Brake Pad Question
 

Hello all,

For those of you crit racers, let's say you had two sets of wheels: a nice deep carbon set for the race, and your only other set is a normal, everyday aluminum clincher. Now I know you can't ride normal brake pads on carbon - but let's say you flat. Is there a problem with carbon pads on aluminum rims?

Just thinking about the logistics of the wheel pit.

I'm afraid I don't really know the answer to your question. But I do know, the carbon pads with aluminum rims is much better than no pads with aluminum rims.

Also, after it's over, you may want to throw out the carbon pads you used with the aluminum rims. Or at least inspect them with a magnifying glass and tweezers.

I've ridden the same brake pads for two years now (okay, same brand/model, KoolStop black pads, I had to replace them after a year or so). I use carbon wheels in races, alum rims in training.

With Koolstop I feel comfortable keeping the same pads on. I had the salmons (all weather) before, used them for a few years with a similar (but other) set of carbon and aluminum wheels.

Many carbon rim makers will void your warranty if you do that. Both for using non-approved pads and for using them on aluminium rims and carbon without removing the aluminium shards.

If you have to use your carbon pads on aluminium, take them out and remove all the shards before you use them on the carbon rims again. Don't just sand them and hope you got it all. Inspect them.

^ it's why I use Koolstop. I read about their brakes not picking up aluminum, checked my pads, it seemed true, tried it, so good so far. I've never had issues with wearing/scratching the braking surface of a carbon rim.

You will be fine going carbon to AL. The modulation and stopping power could be a little different which might be an issue on a super technical course and as others have stated - make sure you get any metal debris off the pads before putting them back on the carbon wheels.

I've gone to races, debated what wheels to use, and have swapped wheels literally after I've lined up, i.e. I line up on carbons, roll back to the wife, put on the aluminums, and head back to line. Once I changed both wheels (it looked very threatening rain wise and the alum is better in rain), once I changed just the rear (flatted the tire rolling to the line). Those two incidents come to mind immediately, and those are just this year.

just get rid of the brakes, they only slow you down.

This.
I use the same pads (Swiss Yellow) for racing and training (aluminum for training, carbon for racing) for years. When I think about it, I check the pads when switching, but I've never found anything, nor do I stress about it.