I have a 2006 Bianchi 928 equiped with Veloce components and about six months ago decided to upgrade the brake pads. I went with Swissstop GHP pads because . . . well actually I don't remember why. But in any case I loved the feel of them and there was a definate increase in performance over the stock Campy pads. But after 5 months they started to squeal quite badly, back and front. I tried to sand them down and also adjust their position, but nothing helped, so I decided to replace them.

For replacement I bought Kool Stop Salmon pads because everyone seems to rave about them, they were cheaper, and I wasn't too thrilled with the Swissstops because I figured that I should get more than 5 months out of a set of brake pads. But now after putting them on, I'm not so sure. Of course the squealing went away without any adjustment at all, but these Koolstops just don't have the same stopping power of the Swissstops. I do alot climbing/descending and am a big guy, so I put alot of trust in my brakes, and I miss the feeling of the Swissstops.

I talked to the mechanic at my LBS, and he says that he is not surprised, and thinks that Swissstops are a better pad than Koolstop, but when I asked about the amount of use I got out of the Swissstops he said that any pad can be ruined in even just one ride if you don't know what your doing. Ouch!

Ok. . . so what do you think? Anyone else have experience with these pads. Did I just screw them up? Stick with Kool Stop or go back to Swissstops?