How Bicycle Coaster Brakes Work: A 50-Year-Old Hub Teardown
How bicycle coaster brakes work (2018)
Coaster brakes have been stopping bikes for over a century, yet their inner workings remain a mystery to many riders. This hands-on article opens up a vintage Bendix 70 hub—a classic from the 1960s—to reveal the clever mechanism inside. Discover how pedaling forward engages the clutch to drive the wheel, how coasting disengages it, and how pedaling backward expands brake shoes against the hub to slow you down. The author also weighs the pros and cons of coaster brakes, from their low-maintenance durability to their limitations on long descents.
Pedal backwards. Really?
- Hobadee
Where is all this love for coaster brakes coming from?! They are, IMHO, one of the worst brakes ever. They have caused me numerous spills and scraped knees (due to the rear wheel locking up and skidding out from under me) and have done the same to my kids. There is virtually no control over them, and they don't allow you to shift your weight around when standing on the pedals to go around sharp corners or off-road. (Nevermind trying to shift your weight backwards when stopping quickly)
I have hydraulic disc brakes on my bike, and they are the greatest thing ever! Yeah, they require maintenance, but totally worth it.
- deepsun
> The coaster brake also can be prone to locking up the wheels and causing the tire to skid. For kids this is an advantage, since they enjoy putting bikes into a sideways skid.
Damn well it was! I remember we used to play tag on bikes. But when we switched to hand brakes, it became impossible, as you need a free hand and speed control at the same time.
- bariumbitmap
> The disadvantages of coaster brakes are that the pedals cannot be adjusted while standing over the bicycle frame.
Another disadvantage not mentioned in the post is that with coaster brakes the pedals can get trapped by the kickstand. I don't remember the details because this was a long time ago, but I accidentally found myself in a situation where I couldn't pedal forward because the kickstand was in the way, and couldn't pedal backward because the brakes engaged. I don't remember how I fixed it.
- dnemmers
"The coaster brake also can be prone to locking up the wheels and causing the tire to skid. For kids this is an advantage, since they enjoy putting bikes into a sideways skid. This seemingly is a one of the requisite skills for youthful riders, especially but not exclusively boys."
Very accurate.
- vantassell
Biggest advantage is that they keep your hands free while braking.