HYDRAULIC RIM BRAKES - TRIAL-BIKES

HYDRAULIC RIM BRAKES

Rim brakes act on the rim to stop the wheel. They can be hydraulic (a fluid transfers pressure) or mechanic (like V-brakes, where a cable moves the pads).

Rim brakes are lighter than disc brakes and don’t have a rotor exposed to being damaged. Moreover, they usually provide a sharp, direct braking performance, which makes them particularly interesting for the front brake.

However, these brakes require a more frequent maintenance than disc brakes: the rims must be ground to improve performance and stay perfectly true, etc.

Key points:

· Type of fluid: it can be mineral or DOT. Each frame uses its own type of fluid: never bleed the brake with another type of fluid!

· Can I bring the pads closer to the rim? In most cases, you can do so thanks to a TPA wheel located on the lever.

· Do I have to grind the rim with this type of brake? It’s highly recommended to grind the rims’ sidewalls to improve braking performance, and also install some rim brakes specially designed for ground rims.