on the evolution of brakes

and setting things right

My first bike had coaster brakes.

Built into the rear hub, stopping was a matter of pedaling backwards, locking the rear wheel and skidding to a stop.

They were easy to use, required zero maintenance but lacked any subtle control.

My second bike had hand brakes. Rubber pads held by calipers just off the rim could be controlled and feathered as necessary. God help you if your rims were wet or dirty.

For decades they were the only brakes I knew.

When I bought my first modern mountain bike it came equipped with disc brakes. These wonders worked in the wet and didn’t get dirty easily at all.

The discs though?

If you squeezed to hard, they were easy to warp.

Warped discs rub on the pads serving the dual function of slowing your down when you wanted to pedal as well as making a heck of a racket.

So why are they any good?

Once a bit warped, if you apply a small amount of pressure steadily, they heat up.

As they heat up, they correct themselves. You can remove the warps merely by using them.

They’re no…