New Cannondale, Advice please

[gareth h]

I picked up a Rush 5 before xmas on the cycle to work scheme (fat chance!).
A couple of queries if anybody can help, the brakes are juicy 3 discs which don't work anywhere near as well as my old v brakes, is this normal or do the pads need bedding in (I've only done 3x2 hour rides so far).
The tyres seem to be more suited to hardpack, I think they are called Hutchinson Piranhas, any recommendations for something that works a little better in the soft stuff.
Thanks
Gareth

[stuart paton]

I thought the same mate my bike has tektro discs and calipers and they were not as good as my old v brakes but they are staring to get a better bite now after a few runs.

[Saied]

gareth h said:

The tyres seem to be more suited to hardpack, I think they are called Hutchinson Piranhas

I'm interested in these tyres. Do you happen to know what width they are?

[gareth h]

Not sure, 2 or 2.1 I think. Seem to clag up really quickly.

[arryb]

I have juicy 3s on my Giant XTC A1 - they weren't too bad to start but are definitely better now, try some hard stops to bed them in and see if it makes any difference. Although, having said that, I've never ridden an mtb with v-brakes and I tend not to put too much braking force into the wheels of my road bike unless necessary because the tyres will let go first