English Bicycle Rod Brakes

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Summary: Old English bicycles may come with rod brakes, which are not too efficient but can help date the bike. Learn more about old rod bicycle brakes in this free video from an experienced vintage bicycle dealer.

Views: 840 | Tags: tire, vintage, bikes, bicycles, balloon, old, antique, 1950s

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About the Expert
Contact: OldRoads.com

Vin Vullo Vin Vullo has been buying and selling vintage bicycles since the 1960s. In 1995 as the internet gained in popularity he founded Menotomy Vintage Bicycles and ... read more

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Video Transcript

English Bicycle Rod Brakes

On most bikes today, your brakes are operated through cables. You squeeze a lever and the lever pulls the caliper and puts the brake against the wheel. But there was a time when English bicycles in particular came with rod brakes. And here's an example of one. And actually this bike isn't even that old, it's from the seventies. But these were very popular and they're still popular. With these, squeeze the lever, pulls the rod, there's a rubber pad here which goes up and pulls it against the rim and slows you down. For the rear brake, you squeeze a lever and you'll see this long line here, you can see how wasteful it is and heavy and along right where it comes down here and if you can see under here, there's a stirrup, it gets pulled in that direction, and pulls the rubber brakes against the inside of the wheel. Not very efficient. They go out of tune quickly, they're terrible in the rain, but it's a hugely popular and collectible bike because of the uniqueness of it. Another thing about this is the cable, notice that the rod linkage comes right down the middle here, right in front of the head tube. On an older English bike, again, same rod, brake styles, but you'll notice that it comes off the left hand side for the rear brake instead of down the center. Someone must have decided this is more efficient.