Don't you just hate it...
 

when you come back from a ride. You were slower than usual and feel like crap. Then when you put you're bike away you notice that one of the brake pads was dragging!!!! At least I have a reason why I was so slow. Well slower anyway.

Bill

Ouch! I know your pain. In a cyclo cross race, last Sunday, at the end of the first lap I noticed my front wheel skidding on loose gravel while I was pedaling. The front V brake's spring was not opening back up and one shoe was dragging. The course took us through a sand pit and I think sand got into the brake. By the time I got the brake working properly the 45 minute race was two laps older. I petitioned the organizers to allow me to race in the following race and they OK'd it. Problem is the next race was 1 hr long and filled with the Cat 1,2 and 3 studs.

Sometimes I check the brakes to see if they're dragging, then I realise I'm just f'n slow. It is what it is.

Look at it as power training.

I often set the brakes to drag and lower the pressures in the tyres----On my mates bikes.

This happened to me:
The Tour leader and Chief Mechanic changed tires for me and installed the wheel.
My biking performance was very bad after that. I thought it was psychological on my part due to multiple flats I had on that day.
No, the Tour Leader and Chief Mechanic installed the wheel with a drag and I was too trusting to check him.:o
That will never happen to me again.

I've only ever thought a brake pad was rubbing on a ride. It's never actually happened. I was just slow that day.

Good one.

Only if your not one of his mates.lol

True

This just happened to me today. During my commute from work I was slow and felt like crap. After reading the OP's suggestion of the brake pads dragging, I checked my bike. Mechanically my bike checked out flawless. I am so disappointed that I couldn't find a mechanical excuse for the way I felt.

I don't mean to sound uppity, but that never happens to me because I check the bike over before I ride.
Well, it happened to me ONCE, and that's why I check the bike now. Takes less than a minute.

Had it. Hated it. Worse than a headwind or false flat. Finally replaced brakes.

Sadly enough, Velo Dog, brakes can work perfectly for a pre-ride check and still end up dragging.

Been there. I actually like tinkering with my bike now before a ride. I put it up on the stand, make sure everything shifts perfectly and the brakes are dialed in perfectly. For some reason, having a perfectly tuned bike really encourages me to ride.

Before I used to just jump on the bike and then adjust while I was riding. Not near as fun.

Actually that is sort of why it happened. I was checking the bike. Looked down and saw the rear wheel was just a bit closer to the left chainstay. Centered the wheel after tightening the skewer a bit. Forgot to check the wheel for free spin.