Brakes don't work.

[stapfam]

Did a wet ride today and found out the brakes don't work. It may be oil contamination off the road or the cheap brake units on the low spec bike I have got but those brakes did not work at all. I believe it is the brake blocks as the wheels are pretty new and so is the bike if it comes to that and the brakes did work when I got it.

So what brake blocks can you recommend for riding in the wet on a road bike?

[SaiKaiTai]

All I hear over and over again is "Kool Stops" - they make both wet and dry weather pads.

[Digital Gee]

What's so danged important that you have to stop? You're just ruining your average speed. Quit trying to brake and just enjoy the ride.

[Artkansas]

That's what you get for having steel rims.

[Retro Grouch]

What's so danged important that you have to stop? You're just ruining your average speed. Quit trying to brake and just enjoy the ride.

Digital, Digital, Digital. The man has to stop so that he can eat his pie. That's part of enjoying the ride.

[stapfam]

First of all I was going downhill at 45mph and I wanted to turn left at the bottom. I didn't stop and had to do a mile climb up a 16% . By the time I had slowed down I was already 50 yards up it so why waste expended energy, but it put another 5 miles on the ride as I had to go down another hill to see if the problem was just occasional - and it was not- They didn't stop at the bottom of the next hill either. And the new wheels were built in 2007 and not 1947.

[PaulH]

If you are going to use rim brakes, they should have salmon-colored Kool Stop pads. That's my position.

Paul

[BluesDawg]

If you are going to use rim brakes, they should have salmon-colored Kool Stop pads. That's my position.

Paul

Yep. That's the answer.

[BluesDawg]

First of all I was going downhill at 45mph and I wanted to turn left at the bottom.

Glad to see you don't have unrealistic expectations of your equipment :rolleyes: . Even with salmon Kool Stop pads, wet rims will need a little pre-scrub to squeeze the water off before they will stop well. Even then they aren't going to haul you down instantly from extreme speeds. Wet riding on roads requires a little more advanced planning.

[The Weak Link]

Brakes are for sissies.

[oilman_15106]

All I hear over and over again is "Kool Stops" - they make both wet and dry weather pads.

And they are worth every cent you are charged for them.

[Tom Bombadil]

Shoes man, use your SHOES!!!!

Sheldon writes at length on the Kool Pads:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html

[SaiKaiTai]

I just ordered two sets of cool stops from REI for my Reno (ordered a pair of Crocs, too, thanks to you, 'Dawg)

[maddmaxx]

I agree with the cool stop pads for the present level of technology but I still think that disc brakes are in the future for road bikes. The determining factor will be if and when they show up on pro race bikes.

[BluesDawg]

I agree with the cool stop pads for the present level of technology but I still think that disc brakes are in the future for road bikes. The determining factor will be if and when they show up on pro race bikes.

Good! Another trend I can buck.

[Digital Gee]

I agree with the cool stop pads for the present level of technology but I still think that disc brakes are in the future for road bikes. The determining factor will be if and when they show up on pro race bikes.
Perhaps someone will invent dork disc brakes? (Saves weight!)

[Terrierman]

Brakes are way overrated, they only slow you down.

[head_wind]

If you are going to use rim brakes, they should have salmon-colored Kool Stop pads. That's my position.

Paul

I agree completely.