when I got that Tricross, I was underwhelmed by its stopping power, so towards the end of the first season, I put on some of those salmon coloured KoolStop pads. Not only did it make a real feelable diff in braking power, but I am certain that they are easier on the rims. At first I thought they may not last long, but you know, I have ridden that bike for four full seasons since then and the fronts are only now getting close to needing to be changed. I have the spare "slide in" cartridge pads, but ended up not needing to change them this season. I dont ride a ton in the rain, and not down mtns in rain, so that is a big factor, but four seasons of riding, (and the rears still have lots of life in them, I brake much harder with the fronts) is pretty good for me.

Im really sold on softer pads, set up well, its a win win for all the reasons. I am someone who wipes down my rims after rainy riding, and take a cloth to the pads too to avoid little debris getting imbedded in them, so I know this helps a great deal for pad and rim life.


that $140 course sounds great. I am comfortable and reasonably competent on most mechanical stuff with bikes, but wheel experience is very much lacking.