City bike brakes Black Friday : discounts

What to check before buying a brake part?

It all starts from the brake already fitted. For a disc, note three things: the attachment to the hub, either six bolts or a Center Lock with splines and a central nut, the diameter, often 160, 180, or 203 mm, and the type of pads accepted, as some discs only take resin. For a complete disc brake, check the mounting of the caliper on the frame or fork (Post Mount, Flat Mount), the side of the lever, and, in hydraulic systems, the fluid: mineral oil or DOT fluid, which must never be mixed. For brake pads, it all depends on the brake type, V-Brake or caliper, and the rim: a rubber for aluminium doesn't work for carbon or steel.

Details on the types of brakes and their maintenance can be found on the permanent page of city bike braking.

Brakes on sale: bring two offers for the same content

The same reference is sold in various forms: front brake alone, rear brake alone, or a kit for both, with or without a disc, left or right lever. Pads come in pairs, in sets of four, or in workshop boxes of twenty-five or fifty pairs, and discs are sold individually or in pairs. Therefore, bring two offers for the same content before comparing, and check the hose length of a pre-assembled hydraulic brake. The crossed-out price of a front and rear kit can then be compared to that of another complete kit, and the price of a single disc to a disc of the same diameter and attachment.

Electric bike: more demanding braking

Heavier and often faster, an electric bike requires more from its brakes. Four-piston calipers and large diameter discs, 180 mm or 203 mm at the front, dissipate heat better during repeated stops. Before enlarging a disc, check that the frame and fork can accommodate it and ensure you have the corresponding caliper adapter.

What brake brands during the sale?

Shimano covers all uses, from Cues hydraulic kits to BR-MT420 four-piston brakes and Center Lock SM-RT64 discs; its hydraulic brakes operate on mineral oil.

Sram has transitioned its mountain bike brakes to mineral oil with the Motive and Maven ranges, while previous generations, like the Level or Code, use DOT fluid: a point to check before any flushing.

Galfer, a brake manufacturer based in Barcelona, patented the Wave disc, with a wavy outline, which it manufactures in Spain from laser-cut stainless steel.

TRP offers the HY/RD, a hydraulic caliper activated by cable: it works with a standard lever and automatically compensates for pad wear.

Braking on other Black Friday pages

Parts for racing bikes are in road braking in Black Friday, those for trails in MTB braking in Black Friday; levers, cables, and pads for all uses can be found in brake parts in Black Friday. For the rest of the bike, check the wheels and tyres and the complete range of wheels and components on sale. All year round, think about clearance and new arrivals.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called " Black Friday "?

The name comes from the United States, where the Friday following Thanksgiving marks the start of holiday shopping. Vélo-Store keeps this Friday as a highlight, and its Black Friday discounts on braking extend throughout November.

Six-bolt disc or Center Lock: how to tell?

Look at the centre of the disc: six bolts around the hub, or a central nut on splines. An adapter allows a six-bolt disc to be mounted on a Center Lock hub.

Resin or metallic pads?

Resin brakes smoothly and quietly but wears out faster, especially in the rain. Sintered metal lasts longer and handles heat better, provided that the disc accepts it: many discs specify if only resin is allowed.

Can you switch from pad brakes to disc brakes?

Check near the wheel mounts first: without anchor points for a caliper, or threaded or splined hubs for a disc, the conversion requires a new fork and often new wheels, a significant task on a city bike.

When to replace pads or discs?

A pad is changed when its grooves have disappeared, a disc when its lining becomes very thin. A lever that goes further, a metallic noise, or longer braking distances are signs not to be ignored.