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Bontrager Gigapower brake shoes --- horrible
Anyone used these? They're the cartridge type, btw. Cost around 13USD for
the set. My beef with them is that they get glass and stones caught in them so often that they're usually worthless after a couple miles until I pry the detritus out. I've never had a set of pads so tenacious in their grip of road debris. I'm using them on a set of vintage Shimano 600 calipers with Mavic Ma3s, but that should be irrelevant. On the back caliper I've got a set of the generic black block in metal holder ones--that cost a buck a pair, and honestly, they kick the Bontrager's butt, except for wet stopping, where they're merely adequate. They are silent, and never ever have picked up any debris. Worst pads I've ever used, bar none. Should I mail them back to Bontrager with a note of complaint? Thirteen bucks isn't the kings ransom, but should be plenty for a set of trouble free brake shoes. I'm tempted to just get a new set of those Nashbar long reach calipers--for a tenner more than two new sets of brake shoes, I can take the chance on totally fresh brakes. Do you all think the braking of the dual pivot brakes is much superior to that of traditional sidepulls, and worth the upgrade? |
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#2
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maxo wrote: Anyone used these? They're the cartridge type, btw. Cost around 13USD for the set. My beef with them is that they get glass and stones caught in them so often that they're usually worthless after a couple miles until I pry the detritus out. I've never had a set of pads so tenacious in their grip of road debris. I'm using them on a set of vintage Shimano 600 calipers with Mavic Ma3s, but that should be irrelevant. On the back caliper I've got a set of the generic black block in metal holder ones--that cost a buck a pair, and honestly, they kick the Bontrager's butt, except for wet stopping, where they're merely adequate. They are silent, and never ever have picked up any debris. Worst pads I've ever used, bar none. Should I mail them back to Bontrager with a note of complaint? Thirteen bucks isn't the kings ransom, but should be plenty for a set of trouble free brake shoes. I'm tempted to just get a new set of those Nashbar long reach calipers--for a tenner more than two new sets of brake shoes, I can take the chance on totally fresh brakes. Do you all think the braking of the dual pivot brakes is much superior to that of traditional sidepulls, and worth the upgrade? You want better braking? Change your pads to Kool Stop salmon colored ones: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html Sheldon sells them and there's one for every type of application, nuff said.... |
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On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 10:55:25 -0700, bfd853 wrote:
You want better braking? Change your pads to Kool Stop salmon colored ones: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html That doesn't really help or answer my query, whether or not anyone has had this problem with debris or not. When they're not embedded with crap--they stop brilliantly in the wet--as good as KS pads. Yes, the Koolstops are fine, yes I've used them before, no the local LBS sucks and doesn't stock them, and FWIW el cheapo atb shoes from *mart work as well as I need them to, but the shape interferes with the brake quick release and fender. The local LBS wants $20 for the salmon *refills*, but as I said, they don't even stock the standalone pads. Honestly, Nashbar's got those long reach calipers on sale for as much as a set of pads from the LBS--I might just take my chances... I'm really curious more to as whether pad compound or design contributes in some way to the pads attracting grit. |
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maxo wrote: Honestly, Nashbar's got those long reach calipers on sale for as much as a set of pads from the LBS--I might just take my chances... I'm really curious more to as whether pad compound or design contributes in some way to the pads attracting grit. Sorry, but since you appear to have experience with Kool Stop salmon colored pads and know where to get them, you are not "curious" about the pad compound or design, you really want NEW CALIPERS. I say, if these Nashbar long reach calipers are the same price as new pads, get the calipers and be done with it. Just be aware that new calipers doesn't necessarily mean "improved" braking.... |
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On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:50:00 -0700, bfd853 wrote:
Sorry, but since you appear to have experience with Kool Stop salmon colored pads and know where to get them, you are not "curious" about the pad compound or design, you really want NEW CALIPERS. You haven't made a case for KS pads being glass and grit resistant--I haven't used them since I moved to an area with a lot of construction and road debris. Since the salmon compound is a little more "gooey" than the regular black, I fear it may also have issues with embedding. It's really not worth giving the a-holes at the local LBS $20 to find out. I might get those Continentals from Harris though. The reason I'm thinking of new calipers is that mine are 600s from 1978--so even a set of generic Tektros (like the Nashbars) will be more rigid, providing better braking, and come with new pads. I do love the old calipers, but the adjusting barrels have frozen in their threads and no amount of penetrating lube will free them. |
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