance of disc brakes.