Rim brakes are increasingly rare on new road bikes, but they still make sense for a narrow group of riders. If you're building a weight-obsessed race bike or you love the clean, classic look of a traditional road frame, rim brakes are the lightest option and still offer perfectly good stopping power in dry conditions.
The trade-offs are real, though. Rim brakes lose significant bite in wet weather, and they cap your tire width at around 28mm—ruling out the wider tires many riders now prefer for comfort and grip. Component availability is also declining as the industry shifts toward disc brakes, so finding replacement parts may get harder over time.
For most riders, hydraulic disc brakes are the better choice, but if you ride mostly in fair weather, prioritize low weight, and don't need wide tires, a rim brake road bike can still be a great pick—often at a discount as dealers clear inventory.