This time, we will feature road bike brakes in two parts.

Road bikes are highly specialized vehicles, so a wide variety of materials and systems coexist. However, when it came to brakes, rim brakes were the only option until recently. This speaks volumes about the excellence and completeness of rim brakes.

However, disc brakes have recently risen sharply, and it has become common for manufacturers to offer both rim and disc versions for the same model. Why is this trend happening, and how will the two evolve in the future? First, we'll cover rim brakes in part one.

History of Rim Brakes

ICAN A18 Road Bike Rim Brakes Learn More

Rim brakes, which stop by pressing brake shoes against both sides of the rim, have a long history and have been used since the very early days. This method is mechanically sound. The energy required to stop a wheel by grabbing its center versus grabbing its periphery is completely different.

In recent years, rim brakes have evolved into three types:

• Side-pull caliper brakes (dual pivot type) - A long name, but refers to what is currently found on road bikes. Although their braking power is inferior to V-brakes, they are a highly refined product capable of delicate operation.
• V-brakes - Originally found on MTBs (mountain bikes), but recent MTBs have almost completely transitioned to disc brakes. As a result, their primary use is now on cross bikes. They provide powerful braking force.
• Cantilever brakes - Those with long experience will know them as brakes for randonneur-style sports bikes. They are also used on cyclocross bikes.

It was MTBs that broke the era of rim brake dominance. For MTBs riding on rough roads and through puddles, dirty brakes from mud and water are a fatal flaw. For this reason, MTBs have been equipped with disc brakes for about 30 years.

The shift to disc brakes for road bikes has only recently begun, but we will discuss this in detail in the next installment on disc brakes.

Advantages of Rim Brakes

ICAN Taurus Road Bike Rim Brakes Learn More

The biggest advantage is their simple structure. This means low cost and easy maintenance. Their lightweight and low incidence of breakdowns are also noteworthy. Furthermore, as the machinery has matured, there have been no complaints about braking power, and their control is exceptionally good, leading to the belief that there was no substitute for them.

Additionally, the superior design of rim brakes is being re-evaluated in comparison to disc brakes. Their compact and easy-to-handle nature is also beneficial for bike packing (carrying the bike in a bag).

Are the Drawbacks of Rim Brakes Becoming Apparent?

With the carbonization of wheels, the supposed perfection of rim brakes has revealed their drawbacks.

• Carbon wheels are vulnerable to the heat generated by rim brakes.
• Braking performance in the rain is unreliable.

Disc brakes solve these problems. "So, the next era will be all about disc brakes!" ...Is that really the case? We will look at this in detail in the next disc brake edition, but a hint is also hidden in the next chapter.

Introducing AERO50 Wheels for Rim Brakes

ICAN AERO50 Rim Brake Wheels Learn More

ICAN's AERO50 wheels are ultra-lightweight carbon wheels. While there are rim brake and disc brake versions, here we'll look at the rim brake version. This is because the AERO series is an ambitious product that attempts to solve the incompatibility between carbon wheels and rim brakes.

Improvements to the brake track surface allow it to withstand temperatures of 148°C. This represents an approximately 10% increase in heat resistance compared to conventional products.

Next, as a measure against rainy days, the brake track surface is designed to have good drainage. While the characteristic weakness of rim brakes in the rain has not been completely eliminated, it can be said that they provide enough performance to prevent panic in sudden rain.

For more details, please watch the video below and visit the AERO50 page. The AERO series also offers various models with different rim heights.

Summary

We hope you can see that we at ICAN are not giving up on rim brakes. We believe it is our responsibility to preserve rim brakes as long as they possess an irreplaceable appeal. There is still room for technological development. Please look forward to what ICAN will bring in the future.

Also, look forward to the next disc brake edition.

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