Women's Downhiller Missy Giove depends on quick reflexes and cutting edge technology. Downhill racing is perhaps the most dangerous of all cycling sports. More on Missy on Page 2 of this section. The first widely used braking system was know as the plunger. It first appeared on the high-wheelers of the 1800s.
Water decreases the friction between the brake shoe and the tire, lessening the braking power.
The coaster brake is still in wide use throughout the world and appears in a number of less sophisticated bicycles like cruisers and utility bicycles. Coaster brakes also appear on some children's bicycles and tricycles. The coaster brake works by reversing the motion on the pedals. The brake mechanism is inside the hub of the wheel and pushes outward on the hub, creating friction and slowing the bike. The most popular brake for road and mountain bicycles is the caliper rim brake.