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Brake blocks, thoughts?

Posted: 24 Mar 2015 22:22
by Hels147
Hi, I could do with some advice please.

I've had my road bike for a year now and discovered at the weekend that I could probably do with changing the brakes, but I've realised I have no idea which brake blocks to get! A couple of forums mention swissstop, others say ashima. There also appears to be a few different compounds.
I have normal non carbon wheels (aluminium?) and I must admit I do tend to brake late and hard on decents (but only when riding solo, not on club runs :D ).

Anyone got any recommendations? Or ones to avoid?

Thanks

Hels

Posted: 24 Mar 2015 22:38
by CakeStop
My vote is for Koolstop Salmon on the basis of longevity, rim friendliness and wet performance.

Posted: 24 Mar 2015 22:41
by Dave Cox
Another vote for Koolstop Salmon!

Posted: 24 Mar 2015 22:42
by laurence_cooley
I've got Kool Stop salmons on all of my bikes now. They're miles better than any stock pads and work well in the dry and the wet. Best place to get them if you're going to buy a few pairs is Bike-Discount.de. Until recently, they only stocked the old version, but I e-mailed them and they've now added the new ones: http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/kool ... mon-419568.

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 07:33
by Pedlo Mudguardo
Swiss Stop Green Compound. Powerful and rim friendly.

Available at all good local bike shops.

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 10:38
by GrahamGamblin
I've used Koolstop salmon for the first time over the last winter and they were noticeably better in the wet than anything I'd used before.

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 11:35
by Philip Whiteman
Concur with others above on Koolstop and Swiss Stop. Just make sure that you buy the correct colour blocks - as different colours relate to different braking surfaces.

They are expensive but will save your money through greater rim longevity.

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 18:34
by AlanW
Koolstops for me to, salmon in the winter and black ones in the summer

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 20:01
by petemarshall
You can try koolstop black on the front with salmon on the back. This will usually prevent you locking up the front in wet weather if you brake a little to hard. The salmon is great on the back in any weather whilst the black is very powerful in the dry and wears better. Of course this is all dependent on decent and clean rims.

Posted: 25 Mar 2015 23:19
by keith
I Use Koolstop dual compound black and salmon on the same block but either or both are fine to be honest, and pretty much anything is better than the standard Shimarno efforts, they can wear out a rim in a single muddy ride. Swiss stops seem expensive but then so are new wheels

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 06:56
by AlanW
keith wrote:I Use Koolstop dual compound black and salmon on the same block
Arr yes, I was forgetting that I have been using those dual compound ones now as well :oops:

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 08:31
by deero83
I have been using SwissStop green pads and have only just changed them after 12 months of riding on one of my bikes (c3,000 miles)

Posted: 29 Mar 2015 22:16
by Hels147
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Think I'm leaning towards the swissstop green.

Posted: 02 Apr 2015 14:49
by Downward
I preferred the swissstop over salmons but mainly for the dry weather.