Koolstop Salmon brake pads

Sea_Green_Incorruptible
Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
edited December 2008 in Commuting chat
If you're not using them already then I urge you to get some!

In the past, the ONLY thing I have disliked about commuting on my road bike has been the cantilever brakes. OK in the dry (though a bit 'on' or 'off') but almost non-existant in the wet. They have felt dangerous in the rain and left me feeling insecure. Hence a continuing hankering for a roadie with disk brakes.

No longer. I fitted the Koolstop Salmon brake pads last night (designed for the wet) and then rode them on wet roads this morning. The difference is amazing. Modulation is really good - the bike felt very controllable under braking, and the wheels didn't lock up at all + most importantly they actually work in the wet!

I felt so much more sure-footed than normal this morning. Yet to see how durable they are but for now they seem to be a genuine (and relatively cheap) performance increasing addition to a commuting bike (and TBH, even if I have to buy a new set every month in winter it would be worth it). Available for all types of brakes too...

Comments

  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,714
    They are incredible. If I had to sell my family to have some, I'd have no family. If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
  • Eat My Dust
    Eat My Dust Posts: 3,965
    +1 I've had them on for a few months now and they are very good compared to other brands. The only down side is that you can almost watch them wear away as you brake. They are very soft, but still worth it IMHO.
    SNAPS
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Now, I have some of the kool stop normal brake pads, they are currently sitting in my bike bits box.

    For the Salmon ones, would you switch them in and out for wet days? Or just wear through them really quickly? I guess they wear even faster in the dry?
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    whyamihere wrote:
    They are incredible. If I had to sell my family to have some, I'd have no family. If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.

    Its no endorsement at all- we've met your family- :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :wink::wink::wink::wink:


    [Editor] He's lying, he has not met your family at any time[/editor]
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  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    The best are the dual compound ones - just as effective as the salmon but harder wearing.
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    Wiggle seem to have discontinued the salmon V-brake inserts.

    If you have V-brakes on your bike and you want Kool Stop Salmon pads then you've got to buy the ones that come as a whole block, from what I can see.
    My photography // My helmet cam videos // My bike
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    I dont like to use fish as brake pads.....also any politician with a fish in their name shold be banned
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    +1 Used the salmons after my fatory fit blocks wore out and then cursed the lovely bike shop that serviced my bike as they replaced my brake blocks with some Dura-Ace Shimano pads.....defintately not as good as the Salmons in the dry and don't even get me started on the performance in the wet!

    I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some new wheels from Santa (hopefully not forced down the chimney, I don't want em all bent!) so I'm gonna hold out on replacing the cr4ppo blocks so I can fit new rims and pads in the new year - or boxing day as I'm rather impatient!!!
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  • Lbaguley
    Lbaguley Posts: 161
    I bought some on the strength of some of the earlier threads and comments for my new :D (well refurbished) SS. Only problem is the bike's still got the old single pivot brake calipers and chromed steel rims. They're ok in the dry but plain dangerous in the wet - I had to pre-empt all braking this morning :shock:

    Oh yeah, and sorry to the lady I nearly hit this am - you shouldn't have been crossing without looking, but I should have been able to stop too! :oops:

    Can't wait to get my new front wheel so I can stop!

    I should be able to make slightly more constructive comment on my strangely coloured pads then...
  • blackworx
    blackworx Posts: 123
    They're not a miracle cure, but for cantis they make a huge difference over pretty much everything else out there.

    Still, cantis suck for road use, no getting around it.
    Trek XO1
    FCN4
  • simple_salmon
    simple_salmon Posts: 457
    cee wrote:
    I dont like to use fish as brake pads.....also any politician with a fish in their name shold be banned

    Harsh :D
  • jeepie
    jeepie Posts: 497
    edited December 2008
    Really encouraged by this as the only thing I don't like about my road bike is the brakes are poor. I changed from Tekkro (useless) which the bike came with to Ultegra brakes with some improvements, but the brakes still scare me.

    So can I swap out my Dura Ace blocks for these Salmon ones? Or just go for

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kool_ ... 300005952/
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    any recommendation of onli9ne retailers apart from Wiggle for these

    and what about shops in central london
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  • TheBrogueadier
    TheBrogueadier Posts: 89
    Spenn666,

    Although they can be a little expensive for some things (that may just be because I was looking at the Rapha and Assos clothes n kit.. I went money-blind after that) I'd say pop into Condor.. they've normally got all maner of interesting gubbins and accessories, plus you can check out the Rouleur photo thing next door.
    FCN: 5
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    cheers mate, might have a look there next week :D
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  • blackworx
    blackworx Posts: 123
    Jeepie wrote:
    Really encouraged by this as the only thing I don't like about my road bike is the brakes are poor. I changed from Tekkro (useless) which the bike came with to Ultegra brakes with some improvements, but the brakes still scare me.
    I've got cheapass Tektros with Ultegra blocks on my road bike and they're miles better than the Avid cantis on my XO1 with Kool-stops. Not the same situation of course, but I honestly don't have any bother with my Tektros at all; they're nice brakes imho.
    Trek XO1
    FCN4
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,707
    spen666 wrote:
    any recommendation of onli9ne retailers apart from Wiggle for these
    I bought some of the dual-compound canti pads from http://www.dotbike.com.
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    cee wrote:
    I dont like to use fish as brake pads.....also any politician with a fish in their name shold be banned

    What about Curry? :wink:
  • jeepie
    jeepie Posts: 497
    Cheers for the info on Tekkro. Maybe mine weren't tekkro?? I've checked the bike docs and can't see the brake type listed. Came with 105 groupset. I know that the brakes were not sealed units and let the water in so they weren't good...., but sorry if the info on the brakes was wrong. I know that the brakes my bike came with were rubbish - 105 Bianchi via Nirone, so I swapped em for Ultegras. Now looking to improve the blocks as I'm currently using Dura Ace.

    Definitely considering trying the kool stops! So thanks for the tip. I'll give 'em a go.
  • rubbercolin
    rubbercolin Posts: 67
    love my swisstop greens
    :D
    real difference in the wet.....

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