Bike Braking System

By Colin Miller


Keep in mind when you were a kid, and you first defy to drive your bicycle down that really extreme hill in your neighbourhood? The ride down could be a rush. To break is not always so much fun. Cycle control relies on 2 elements: steering and brakes. If either of these is missing, you are an out of control bike rider, hazardous to oneself and others.

History's first bicycles had no brakes. Band-aids hadn't yet been invented, so that the next logical step was to invent a stopping system. Therefore, brakes were born to help riders decelerate and stop, and bicycles all of a sudden became more popular. By accelerating frictional force on the wheels, bicyclists were able to decelerateand stop.

The 1st generally used braking system was called "the plunger". It first showed on the high-wheeled bicycles that were favored in the 1800s. The plunger operated on a simple principle. To decelerate a bike, a lever was either pressed down or pulled up, causing a metal show to press against the outer side of the tire. Of course, the friction made caused excess wear and tear on the tire. Bicyclists discovered that the plunger didn't work well with pneumatic tires, even after shielding the metal shoe with rubber. Damp surfaces were another disadvantage, as water reduced the friction between the brake shoe and tire, decreasing the braking power.

The next major developmentt in bicycle brakes was the "coaster brake". Many of us have used coaster brakes, still preferred in pint-size babe bikes and tricycles. Some utility bicycles and cruisers also use coaster brakes. The idea behind coaster brakes is simple reverse motion. When the pedals are moved in a reverse direction, the brake mechanism within the heart of the wheel pushes outward, creating friction and slowing the bike. Coaster brakes are quite robust and tend to lock up and slide the rear wheel when engaged, so they are great choices for path burnouts.

Almost all of today's mountain, road and stunt bikes use caliper edge brakes. By pulling a lever, a wire is tightened. This cable thenenforce the brake pads or shoes to press against the inside rim of the wheel, stopping the bike. Caliper bicycle brakes are light and comparatively inexpensive, but they do come with their own set of Problems. Not very efficient on stormy days, wet brakes take 2 times as long to stop a bike because the water reduces friction between the brake and the wheel. Caliper brakes work well when pressure is applied delicately.

It is important to balance the braking between the front and back brakes while riding. If excessive brake pressure is used to the front wheel, your energy and body inertia will take you right over the handlebars.

Over the years, braking systems and materials havetransposed, but the essentials of decelerating and stopping a cycle have not. Bicycle brakes are still based on the concept of friction, and are still extremely important to your safety.

For ideas on Bike Shed, visit our site.




About the Author:



Comments

0 Responses to "Bike Braking System"

Posting Komentar

Labels

PMII KOMFEIS