Bicycle brakes can be categorized into several types, including rim brakes, disc brakes, and drum brakes.

Rim brakes, such as caliper, V-brake, and cantilever, clamp onto the wheel’s rim.

Disc brakes, which can be mechanical or hydraulic, use a rotor mounted to the wheel hub and a caliper that squeezes the rotor.

Drum brakes are integrated into the hub and work by expanding brake shoes outward.

Each type offers different performance characteristics in terms of stopping power, modulation, maintenance, and impact by weather conditions.