Originally Posted by cerewa
so here's the problem:
i'm a student and don't wanna spend much money.
but i want my bike to have at least one brake that'll work well when i get snow or rain on my rims. (i've got old-style rim brakes right now, and recently found myself using my shoe on the pavement to help slow myself down on a rainy day)
i'm sure i'm not the only one with this problem. any suggestions regarding cheaply getting my bike set up with a good wet-weather brake? know of any sources for cheap used bikes/wheels/whatever with drum brakes? or discs?
Can we have a bit more detail please? If you've got cheap chromed rims no brake pad will help you - you'll have to replace the rims. If you've got alloy rims it could just be a matter of setup and technique.
The most important thing to do with braking in wet weather/snow is to clear your rims occasionally by giving them a short squeeze until they just start to grab. Do this before you actually need them. Also, ride a bit slower than you would normally, and start braking much earlier to again ensure that your rims are clear and you're actually slowing down well before you get to the intersection or wherever.
Set your brakes up so they're nice and solid. The end of the lever shouldn't be moving more than 20mm or so before the brakes grab. The last thing you want is squishy brakes - you'll never be able to apply their full potential when you need them. If you don't know how to do it a good bike shop mechanic should be able to do it in about ten minutes ie. cheaply. Be carful when you start using them though - you want your front wheel to skid even less.