- Coaster brakes are a bicycle braking system that work on the bicycle's rear tire. The rider activates them by pedaling backward a half-rotation. This causes the braking mechanism inside the wheel hub to push outward against the stationary parts of the wheel, creating friction that slows the bicycle down. You see coaster brakes most commonly on children's bicycles, because children's hands aren't strong enough to activate caliper, or hand, brakes. Some simple adult bicycles use coaster brakes, too.
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The first bicycles didn't have brakes, which meant only the truly adventurous rode them. Eventually, to make bicycles more appealing to the masses, manufacturers developed a braking system called the plunger. The rider pushed a lever that pressed a metal plate against the wheel and slowed the bicycle. This worked all right in the 1800s, when bicycle tires were solid rubber, but it didn't work well on inflatable tires.
Coaster brakes, invented in the 1890s, were a huge improvement over previous mechanisms. Many bicycles still use them today, but newer braking systems, such as caliper brakes and drum and disc brakes, are safer. -
Coaster brakes have several drawbacks that prevent their widespread use. They only work well on single-gear bicycles. A few multi-speed bicycles use coaster brakes, but this isn't their ideal use. Coaster brakes make it difficult to start riding again after coming to a stop, because you can't easily rotate the pedals to the best starting position. This is especially a problem if you ride in town, where traffic signals mean you'll stop often.
Coaster brakes don't usually require as much maintenance as other braking systems, but when they do need repair, you may have trouble finding parts or someone knowledgeable about fixing them. -
Some problems with coaster brakes move beyond inconvenience into danger. Coaster brakes don't work well in hilly or mountainous areas. They overheat and could leave you without control of your bicycle. Even on flat stretches, coaster brakes tend to lock up and cause you to skid, leading to a potential fall.
The most dangerous aspect of coaster brakes is that you probably won't get any warning before they fail. Most coaster brake failures happen suddenly when your bicycle chain comes derailed and you have no way to slow your bicycle. - If your bicycle has coaster brakes, install some sort of brake on the front wheel as well. Never rely on a coaster brake as your only stopping mechanism. A coaster brake won't work if your chain falls off, and that happens too easily. Install caliper brakes as a back-up system.
