Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 2
From: Bozeman
Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2
I've never needed anything other than the standard deore brakes that came on my Tokul 2. And I've ridden straight down Montana mountains.
This is why it's important to let OFF your brakes at points. Completely, not just "dragging them less." Completely let go of the brake lever. When I'm mountain biking, if I'm going down a steep and hairy section where I need to drag the brakes, I'll switch between my front and rear brake, only grabbing both when I need to stop quickly.
The funny thing is, to solve brake overheating problems the answer is to go faster and become a better rider, because they you brake less and in shorter spurts. It's the inexperienced people who drag their brakes down the hill who "need" better brakes.