Rim brakes don’t suck, you just need to do these 7 things

Rim brakes have declined in their usage in recent times. Pro bikes through to entry-level models come with disc brakes of one sort or another, and commuter bikes too have made the switch too in order to reap the benefits of better braking in the wet, greater reliability, and lower maintenance. 

Rim brakes aren’t bad though; this is a hill I’m willing to die on. My relatively new custom light tourer still runs rim brakes, as does my own road bike. With a few tweaks to your setup, along with some basic cleanliness, you too can have rim brakes that feel great to ride, and can still stop you effectively.

1. Clean your rims