Giving Kids Control…
by Steven Meek
“Dad! I’ve been riding for a while now and my hands are getting tired. Give me a break, please.” Sound familiar?
“Give me a brake!” I say! Good quality brakes are one of the most critical components required on a child’s downhill bike. Unfortunately, most brakes on kids’ bikes are like most kids’ bikes; cheap and nasty!
Cheap brakes come with very little adjustments on the lever. And, very few are hydraulic. Most of them tend to be cable brakes. The biggest problem with cable brakes is that they do not provide enough leverage. This forces children to have to use their whole hand to pull on the brake. The cable also tends to break down after a few wet rides and fills up with dirt and grime inside the brake internals.
Hydraulic Brakes: You Get What You Pay For
The beauty of hydraulic brakes is that they work in wet and muddy conditions, day after day with very little maintenance. There are a number of hydraulic brakes on the market but generally the cheaper hydraulic brakes only have a single piston on the calliper and contain very little adjustments on the brake lever. I would recommend steering clear of these models and investing in the best.
As the price goes up, the quality goes up. Good-quality brakes generally contain up to four piston brake callipers and consist of multiple adjustments that can adjust the lever reach and also calibrate the pad contact adjustment. These additional features allow parents to custom the brake pad contact. Also, because small hands require the lever reach so close to the handle bars, young riders need the brakes to come on immediately. If not, the brake lever will hit the handle-grip before the brake comes on.
These adjustments are critical for young riders because their hand shapes and sizes are so individual. With high-performance hydraulic brakes, you can custom them to fit an individual child exactly.
Another important reason for choosing to invest in high-end brakes can be explained by simply taking a look at adult riders. Adults usually brake with one or two fingers, maximum. And kids being smaller and not as strong, require this option too. The main problem with kids’ standard brakes is that they require young riders to take their whole hand off the bar in order to make the brake work as their fingers aren’t as strong as an adult.
If you invest in good brakes for your child, then your son or daughter will be able use one finger to fully lock up the wheels without losing control. This allows the rest of their hand to maintain full control riding down though rocky sections.
Next time you go out riding, try braking with your whole hand through a rocky section and see how you fare.
High quality brakes are essential for giving young riders agency to tackle difficult downhill terrain safely and in better control. So, the next time your son or daughter cries “Give me a break!” give them a decent brake.
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