I've been wanting a set of Kool Stop salmon pads for my Felt X City D. Haven't found them locally. The guy I asked at Performance hadn't even heard of them. When searching online, I wasn't sure which ones to get. So, I called Kool Stop about 15 minutes ago.

Wow. I described my brakes, then gave him the model (Avid SD5) and he recommended the Supra 2. He also said the Tektonics or the Slim Lines would work, but the Supra 2's are cheaper and I think he said they last longer. Apparently the Eagle 2's would work for my mountain bike (cantilevers). The guy also told me to stop in if I'm ever in the area, and he'd give me a tour of the factory. Apparently they do that for anyone who knocks on the door. And this guy has worked there since 1984.

I really wish their site made it easier to determine which pads were needed, but I couldn't have asked for better customer service. And he said he'd put them in the mail for me tonight, since I couldn't find them locally.

I'm pretty impressed.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I run the salmon pads as well, great for rainy days. Actually I think they last not as long as their other pads.

Coolness. I love factory tours. I don't even care what the product is. It's just plain fascinating to learn how things are made.

I've been replacing the brake pads on all of my bikes with Kool Stops. Not only do they work better, but they are much cleaner. I got sick and tired of my tires and rims turning black after every rain ride with the Shimano pads on my brakes.

I just got a couple of sets of the Salmon pads for my cantilever brakes. I have to learn how to swap them out and adjust the brakes; I found a video but I never really know how to do something until after I've done it. Sometimes not even then. I had to special order the pads.

I don't understand why it's so hard to find Kool Stop pads at the LBS. I often have trouble at my local shops, and I live about 10 miles from the factory (which I didn't know gave tours, BTW -- very cool). My local shops also don't stock Schwalbe tires. It's a mystery.

I don't get it either. Kool Stops are the only brake pads even mentioned when people ask what to use, yet no one seems to stock them.

I'll take a shot in the dark and say cost. I bet other alternatives allow for a greater markup.

My LBS runs out of them between orders sometimes when the weather turns more horrible than predicted. I have to buy a couple packages so I have backups just in case.

Agree. I always buy mine off of bike shops on ebay. They seem to last a while. TBH on my current bike I'm getting close to 10,000 miles and the pads still look like they've got 50% life left.