Brake improvement required
Discussion
Need some advice on what to do to improve my braking performance on my winter roadie.
Its 10spd Tiagra shifters, Shimano cables and long drops which I think are R450s. I recently went with some Kool Stop Salmons to replace the shimano blocks. Now the front brake isnt too bad, but the back is plain terrible. Hardly grabs when on the tops, and even on the drops a good squeeze wont get it close to locking up.
I dont think it's the shifters, and having heard good things about KS Salmons, I wouldnt have thought that was the problem either. Which is more effective to upgrade, brakes themselves or the wires? Was wondering if swapping to Jagwires or similar might see an improvement? I need long drops in any case as its running full guards (Kinesis Racelight).
All thoughts greatly received!
Its 10spd Tiagra shifters, Shimano cables and long drops which I think are R450s. I recently went with some Kool Stop Salmons to replace the shimano blocks. Now the front brake isnt too bad, but the back is plain terrible. Hardly grabs when on the tops, and even on the drops a good squeeze wont get it close to locking up.
I dont think it's the shifters, and having heard good things about KS Salmons, I wouldnt have thought that was the problem either. Which is more effective to upgrade, brakes themselves or the wires? Was wondering if swapping to Jagwires or similar might see an improvement? I need long drops in any case as its running full guards (Kinesis Racelight).
All thoughts greatly received!
I'll try to be helpful 
Just getting the simple things on the back will be fine. You hardly need any force to overcome traction on a back tyre.
Are your cables correctly adjusted i.e. does the brake block touch the rim within a few mm of pull on the leaver?
Do your brake blocks sit in alignment with the rim?
Is the wheel rim clean?
If you've had new blocks it might be worth roughing them up with some wet and dry on a square block.
Just getting the simple things on the back will be fine. You hardly need any force to overcome traction on a back tyre.
Are your cables correctly adjusted i.e. does the brake block touch the rim within a few mm of pull on the leaver?
Do your brake blocks sit in alignment with the rim?
Is the wheel rim clean?
If you've had new blocks it might be worth roughing them up with some wet and dry on a square block.
Chicken Chaser said:
Need some advice on what to do to improve my braking performance on my winter roadie.
Its 10spd Tiagra shifters, Shimano cables and long drops which I think are R450s. I recently went with some Kool Stop Salmons to replace the shimano blocks. Now the front brake isnt too bad, but the back is plain terrible. Hardly grabs when on the tops, and even on the drops a good squeeze wont get it close to locking up.
I dont think it's the shifters, and having heard good things about KS Salmons, I wouldnt have thought that was the problem either. Which is more effective to upgrade, brakes themselves or the wires? Was wondering if swapping to Jagwires or similar might see an improvement? I need long drops in any case as its running full guards (Kinesis Racelight).
All thoughts greatly received!
Get back to us when you've done your long drops. Its 10spd Tiagra shifters, Shimano cables and long drops which I think are R450s. I recently went with some Kool Stop Salmons to replace the shimano blocks. Now the front brake isnt too bad, but the back is plain terrible. Hardly grabs when on the tops, and even on the drops a good squeeze wont get it close to locking up.
I dont think it's the shifters, and having heard good things about KS Salmons, I wouldnt have thought that was the problem either. Which is more effective to upgrade, brakes themselves or the wires? Was wondering if swapping to Jagwires or similar might see an improvement? I need long drops in any case as its running full guards (Kinesis Racelight).
All thoughts greatly received!
Dirty boy.
moto_traxport said:
StuB said:
Did you mean to put this in the 'likes to wear tight lycra outdoors' forum?
Errrr. Stop throwing stones whilst living in the glasshouse will yer!! 
Anyway, don't go tellin people I go out on a treader wearing tight lycra, they'll all want a piece of me (and yes, there's plenty to go round too Laydeez
)Just checking you haven't left the quick release on the rear caliper open?
Assuming there is 1-2mm gap between the pads and the rim, and both surfaces are clean then make sure the cabling is as short as possible whilst retaining the easiest radius bends from the handlebars, its common for bikes to come with too much outer cable by the seatpost with a big loop thus more travel at the lever.
Assuming there is 1-2mm gap between the pads and the rim, and both surfaces are clean then make sure the cabling is as short as possible whilst retaining the easiest radius bends from the handlebars, its common for bikes to come with too much outer cable by the seatpost with a big loop thus more travel at the lever.
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