brakes on tires-stopping performance

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06-12-12, 10:29 AM

acorn54

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brakes on tires-stopping performance

i needed to stop suddenly the other day when a car cut right in front of me, but when i applied the brakes the bike didn't stop quickly.
the brake set-up i have is the brakes that came on the 1982 fuji bike. cantilever i believe. anyway how do i know if my brake system needs some kind of maintenance and/or new brake pads, besides the obvious of worn brake pads, which the bike mechanic i go to, said did not need replacing about 2 months ago.
thanks in advance for your help

06-12-12, 10:31 AM

BikeWise1

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Cantilevers are the most difficult to set up well, and old brake pads (more than two or three years old) are hard and do not stop well. I'd start with fresh pads and a clean rim.

06-12-12, 10:53 AM

JiveTurkey

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Let me be the first to recommend Kool Stop salmon-colored pads.

Are the rims aluminum or steel? (You can test with a magnet; it'll stick to steel only.) Steel rims offer terrible friction for the pads, especially when wet.