Being facetious with the title, but I'm at at loss for what going on with these rims. They feel incredibly slick and the brake performance is pretty terrible.
I picked up this pristine trek 750 a few weeks ago in (I believe) stock condition. The wheels especially look immaculate. The original brakes were atrocious and I decided to upgrade with lovely dia-compe one (partly an aesthetic choice). While they're noticably a lot better it still feels like even with the brakes fully clamped down with maximum force I can rotate the wheel.
I'm wondering if the rims are designed for a specific compound because they feel very slick and don't really have a defined brake track like I'm typically used to seeing. I know cantis have a reputation for not being effective but I've successfully set up many that can easily lock up the wheel when engaged, and these feel really well set up, so I think there's something going on with the rim / pad combo.
Thanks a bunch for the help!
by eddierhys
9 Comments
To start with, your brake pads are not at all adjusted properly, being so high that they aren’t making full contact with the rim.
They are anodized rims. That is the issue if you want to try googling. I think the bad braking especially when new is why full anodized rims are not common on rim brake rims. But I would try some koolstop pads, before you give up and scuff up or try and remove the anodizing.
Try kool stops and if that doesn’t help, new wheels is probably the way. Older silver mavics is the way
Went through a similar experience with these rims. They seemed to have a bit of a break in period. Now they stop on a dime with kool stop pads and road calipers.
Adjust those brake pads, so they completely touch the rim.
As shown, the pad is too high.
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[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/149303-matrix-clincher-rims-bad-reputation.html](https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/149303-matrix-clincher-rims-bad-reputation.html)
If they had been ceramic coated, the braking would be amazing. But Kool-Stops will improve things.
I have the same on my Ambrosio Crono tubulars, the finish is usually referred to as a durex anodized finish. They were trying all sorts of things to stop brake chattering back in the 80s. Your Trek 750 is also from that era. Best solution for poor brake performance, Kool Stops, salmon brakepads and definitely toe them in.
It also looks like your pad needs to be adjusted.