Brake types for bikes

Brake Types for Bikes list

brake type	example	take note	retrofit needs
rim	Caliper (most modern ?) V-brake (wire across top) Cantilever (old ?)	weak in wet
disc		strong in wet hydraulic (future standard ?) or mechanical (cheaper)	hub adapter ? (remove spokes ? new wheel ?) fork adapter (fork adapter or new fork with disc fixings ?)
drum/roller/hub	roller is shimano version	niche. needs special hub ? heats too easy ? good in wet ?	need hub on new wheel or remove spokes ? need compatible fork ?

update : none yet

Caliper bike brakes

Above is a table I am using to make sense of brake types for bikes. It could be incorrect. Currently I have 'caliper' rim brakes but thinking of switching the front to either a disc brake or hub brake for more safety. The front brakes seem the most important as I use them about 95% of the time.

Reason for table :
Trying to gather my thoughts as hard to find choices in quick view method. My understanding is 2/10. Will update table when more is known. 

My current brakes : Caliper rim brakes
Thinking of : replacing front with hub or disc.
Brake lever type on my bike : flatbar (MTB brake levers)

Reason for changing :
Rim brakes lose a lot of power in the wet. Disc and roller brakes are not affected by wet. For commuters I think at least the front brakes should be disc (or less likely ... roller).

List of cycling wind noise blockers

Cycling ear protectors (from wind noise etc)

I am compiling a list of 'ear protectors' that are designed to protect the ears from wind noise when cycling. This is an ongoing project

List of wind blockers tried : my opinion

Airstreamz (formerly Cat Ears) Tried. Didn't notice any difference. Fit to your helmet so can't be worn without. Too expensive

Windfree : Tried. Felt these worked at low speeds but not above that. Say under 15km (speed + windspeed) Once you get to around 15km speed (or wind is that high) the protection dips, though I guess it still helps a bit. You wear on ears so no helmet needed. Can be sweaty when hot, or wet when raining. Doesnt't block non-wind noise. I would design it to dampen all noise a bit (say at the front). Very awkward to buy (2014 ... from Swedish website. Amazon would be nice). Too expensive.

Finger test : if you put a finger in front of your ear when air is passing you at speed you can see how good ear protection could be. The 2 I have tried came nowhere near this.

Verdict : Still would choose to design my own but for now I use windfree

List of known wind-blockers (2015)

AirStreamz 

cat-ears pro 2014

Former name : Cat ears

Price : around $12 - $22
Buy at : Their website. Based in Denver Colorado
http://www.cat-ears.com/

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Slipstreamz

Price : Around $22 ?
Buy at : their website. South African company ?
http://www.slipstreamz.com/

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Wind-blox

Price : £15/$15 ? 
http://wind-blox.com/

Blog Discounts (courtesy of Windblox) :
10% discount on Wind-blox website : use code gocommuterbike (see this comment)
15% off Wind-blox pro on their site : use code gocommuterbikePRO (see this comment)

Available on Amazon

Amazon USA : Wind-blox 

Amazon UK : Wind-blox

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Windfree

Price : 31 Euros ?
Based : Sweden
http://www.windfree.se/en/home

update jul21 :

Been using this for years. Works like a mic muff. Diffuses low wind noise.

It works for me, until around 14kph  (then I guess still dampens real noise).

A bit warm in hot weather but def worthwhile for me <14kph (maybe <15mph. I can't recall). 

 

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Windrush headband

A thick headband with ear protection
price : £25 plus shipping ?
Windrush website (Sweden) : link

UK : Ridge All Terrain Pro bike helmets in Halfords

UK

I saw this helmet in Halfords.
Brand : Ridge
Helmet : All Terrain Pro RF6
Price : £24.99

I haven't seen this helmet anywhere else. Don't know if it's exclusive to Halfords. It looks a pretty decent helmet, and one of the least silliest looking I have seen. It also has a good fit with the padding strips being thin so you don't look so much like Atom Ant. It has a backlight too. And a dial adjuster. Overall it looks decent to my naive eye for the price.

Link for Halfords page

UK : Hi Viz vest out of Poundworld

For UK readers
Hi Viz vest from Poundworld (cost £1)
Includes 2 reflective stripes that go all around

Comes in 3 sizes I think (small, medium, large)

I got this hi viz vest out of Poundworld. In some shops these used to be ridiculously expensive (some still are) but I guess the likes of the pound/dollar shops smashed their monopoly. It's only £1 but it seems decent quality. To have the 2 reflective strips all around is great. Its 100% polyester and can be washed at 40 degrees a maximum of 25 times. This one is a 'large' size. Plenty of room. Great for commuter cycling. In the UK if you are going to buy a hi-viz then this one should certainly be considered. I don't like 'full jackets' or suchlike. It is also 'meshlike' (albeit, quite close meshing) which should help with sweating.

Amazon USA search (all depts) :  'Hi viz vest'
Amazon UK search (all depts) :  'Hi viz vest'

update : Nov 2015

Apparently UK trading standards forced it's withdrawal in 2014 as their tests suggested the grey trim has almost no reflective property.

Daily Mail article Nov 2015

I did a quick photo test using a torch comparing it to Boardman overshoes and a Decathlon arm strap. my 'test' was inconclusive (to me)