After a year of disc brakes, dual pivot is scary

[scouserinlondon]

My transition from Hybrid to roadie is going pretty well, but what's struck me the most is the scary combo of much faster speed, and much worse stopping power. My bike has unbranded dual pivot brakes with off the shelf blocks and they're frankly rubbish. I remember reading a thread on here about decent blocks which increase stopping power, which had a fish reference in the name, but my lack of detail meant I've not turned up much in the forum search.

What brake blocks am I warbling about and are they any good?

Thanks

 

[redjedi]

What you're thinking of is the Kool Stop Salmons

See this thread

 

[scouserinlondon]

Cheers, how did I miss that....

 

[Smokin Joe]

You won't replicate the stopping power of a disc whatever blocks you use, you can only make caliper brakes less awful.

 

[nightoff]

Worth looking at Swissstop greens as well.

They vastly improved the stopping power of my stock breaks, especially in the wet.

I can't compare then to the Salmons but they get great reviews.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I have a cable operated disc braked tourer. That is the benchmark. Calipers are scary bad in comparison. The one referrenced in that other thread is scary bad.

and I hear a really strange noise when I apply it in anger. it sounds like "omigodomigodomigod!"

 

[Alembicbassman]

CNC machined rims help.

 

[andrew_s]

CNC machined rims help.

Not really, compared to a new unmachined rim.
They are machined to stop the brakes on new wheels squealing, not to improve braking. You can even take the view that machined rims are pre-worn, and won't last as long.

 

[Alembicbassman]

I can get both my 105 caliper brakes and Tektro V brakes squealing on machined rims if badly set up. I've found they disperse water better than a smooth rim as the water is squeezed into the tiny grooves by the blocks.

 

[gaz]

Keeping your rims and brake blocks clean will help