linesonconcrete

is there any problem with using rim brakes on a painted rim?

waterrockets 

Aluminum is an abrasive braking surface, and paint isn't. Painted braking performance will suffer, and may actually deteriorate during descents or heavy braking.

-1 for paint plus brakes

linesonconcrete

does a front drum brake hub work just as well as a rim brake? also does the fork have to be made for a drum brake or can you use any fork.

waterrockets 

I'm not sure how the brake attaches on front drums. On a mountain bike, nearly all modern forks are designed to be disc brake compatible, so they can handle the forces from drum brakes. Cyclocross forks too, if you're outfitting a road bike. So, if you can attach the brake arm to these forks, you should be good to go.

I would not retrofit a front drum brake to a standard road fork. Even a steel fork -- I'm not confident that the lower blades could handle the torque so close to the dropouts.

Hopefully Sheldon will spy this thread and respond with his wisdom

linesonconcrete

i was looking at A.N.T. bicycles and some of his bicycles use a front drum or roller brake and rear rollerbrake. and i was interested in doing somthing similar to this.

https://www.antbikemike.com/images/Bi...redtirebig.jpg

meatwad

Say what? Do you have a masters degree in alchemistry?

So I'm bombing down a hill on my vintage monark with painted S-2s and want to scrub off some speed.

Whats going to happen now?

Wogster

You don't need a master's degree, shiny surfaces like many metal paints, can be fine when dry, but worse then a greased pig when wet. This is why chromed steel isn't used for rims anymore, not all finishes though are paint, aluminum can be anodized which is a special treatment, it will wear off, just like paint does, but doesn't affect the braking surface. A paint which contains an abrasive agent might work as well as bare aluminum, but I don't think that is common. Run your finger along the rim when dry and when wet, and see if there is a difference.

waterrockets 

You'll crash into me with my aluminum rims from behind.

meatwad

On the plus side you'll hear the squealing first. Either from my brakes or myself.

I'm just wondering why the breaking would get progressively worse.

On chrome when the rims are wet the braking goes from nonexistant to something resembling friction when some of the water rubs off.

You seem to be suggesting just the opposite for paint.

Oh well. For everyones sake I will do some wet runs on flat ground before I do anything agressive.

JRZRacing

When you paint the rim, mask off the braking surface and just paint the centre, this will leave the braking surface free of paint, and the paint job will have a more professional look.

waterrockets 

Yeah, I don't know that it would get worse, just that unless you know or can find someone who has tried it, the results are unpredictable.

Maybe you can ride with one of the brakes engaged for a while to heat it up and see what happens. Lots of stuff gets slippery when you rub while it's hot

linesonconcrete

so how about those drum brakes?

waterrockets 

They work great.