Rim Brakes on Carbon Wheels
05-22-19, 09:09 AM
#1
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Rim Brakes on Carbon Wheels
Thinking of buying a road bike with rim brakes and carbon wheels? Do you already have a road bike with rim brakes and you want to switch from alloy to carbon wheels? Stop and consider the following:
Bikes are lousy at stopping quickly at speed or steep descent no matter what the situation is. But you have rim brakes on your current bike and you want to go from alloy to carbon wheels you may regret the choice when you try to make descents that require slow speeds down steep descents. The difference as I found about between carbon and alloy after switching is greater than I had participated. (The heavier you are the greater difference with carbon than alloy.)
The bottom line the carbon wheels are much less effective than alloy for breaking the situations I describe
Many carbon wheels come with a braking track on the wheels for a better grip by the brake pads. Those wear out in a month or so.
Anyway, a factor to consider if you are considering going from alloy to carbon for whatever reason.
Bikes are lousy at stopping quickly at speed or steep descent no matter what the situation is. But you have rim brakes on your current bike and you want to go from alloy to carbon wheels you may regret the choice when you try to make descents that require slow speeds down steep descents. The difference as I found about between carbon and alloy after switching is greater than I had participated. (The heavier you are the greater difference with carbon than alloy.)
The bottom line the carbon wheels are much less effective than alloy for breaking the situations I describe
Many carbon wheels come with a braking track on the wheels for a better grip by the brake pads. Those wear out in a month or so.
Anyway, a factor to consider if you are considering going from alloy to carbon for whatever reason.
05-22-19, 09:41 AM
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I regularly switch between alloy training/commuting wheels and carbon race wheels. I use good pads and switch alloy and carbon specific when I'm changing wheelsets. It hasn't been a significant issue for me.
05-22-19, 09:45 AM
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better brake pads? toe your pads? late brake into hairpins and don't ride your pads? don't white knuckle the downhill
210#s I'd climb GMR/Baldy and Palomar on Carbon wheels. Used swiss stop yellows and they are nice and hardly showed signs of wear
210#s I'd climb GMR/Baldy and Palomar on Carbon wheels. Used swiss stop yellows and they are nice and hardly showed signs of wear
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05-22-19, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by BengalCat
Bikes are lousy at stopping quickly at speed or steep descent no matter what the situation is.
-Tim-
05-22-19, 10:04 AM
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"Rim brakes are perfectly adequate, nobody needs discs."
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05-22-19, 10:43 AM
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This thread has potential
05-22-19, 11:29 AM
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Steel wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs alloy.
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05-22-19, 11:38 AM
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I pedal in my sleep...
Wooden wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs steel.
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05-22-19, 11:43 AM
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Stone wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs wood.
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05-22-19, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by jsigone
better brake pads? toe your pads? late brake into hairpins and don't ride your pads? don't white knuckle the downhill
210#s I'd climb GMR/Baldy and Palomar on Carbon wheels. Used swiss stop yellows and they are nice and hardly showed signs of wear
210#s I'd climb GMR/Baldy and Palomar on Carbon wheels. Used swiss stop yellows and they are nice and hardly showed signs of wear
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05-22-19, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
How are the Swiss Stop Yellows and CF in the rain?
I'm on the blue reynold pads now w/ their wheel. Haven't rode in the rain with this setup yet.
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05-22-19, 12:42 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by seau grateau
Alloy wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs carbon.
Originally Posted by Riveting
Steel wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs alloy.
Originally Posted by str8jakett
Wooden wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs steel.
Originally Posted by WhyFi
Stone wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs wood.
Originally Posted by PepeM
Wheels? We don't need no stinkin' wheels!
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05-22-19, 12:46 PM
#18
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I am no weight weenie, if I want to save 5-10 kg, i can lose belly fat! When I wanted deeper section wheels, I got alloy/carbon wheels (Campagnolo Bullet 50). I really like them, except for the graphics, and I pulled the stickers off of the rears, some day I will get around to the front. As I see it, this is the best compromise for the real world that I live in!
05-22-19, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by PepeM
Wheels? We don't need no stinkin' wheels!
Last edited by TimothyH; 05-22-19 at 01:22 PM.
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05-22-19, 02:02 PM
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Yeah, I know that you veterans think that this is a redundant thread, but I am appreciating the constructive contributions here. There continue to be lots of people buying carbon rims for the first time and I'm one of them, and I would like to read what people have to say in this discussion. Pointers to older threads would also be welcome. But not too old, as developments in brake pad materials make those less helpful.
So yeah - long descents, wet/dry, emergency stopping power when something unexpected happens, yellow king vs. black prince. Do tell.
So yeah - long descents, wet/dry, emergency stopping power when something unexpected happens, yellow king vs. black prince. Do tell.
05-22-19, 02:43 PM
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Meh, I'm one of the rare cyclists who knows how to "modulate" rim braking just fine. Thanks for your concern though!
05-22-19, 03:07 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by Riveting
Steel wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs alloy.
Originally Posted by str8jakett
Wooden wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs steel.
Originally Posted by WhyFi
Stone wheels are perfectly adequate, nobody needs wood.
Edit: Huh. Dunno how to copy images here anymore hahah.
Last edited by Abe_Froman; 05-22-19 at 03:12 PM.
05-22-19, 04:30 PM
#25
Don't Bug Me
Originally Posted by seau grateau
Crabon no stop good.
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