How do bike brakes make you stop?

Picture yourself riding a bike along a smooth path. The wheels spin round and round. A soft wind tickles your face as you roll.

Then the end of the path comes near, and you want to stop. How do bike brakes make you stop? Let's find out together, one little step at a time.

Many bikes have brakes you work with your hands. On the handlebars, by each hand, sits a lever, which means a little handle you pull to make something move. When you want to stop, you squeeze the lever toward the grip.

Each lever pulls on its own thin wire. Each wire runs along the bike down to one of the wheels. The wire carries your pull from your hand to the wheel.

At the wheel, the wire pulls on the brake pads, which means two small rubber blocks, one on each side of the wheel. The brake pads move closer and closer, until they press on the edge of the wheel. Now the spinning wheel and the pads touch. What do you think happens when rubber rubs on a spinning wheel?

The brake pads rub hard against the wheel. Rubbing makes it hard for the wheel to keep turning. So the wheel turns slower and slower.

Soon the wheels stop turning. When the wheels stop, the whole bike stops rolling. And you stop too, safe and still on your bike.

Let's remember our words: lever and brake pads. Your hand squeezes the lever, and the brake pads rub the wheels until you stop.

Now you know the secret of your bike's hand brakes. Sweet dreams, and happy riding tomorrow.