Pads that will actually stop me!!!

BigLee1

Hiya folks, this is a big ask but here goes

I did Honister pass for the first time the other week from the Buttermere side, pedalled up all the way but had to walk down the Borrowdale side due to the fact my brakes would not stop me. Not even at walking pace with my forearms bulging like popeye!

I have a `14 Giant Defy 1 with the oe brakes and I`m a big guy of 95kgs, am I just asking too much from 4 little blocks of rubber?

Btw I`m 6`6" so losing weight just isn`t really a practical option

sniper68

Disc Brakes

Anonymous

I put some swissstop green on mine and seems a lot better.

Secteur

swissstop green + properly set up with clean rims

that said, on the steepest descents, at 95kg, there might still be some movement, but should be controllable .

IrishMac

You could try new callipers all together and better cables, Sram's are supposedly good But I'd get another opinion to back that up before buying a set
Hope this helps in some way

dave in swansea

I have given up. Spent 2 years walking down the steepest hills. I have tried the Swiss stop green, and although they helped a lot they still struggle with 100 kg on steep (1 in 4-7) hills.
I have just ordered a Whyte Suffolk. Equipped with what are supposed to be the best brakes currently compatible with drop bars.
Hope to collect next weekend.

kajjal

I am a similar weight / height and swapped my brakes to 105's. In the dry they worked well but in the wet they are useless. Swisstop greens work OK in the wet but for 100kg of weight only disc brakes will stop you quickly in any conditions. My mountain bike stops really quickly wet or dry on very steep hills as the disc brakes give much more braking power and better modulation.

Riders of around 70kg or less will have no idea what you mean. Even those of around 80kg to.

sloppyschleckonds

Mavic Exalith rims may offer improved breaking.

wishitwasallflat

I'm heavier than you by quite a lot and have never had any problems with Koolstop Salmons - are you sure your brakes are set up properly?

charlie_potatoes

BigLee1 wrote:

Btw I`m 6`6" so losing weight just isn`t really a practical option

Why do you think that being 6' 6" rules out any weight loss?

According to this thread here... http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12956494
You are 24kgs overweight

FWIW I have come to the conclusion that Swissstop green pads are overrated. I have swapped back to shimano which I find miles better in the dry and the difference very marginal in the wet.

As said earlier the exalith rims offer superior braking.

Kajjal wrote:

Riders of around 70kg or less will have no idea what you mean.

This applies to me so maybe that is why I find the Swissstop overrated?

smidsy

You are expecting 1 inch of rubber gripping onto a 10mm wide track to do a lot.

Yes there are better pads than others but ultimately they are never going to be like car brakes.

Quality cable outers and well set up brakes will give you the best performance - but it may still not cope like you require with the Test you have set.

kajjal

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

BigLee1 wrote:

Btw I`m 6`6" so losing weight just isn`t really a practical option

Why do you think that being 6' 6" rules out any weight loss?

According to this thread here... http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12956494
You are 24kgs overweight

FWIW I have come to the conclusion that Swissstop green pads are overrated. I have swapped back to shimano which I find miles better in the dry and the difference very marginal in the wet.

As said earlier the exalith rims offer superior braking.

Kajjal wrote:

Riders of around 70kg or less will have no idea what you mean.

This applies to me so maybe that is why I find the Swissstop overrated?

Could well be, try strapping 30kg of weight to yourself and see how your brakes work

6ft6 and under 12 stone is not a good idea

Baracus

wait, does this mean i am in danger of not stopping when i descend?
i am new to this cycling thing, 6'2 at about 100kg, i am pretty well built and have no particular wish to lose any weight
does this mean disc brakes are my only option?

Grill

Baracus wrote:

wait, does this mean i am in danger of not stopping when i descend?
i am new to this cycling thing, 6'2 at about 100kg, i am pretty well built and have no particular wish to lose any weight
does this mean disc brakes are my only option?

If you don't want to lose weight then don't cycle.

Swissstops + good cables + clean pads and rims = good braking. As has already been said, if you're on the heavy side (95kg+) then a bit of rubber isn't going stop you with the same urgency as hydraulic discs.

Baracus

Grill wrote:

If you don't want to lose weight then don't cycle.

Swissstops + good cables + clean pads and rims = good braking. As has already been said, if you're on the heavy side (95kg+) then a bit of rubber isn't going stop you with the same urgency as hydraulic discs.

i am in it for the fun

loll wish i knew about this descent stopping business before i got my bike with rim brakes

supermurph09

Ensure the quick release is in position! :shock:

Grill

One of my buddies was about 100kg when he started cycling. He descends like a monster and his first bike was a Carrera with rubbish spec calipers and pads and he had no trouble stopping that much mass on steep Welsh descents. I think that experience and confidence play a huge part in the whole stopping game.

smidsy

Plus you are limited to the amount of grip available - brakes are no good if your wheels are locked up and sliding.

Technique will help a lot.

BigLee1

Some great replies there gentlemen, thank you
Re. weight, I did the climbing equation and came up with 2.82 but going down to 12 stone and looking like a belsen inmate isn`t going to happen! :shock:

Those who are worrying about their brakes not stopping them don`t, if you`ve even been over Honister pass from the Borrowdale side you`ll know how steep it is and there is no run off at all, a stone wall stops you and speed is NOT your friend 99% of any other rides I`ve done in the lake district have given me no worries at all when it comes to controlling my speed on the downhill bits

Discs are the answer but for that 1 pass I`m not bothered. Tbh its not a fun ride, a hard slog up and all the effort put in is wasted on a dodgy descent. I only did it to see if I could, it won`t be a regular ride of mine

menthel

Just to check- are swisstop greens now the new BXP blue ones? They say that those are the best ones on their website...

markhewitt1978

What calipers are you running? IME they make as much difference as the pads.

BigLee1

no name shimano ones with 105 levers

markhewitt1978

Your spec says "Tektro TK-R540 Giant Specific, Dual Pivot"

I had Tektro brakes (no idea if they were the same ones) on my Trek 2.1, and swapped them out for proper branded Shimano 105 callipers and the difference was substantial.

BigLee1

so they are! Just looked myself

Merlin are doing 105 caliper pairs for £50 so unless someone is selling them cheaper I might just spend some cash

BigLee1

or Ultegras for £66

kajjal

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Your spec says "Tektro TK-R540 Giant Specific, Dual Pivot"

I had Tektro brakes (no idea if they were the same ones) on my Trek 2.1, and swapped them out for proper branded Shimano 105 callipers and the difference was substantial.

Did exactly the same on my Trek 1.5, the original brakes were appalling in the dry. I didn't dare use them in the wet !

kajjal

Baracus wrote:

Grill wrote:

If you don't want to lose weight then don't cycle.

Swissstops + good cables + clean pads and rims = good braking. As has already been said, if you're on the heavy side (95kg+) then a bit of rubber isn't going stop you with the same urgency as hydraulic discs.

i am in it for the fun

loll wish i knew about this descent stopping business before i got my bike with rim brakes

Once you have 105 brakes with decent pads it's only in the wet you have to be a bit careful. In the dry you will be fine with rim brakes. Discs would be a big improvement in the dry but especially in the wet.