brake pads getting worn out very fast??? Which braking system for utility cycling???
05-14-11, 09:29 AM
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brake pads getting worn out very fast??? Which braking system for utility cycling???
I do utility cycling on a daily basis, and I noticed that my V-brake brake pads were worning out pretty quickly... What do you folks out there use as brake system???
05-14-11, 05:40 PM
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Hub brakes such as disc, drum and roller brakes all offer improved all-weather use and have lower maintenance.
Disc brakes are preferable for use in extremely hilly (mountainous) areas over other hub brakes, and for use on full on cargo bikes they can offer some extra stopping power. They offer very good weather resistance, and good models have low maintenance.
Drum and roller brakes are extremely low maintenance, and simple to adjust. Good ones are extremely weather resistant, and are pretty much unaffected by most riding conditions.
Personally, I have a front disc brake and a rear v-brake. The v-brake is only ever touched for speed control on poor ground.
Disc brakes are preferable for use in extremely hilly (mountainous) areas over other hub brakes, and for use on full on cargo bikes they can offer some extra stopping power. They offer very good weather resistance, and good models have low maintenance.
Drum and roller brakes are extremely low maintenance, and simple to adjust. Good ones are extremely weather resistant, and are pretty much unaffected by most riding conditions.
Personally, I have a front disc brake and a rear v-brake. The v-brake is only ever touched for speed control on poor ground.
Last edited by Abneycat; 05-15-11 at 11:34 AM.
05-14-11, 06:10 PM
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With disc brakes, use sintered (metallic) pads. They modulate better than the organic pads and last almost twice as long.
05-15-11, 09:20 AM
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I'm a big fan of disc brakes too. I've commuted 17 months now with the same set of metallic pads (Avid BB7 MTN) plus I've done hundreds of miles of errands and weekend rides on my commuter bike. My commute is 16 miles a day, almost every day, winters too. So I figure 6k miles or more. I can't tell exactly, I'd need a new pair of pads to compare but it looks like the pads are only about 50% worn out. The only disadvantage is that the metallic pads squeak a lot more. And the rims are still like new 
05-19-11, 10:10 AM
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Have gotten 25 years of service from my Sturmey Archer drum brake Hubs.
friction material in the drum shoes, is still Fine.
no special frame fittings needed.
friction material in the drum shoes, is still Fine.
no special frame fittings needed.
05-20-11, 04:28 AM
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I am a big fan of disc brakes.
05-22-11, 09:28 AM
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I live in a very mountainous area where there are lots of stop signs and lights at the bottom of huge hills, etc, and ride frequently as well. I've concluded that, quite simply, V-brake pads WILL wear out extremely quickly under those conditions (I use Kool Stops). I usually have to replace mine every 1.5-2 months, and the bike mechanics here say that that is typical for people who ride frequently here. Either upgrade to disc brakes, or simply accept that that's how it is.
05-22-11, 10:04 AM
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In my experience the pad wear has strongly depended on the quality of the V brakes. Once I switched to Avid Single Digit 7, the wear virtually stopped.
05-22-11, 02:14 PM
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Roller or disc brakes. Currently my city bike uses roller brakes, but may get a coaster for the back.
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
