Brake Pads

skyblueamateur

Any recommendations for the best pads to be using in this weather? Want something that won't pick up any grit if possible but also okay to use all year round?

smidsy

Anything soft enough to actually stop you will pick up some foreign bodies.

Anything hard enough not to pick up foreign bodies will be unlikely to stop you.

I know which way round I am going :-)

Just get into the habbit of checking and cleaning as necessary.

FWIW - Normal recommendations of the masses are Koolstops and Swiss Tops.

Scrumple

Or even Swiss stops !
New Blue bxp or the previous best Green for premium. Black for standard harder ones.

(For alu rims)

dawebbo

Just remember to regularly clean them and pick out any flecks of aluminium - otherwise you'll get poor performance and that horrible scraping sound.

FergySteve

smidsy wrote:

FWIW - Normal recommendations of the masses are Koolstops and Swiss Tops.

Just having a look at these. Is there significant shortening of life with the softer (salmon?) ones? I like the idea of as good a braking performance as possible, but don't want to be changing brake pads every 5 minutes.

antikythera

I'd recommend the Koopstop full salmon for the most dire of weather, they will wear "quicker than some" but the confidence in braking is worth it. Mind you I just change my last set after 9 months of constant use (100Km a week). If you want to go half-way Koolstop also have a half/half (black/salmon) pad.

I only put the upgraded pads on the front. See Sheldon Brown's article for an explanation. And, I use the cost effective pads (Koolstops) for commuting and the posh stuff (Swissstops) for the fast/competitive rides.

smidsy

Also the more you neded to change pads the less you need to change rims.

One has to be abraded more than the other and I would opt for the pads every time.

FergySteve

Didn't think of it like that. Makes sense!

sedente

kool stop salmons cheap and cheerful and are absolutely brilliant in the wet

Jon_1976

+1 for kool stops. Bought a set that included 2 sets of pads (salmon and dual compound salmon/black) and 2 holders for about £18. A pair of pads can be had for about £9. Both types were excellent.

FergySteve

Thanks guys, just ordered some salmon kool-stops. Looking forward to the increased braking performance. Shame they are an awful colour!

rjkflyer

I'm just trying the Swiss Stop Blue new ones - seem to squeal pretty badly - any other experiences?

Yes, I can toe them in a bit, but the Campag originals didn't have this problem. Maybe give them a bit longer...?

pride4ever

You need soft compounds if you want to stop and if your running carbon rims or basalt to be exact youl need creme cheese blocks lol.