Hey guys so I bought this 90s bike off marketplace and have done a bunch of cleaning and updating to get it riding well. It feels sick overall but did some climbing today and not feeling great on my downhill stopping power.
Ive replaced the front pads (but not the rear yet), I'm wondering what else would be most valuable to get me to stop better? Do I need to clean the rim, and if so with what? Are there newer calipers that would be worth the update?
Thanks!
by iams3b
3 Comments
Replacing the cables can help, if they are still original then that’s a lot of friction from grit.
I’d replace the cables and spend some money to get some good catridge break pad holders and put some kool stop pads in.
Calipers really havent changed all that much in 20 years so you are probably best off just taking the break apart cleaning and lubing all the piviots, the goal is just to reduce as much unwanted friction in the system as possible.
You could ture up the wheel and set the pads a bit closer, but that won’t change much.
And make sure the levers you have are short thow (if they are brifters they probably are). Long throw levers would have the raitos all off
But at the end of the day if you are used to modern hydraulic disc the stopping power from a dual pivot rim caliper will feel meh. They will work and will stop just fine but if your breaking from the hoods it takes a lot of hand strength. A lot of these break systems were designed to be employed from the drops where your hand is at the bottom of the lever and taking advantage of far more leverage.
You say you have replaced your brake pads, but there’s brake pads and brake pads. I’m using Swisstop brake pads, the blue ones, they bite really hard, nothing to envy from a disc brake.
I also have DTSwiss 1400 Dicut wheels, with a specially coated braking surface. So, even if my bike is from 1997, my brakes work as good as anything on the market.
The most important thing when braking : good tires. Try to go with the largest possible. Internet says the GP5000 are the best, and really felt a difference when I first ride them.
…also clean the rim’s sidewall. I gently use #000 steel wool with water and dishwasher soap.