lack of braking performance
I ride a 2005 Specialized Roubaix Elite, 105/Ultegra mix (brakes are 105, levers are Ultegra.) A couple days ago, I test rode a new 2011 Roubaix with the SRAM Apex group. I'm not sure if they were Apex brakes, or just another brand - they were not labeled.
Anyways, on my test ride, when I applied the brakes, I was like whoa! The brakes were awesome compared to mine. Subjectively, I felt like the bike was at least twice as quick to stop.
Back to my bike, as I said, I have 105 brakes, Kool Stop Salmon pads that were new this year (<1000 miles,) '06 Ksyrium Elite rims, and Ultegra brifters. The brake cables are original (about 4000 miles.)
So, my question is - are newer brakes that much better, or do SRAM brakes behave differently, or more to the point, is there something wrong with mine? Stretched (old) cable? Dirty rims? Needing adjustment?
Thanks in advance for any help,
-Matt.