Reducing brake wear
04-21-07, 10:50 AM
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Reducing brake wear
When descending a steep hill with numerous sharp curves, which is a better strategy for conserving brake wear:
- Keep on the brakes all the way, never letting speed build
- Brake (hard) only on approaching corners
- Keep on the brakes all the way, never letting speed build
- Brake (hard) only on approaching corners
04-21-07, 11:49 AM
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It's easier to maintain speed than fluctuate....however there is a critical point where the incline and resulting acceleration is so high that you have to decide what the ideal speed and tactic is.
Keep in mind for hard intermeittant braking, you will really heat up the braking system, and then let it cool a bit, then when it's almost cool, heat it up again. It will eventually fail if you are going too fast to allow the heat to fully dissipate, especially with rim brakes and their softer, composite pads.
Keep in mind for hard intermeittant braking, you will really heat up the braking system, and then let it cool a bit, then when it's almost cool, heat it up again. It will eventually fail if you are going too fast to allow the heat to fully dissipate, especially with rim brakes and their softer, composite pads.
04-21-07, 01:06 PM
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Brake hard when approaching corners or when the speed gets uncomfortable for you on the straights. Keeping the brakes on constantly is abad idea, it can overheat the rims, pads etc with bad results.
Its just like using the brakes on your car on long descents. Brake hard, infrequently, then back off on the brakes.
Its just like using the brakes on your car on long descents. Brake hard, infrequently, then back off on the brakes.
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
04-21-07, 01:06 PM
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In my experience, rim brake pads wear out very rapidly during the winter, when they salt and sand the roads, and wear very slowly otherwise. I wouldn't worry.
Paul
Paul
04-23-07, 08:10 AM
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I go down long hills all the time. You can always alternate between feathering your front and rear brakes to keep the heat from getting too out of hand.
Back in the day I had a bike with the sew up tires that glued onto the rim. If you didn't manage the heat braking on a long downhill your tires would melt off the rims.
Back in the day I had a bike with the sew up tires that glued onto the rim. If you didn't manage the heat braking on a long downhill your tires would melt off the rims.
