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The Physics of Winter Biking |
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Wheel Size Suspension Brakes Helmet Color Bibliography |
There are two basic options for brakes in a bicycle: disk brakes or rim brakes. At this point in time, there is virtually no reason to use rim brakes
aside from price.
In the winter, disk brakes will perform to much cooler temperatures than rim brakes. The reason is this: rims are almost always made of aluminum. This
keeps them light, but it also makes them soft compared to other metals. Therefore, the brake pads also have to be made of a soft material, or else they
can warp the rims. Therefore, they are typically made of rubber, which in the cold becomes hard and smooth, and does not brake well. Disk brakes use a small disk mounted near the center of the wheel. Because it is small, it can be made of a heavier metal, and because of this heavier metal as well as the small chances of s disk losing its shape, a stronger material can be used for the brake pads. Often, disk brake pads are a semi-metallic material that is less likely to lose its friction in ower temperatures. There are several other advantages of disk brakes, such as their self-cleaning properties, but the materials are most pertinant to winter biking. |