Brake Block Recommendations?

[JQ]

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but a search has proved fruitless. The brakes on a my recently purchased road bike are pretty pants, can anyone recommend some good quality brake blocks with good stopping power. I'm not bothered about durability as I'm quite happy to change them regularly.

Cheers

[Fourmotion]

Swisstop, by the sound of it yellows would be best if you don't mind regular changes (although regular depends on the type of riding you do).

[TSCfree]

Same dilemma too, was looking at Swisstop green or black, unless anyone can recommend anything cheaper

Bought the green, majority of good reviews.

Also depends on whether your rims are ally or carbon

Edited by TSCfree on Friday 16th August 11:18

[yellowjack]

I'm still using the stock Shimano Ultegra blocks fitted when I bought the bike in October 2010. 5,500 miles later, they are showing no signs of needing replacement.

I did buy a set of SwissStop 'green' blocks which slide straight into the Ultegra carriers, but I've not yet felt the need to swap them out due to performance deficiencies. I tend to be light on my brakes, but relatively heavy on chains and tyres.

There are a number of different replacement options, along with some reviews here... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Swisstop+'green&...

[TSCfree]

yellowjack said:

I'm still using the stock Shimano Ultegra blocks fitted when I bought the bike in October 2010. 5,500 miles later, they are showing no signs of needing replacement.

Wow I must be quite heavy on the brakes, my 105 brakes are goosed after 2400 miles. Do you live in the fens

[yellowjack]

TSCfree said:

yellowjack said:

I'm still using the stock Shimano Ultegra blocks fitted when I bought the bike in October 2010. 5,500 miles later, they are showing no signs of needing replacement.

Wow I must be quite heavy on the brakes, my 105 brakes are goosed after 2400 miles. Do you live in the fens

nope. Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire border, so not 'mega-hilly' but far from flat. Previously was based near Saffron Walden, Essex, so again, 'gently undulating' would work as a description (although I did ride up to Ely a couple of times when I was there). My rides tend to be more rural than urban, and I try to set routes that are light on traffic, and are mostly left turns, which probably helps. Also, my average speed tends to sit around 15 to 16.5 mph, so not incredibly fast, if that makes a difference?

Edited by yellowjack on Friday 16th August 12:25

[TSCfree]

yellowjack said:

nope. Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire border, so not 'mega-hilly' but far from flat. Previously was based near Saffron Walden, Essex, so again, 'gently undulating' would work as a description (although I did ride up to Ely a couple of times when I was there). My rides tend to be more rural than urban, and I try to set routes that light on traffic, and are mostly left turns, which probably helps. Also, my average speed tends to sit around 15 to 16.5 mph, so not incredibly fast, if that makes a difference?

I thinks it's more a case of poor quality on the 105's part compared to Ultegra!

[anonymous-user]

Kool Stop Salmon are my pad of choice, they transformed the stock pads from rock solid and grabby to a nice progressive bite with good stopping power

Cheap too:

http://www.koolstop.com/english/dura_type.html