A bicycle brake assembly having an inverted substantially U-shaped brake arm assembly (21, 21a) and a cable coupling (31, 31a) centrally positioned between outwardly and downwardly extending brake arms (32, 33). Each brake arm (32, 33) includes a resiliently flexible upper arm portion (36, 36a) connected to a downwardly and inwardly extending relatively inflexible lower arm portion (37, 37a), preferably by integrally forming the arm portions as a single member. The upper and lower arm portions are formed and coupled together, and the frame mounts (39) positioned, so that upward displacement of the cable coupling (31, 31a) causes resilient flexing of the upper arms (36, 36a), which in turn pulls the lower arms (37, 37a) toward each other to effect braking, all without straightening out of the upper and lower arms in a manner losing braking leverage. The resilient flexibility of the arm assemblies (32, 33) causes the braking arms to be returned outwardly to a non-braking position when the brake actuating force is released.