A brake mechanism includes a brake arm having a lower portion for being pivotally mounted to the bicycle and a link member having an upper portion and a lower portion. A shoe attachment member for attaching a brake shoe is coupled to an upper portion of the brake arm and to an upper portion of the link member. The lower portion of the brake arm and the lower portion of the link member are adapted to be pivotally mounted to the bicycle so that the shoe attachment member maintains a generally horizontal attitude when the brake arm pivots relative to the bicycle.