What To Look For
The best brakes for touring bicycles depend largely on total rider and vehicle weight combined with desired touring area. A heavy tourist with little gear riding on flat ground will experience most brakes similarly. A light tourist with a fully loaded machine barreling down a mountainside likely uses the highest quality brake possible to ensure safety and security. According to bicycle mechanic Sheldon Brown, three basic brake styles exist for touring bikes: cantilever rim brakes, caliper rim brakes and cable-operated disc brakes. Disc brakes offer distinct mechanical advantages, states Larry Diskin with bicycle tour experts Adventure Cycling Association.
Common Pitfalls
Many cyclists believe any brake style mounts to any bicycle. Disc brakes, caliper brakes and cantilever brakes have three distinct mounting styles. Most frames accepting cantilever brakes only accept cantilever brakes. Often disc and caliper brake frame setups feature one style construction as well. Purchase quality brakes offering easy adjustment and pad replacement that function with your personal bicycle frames. Purchase a touring bicycle designed for the style of brake preferred. Do not attempt to change frame designs to work with different brake styles; often, this removes manufacturer frame warranties and could destroy the frame.
Where To Buy
Many local bicycle shops and online bicycle retailers sell brakes fit for a variety of tourists. Tourists planning mountain rides must purchase quality brakes withstanding heat generated during mountain descents. Disc brakes dissipate heat well and transfer little heat to tubes and tires, unlike rim brakes. Disc brake frames often feature frame enhancement to protect against brake torque forces applied to rear chain and seat stay frame tube junctures. Carry spare pads if using rim brakes during mountain tours. Rear pads often wear faster than front pads as most cyclists brake rear wheels first.
Cost
Inexpensive touring brakes often sell under $15 per wheel. Quality brakes featuring easy adjustment and pad replacement often cost $20 to $60 for each wheel. Brakes featuring lightweight exotic materials and offering the best adjustments typically sell from $75 to $200 a wheel. Most bicycle shops offer brake installation for under $50 per wheel. Brake adjustment and pad replacement typically costs under $30 per wheel. Replacement brake pads range from $10 to $50 per brake depending on material and intended purpose. Most brake pads feature easy removal and adjustment requiring standard tools.
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