So, what I'm asking here is: Do I have to live with this black crap all over my rims?



I bought the Kool Stop Salmons hearing that they are both rim friendly and noticeably improve braking, especially when wet. They are nice when braking, but I'm WAY too OCD to let that stuff just stay on the rim! I've used alcohol and a well used scotch pad to remove it a couple of times.

I have noticed that removing it reduces braking capability until a new layer starts to build up, then improves. Is this black rim dust/pad dust smeared all over my shiny rims the price I have to pay for hitting the binders? If so, that's not so Kool. Thank God I only have one brake, I'd still be cleaning the second wheel!

I have those same pads on my townie and don't have that problem at all.

You've probably picked some sandy material in your pads, which is causing abrasion of the rim. Remove the pads and pick out any material embedded in them.

It looks more like rubber from the pads being left behind on the rims, especially considering he's able to clean it off.

Ride your bike. Who needs brakes on a fixed gear anyway?

I use a fingernail emery board to sand down the surface of the brake pads. Emery boards have just the right grit, they're nice and flat, they're easy to find and they're cheap.

Disc brakes.

You could just get some black rims.

Old pharts like me