The braking behaviour of your bike is not good anymore? Maybe it is time to change the brake cables? It will be past due if the cable on the road bike is already cracked. The 1.6 mm thick cables of steel or stainless steel ensure the perfect transmission of the braking power. So, should you decide to replace them on your own, pay special attention to a proper installation and - in the truest meaning - to a "frictionless" function! Do not forget that the brake is considered an essential safety aspect on your bike.
You can see which brake cables are being used on road bikes if you look at the end cap of the cable. You'll find that the end caps of road bike cables have the round shape of a pear. At MTB's, there are other nipples on the cable's end, which are more similar to a longitudinal tube.