Another brake block question: Wet performance

"Josey" <nospam@josey> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need a recommendation. I googled the group but couldn't see anything.

The default black brake blocks on my trek hybrid are excellent in the dry,
but not quite so hot in the wet. Is there anything better out there in the
wet, or better still all-round weather conditions?

It has V-Brakes. thx.

Brake earlier?! That's my technique!

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by .. have a
look about for those ...

It's all down to the harder compound ... you'll spend more with softer, but
you'll brake much quicker ...

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by .. have
a look about for those ...

Ah, OK I see Kools Stop Pink and also Kool stop Dual Pink/Black at wiggle.

Presumably the all pink is the softer compound, so if I'm not too worried
about wear rate the all pinks would be best?

Jc.

"Josey" <nospam@josey> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by .. have
a look about for those ...

Ah, OK I see Kools Stop Pink and also Kool stop Dual Pink/Black at wiggle.

Presumably the all pink is the softer compound, so if I'm not too worried
about wear rate the all pinks would be best?

Kool Stop Salmons are the way to go. Never looked back since I swapped over
to them. Also ended the annoying squealing of brakes.

-=V=-

"Josey" <nospam@josey> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by .. have
a look about for those ...

Ah, OK I see Kools Stop Pink and also Kool stop Dual Pink/Black at wiggle.

Presumably the all pink is the softer compound, so if I'm not too worried
about wear rate the all pinks would be best?

Strangely the pink ones seem to give quite a good wear rate too - odd, but
they do work well. I use them on the tandem, which as you might imagine can
be quite hard on blocks :-)

cheers,
clive

Josey said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by ..
have a look about for those ...

Ah, OK I see Kools Stop Pink and also Kool stop Dual Pink/Black at
wiggle.
Presumably the all pink is the softer compound, so if I'm not too
worried about wear rate the all pinks would be best?

The compound is different rather than softer, and it contains iron oxide
(rust) - hence the orange or "salmon" colour (not pink). Anyway, they're
good blocks generally and seem to brake better than average blocks in light
rain. Riding in heavy rain or through deep water, there's a delay before
anything happens with any any block, including Kool Stop Salmon.

Importantly, they pick up less pieces of grit and metal than other pads, and
this makes your rims last longer.

~PB

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message

Quoted message said:

Importantly, they pick up less pieces of grit and metal than other pads,
and this makes your rims last longer.

I do have a problem with grit pickup. I'll grab a set and try them out.

Next question is, for my Bontrager 700C wheels should I buy

Kool stop mountain pad
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/koolstop%20mtn%20pad.jpg

or

Kool stop thinline
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/koolstop%20thinline.jpg

?

Jc

Josey said:

Next question is, for my Bontrager 700C wheels should I buy

Kool stop mountain pad
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/koolstop%20mtn%20pad.jpg

or

Kool stop thinline
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/koolstop%20thinline.jpg

?

Mountain Pad is easier to align. Thinline is good when you have minimal
clearance from forks. Both are meant mainly for mountain bikes & v brakes.
Unfortunately Wiggle no longer stop the Kool Stop Dura holders which are
best for road bikes. They do still have the cartridges which fit Shimano
and Tektro holders.

~PB

I said:

Mountain Pad is easier to align. Thinline is good when you have
minimal clearance from forks.

I mean sideways clearance... although ironically the length may cause a
clearance problem.

~PB

In article <[email hidden]>
Pete Biggs <[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately Wiggle no longer stop the Kool Stop Dura holders which are
best for road bikes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8140

"vernon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Josey" <nospam@josey> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There are some "salmon pink" brake blocks that everyone swears by ..
have a look about for those ...

Ah, OK I see Kools Stop Pink and also Kool stop Dual Pink/Black at
wiggle.

Presumably the all pink is the softer compound, so if I'm not too
worried about wear rate the all pinks would be best?

Kool Stop Salmons are the way to go. Never looked back since I swapped
over to them. Also ended the annoying squealing of brakes.

Interesting. I have to say I wasn't impressed by salmons. I tried on the
rear V of a mountain bike and on the front centre pull of a commuter. They
both glazed over very quickly and the centre pull squealed intolerably.

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message

Quoted message said:

I said:

Mountain Pad is easier to align.

I went for the dual black/salmon in the mountain pad. Just one set to try. I
put them on the back, as the existing shimano pads were well worn/slimey.

Easy to fit and line up, nicely cleaned rims too. The 700c wheel means the
curve of the pad is not quite right, but close enough. Much better than the
existing shimano pads for fit, and maybe 50% more pad on the rim.

So far only done 10 miles in the wet, and they are good. Progressive and
powerful. Seen enough to order the second pair already.

Thanks,

Jc.

"Josey" <nospam@josey> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need a recommendation. I googled the group but couldn't see anything.

The default black brake blocks on my trek hybrid are excellent in the dry,
but not quite so hot in the wet. Is there anything better out there in the
wet, or better still all-round weather conditions?

It has V-Brakes. thx.

I've never had a problem with cheap jagwire etc blocks from the LBS. I used
to get through a set of blocks a ride on my MTB so I didn't care much for
expensive ones. The first thing I'd do is make sure everything's adjusted
properly. If you've got plastic levers, they'll limit how much force you can
put through the brakes. OTOH, I've found Shimano blocks to be useless and
binned them straight away.

"Josey" <jc@nospam> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message

Quoted message said:

I said:

Mountain Pad is easier to align.

I went for the dual black/salmon in the mountain pad. Just one set to try.
I put them on the back, as the existing shimano pads were well
worn/slimey.

Easy to fit and line up, nicely cleaned rims too. The 700c wheel means the
curve of the pad is not quite right, but close enough. Much better than
the existing shimano pads for fit, and maybe 50% more pad on the rim.

So far only done 10 miles in the wet, and they are good. Progressive and
powerful. Seen enough to order the second pair already.

You are running Shimano pads then. They are the only pad I've ever thought
not up to scratch. I'd swap the fronts for some cheapies and have a bit of a
comparison.

"Doki" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

If you've got plastic levers, they'll limit how much force you can put
through the brakes. OTOH, I've found Shimano blocks to be useless and
binned them straight away.

No, nowt plastic. The Shimano blocks have just been banished to the bin.
They were OK in the summer.

Jc.

"Josey" <jc@nospam> wrote in message

After lots of wet riding, the kool stop pads are still performing well.

As expected my rims are no longer getting the shimano-slime.

There is some evidence that the "plough" shape on the end of the pad does
what it says too. There is noticeable a trail of grime that has flown over
this surface on the pads.

Stopping power seems little different to the shimano in the dry, but are
excellent in the wet, especially after a quick rim-clean squeeze.

Jc

Josey said the following on 12/12/2006 19:40:

Quoted message said:

After lots of wet riding, the kool stop pads are still performing well.

What's the score with Kool-stops at the moment, availability wise?

Quoted message said:

As expected my rims are no longer getting the shimano-slime.

I ask because my new Shimano V-brakes are also covering my rims with
Shimano-slime, and Koolstops never seemed to do that.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/