Brake Accessories Review

You enjoy riding your bike every day. You often hit trails that contain lots of dirt, grime, water and mud. The one bike component that you count on over and over without even thinking about it, is your brake system. Good bike brakes and shifters can make all the difference when it comes to stopping when you really need to! Well, the good news is there are a lot of brake accessories out there to ensure your bike has the best brakes possible. 

Brake accessories include the following components: Brake pads, disc or rim style, brake pad inserts, disc brake mounting hardware, brake cables, bike cable housing, brake hoods, brake levers, and more.

Brake pads are probably the most common brake accessory. This is because a lot of bikes come with insufficient braking systems, especially for off road riding or trail riding. Most brakes do an ok job on the road at low speeds, but when you’re off road brakes don’t take well to all the dirt, mud, and water you are sure to encounter. For this type of situation, you should purchase specialized brake pads or discs that are made for extreme weather conditions such as Koolstop pads. These brake accessories will cost more than traditional brake pads or discs, but they are worth their weight in gold for the supreme stopping power that they provide on the trail.  Shimano pads offer riders another premium product to deliver excellent stopping control.

What It’s For 

Brake pads and shoes are what stop your bike. The two most common types of pads are cantilever brakes or disc brakes. Cantilever brakes have specialized rubber pads that grip the rim of the bike as you squeeze your Tektro brake lever.Disc pads actually consist of metal pads that grip a metal disc or rotor as hydraulic fluid is applied. Pad inserts are replacement pads only, without the mounting hardware. Brake levers are used to stop your bike consist of the lever, cable, cable housing, and some adjusting hardware. Jagwire cables are considered a high quality brake cable choice as an aftermarket part.  Brake hoods can protect your brakes from getting too wet or dirty. Dia Compe and Diatech brakes are popular brands.

Brake accessories are usually brand specific, although some aftermarket accessories are popular for those individuals who want to upgrade their bike of build one from the frame up. When you buy brake accessories, it’s always a good idea to bring in the old parts so an expert bike mechanic can make sure the replacement accessories will fit too.

Major Manufacturers

 Koolite, Avid, Delta, Jagwire, Shimano.

Pricing 

Prices for brake accessories varies greatly depending on the exact component. Brake insert pads start at about $7, while custom brake discs or rotors can cost more than $100.