The brake is the most important component for your own safety - which is why TOUR applies the highest standards when testing road bike brakes, whether disc brakes or rim brakes. Below you can see how carefully TOUR conducts brake tests on the road and in the laboratory.
Rim brakes in the lab test
The upper diagram shows the course of the test descent based on the height profile (black line) and the speed (blue). The vertical bars below are the programme for the test bench. Framework conditions: 100 kg system weight, average gradient of 13 %, 80 % of the braking power via the front wheel, simulated on the special test stand in the TOUR laboratory. The test speed was averaged to 41 km/h (average speed on the descent). The simulation of the flatter section consists of 5 5-second brake applications with 150 Newtons of braking force and a 10-second pause. Average braking power: 700 watts. In the second part, the braking force is increased to 210 Newtons and the duration of the braking manoeuvres to 7 seconds, with pauses reduced to 7 seconds. Braking power: 1,500 watts. For emergency braking, 400 Newtons are held for 4 seconds.
How TOUR tests road bike disc brakes
The test is carried out on the TOUR brake test bench using the brake discs and pads supplied. After a braking-in phase, the braking forces are measured at -
80 Newton manual force on dry and wet brake discs. -This is followed by a fading test with several brake applications with a four-second pause; the drop in braking force is assessed during the third brake application. The evaluation of the hysteresis diagrams of the braking force over the manual force also provides information about the modulation capability.
The weight of the brake calliper and disc (diameter 160 millimetres) are included in the weight rating. Complexity and any tools required are assessed during adjustment, while workmanship includes the manufacturing quality and appearance of the materials and surfaces.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
