Brakes only lasted 6 months?

[k turner]

Is this right, only six months. I do 2 miles morning and 2 miles night everyday of the week. A lot of hills, so coming home I use the brakes a lot as I dont like going fast down hill. Have I worn them out early?

I tightened the cable and went a few more days before I decided to change them tonight.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

six months? you're doing well (i was a student in steel city and i remember the hills)!

seriously, it's important to get decent brake pads as they will stop you better and also prevent your rim (the bit of the wheel that the tyre fits on to) wearing out.

if your brake blocks are shimano, get rid of them and then get a cartridge system instead (e.g. something like this, you can also get a similar thing for v-brakes) and consider using koolstop pads.

 

[jimboalee]

I will mention again the Kiltarnan Country Club, Co Dublin in 1998. TdF Stage 1.

Info' gleaned from the Team mechanics. NEW blocks every stage. Worn or not. On the mountain descents, blocks are down to the limit slots.

On the Friday before the prologue, I rode the Stage 1 route, and took 1/8" off the front blocks. Hence my questions.

 

[k turner]

should I change to disc brakes? are they easier to change? do they last longer? it just took me 2 hrs to do the front!

so I just worked out 720 miles per set.

 

[RedBike]

6 Months !!!
I wore out a set of brake pads in just one ride on Monday.

Even my disc brake pads only last a month or two.

 

[jimboalee]

Change to Shimano Nexus Roller hubs.

They are the only brakes I know that you put grease in to make them better.
They are also the only bike part I know that comes with a warning label "Danger! Hot to touch".

See them on the Carerra Subway 8. And I tell you, They WORK!

 

[RedBike]

should I change to disc brakes? are they easier to change? do they last longer? it just took me 2 hrs to do the front!

so I just worked out 720 miles per set.

Disc brakes probably wouldn't be cost effective. I would love to get 720miles out of a set.

 

[marooncat]

I got about 3 months and 400 miles out of the first set that came with my bike so I think you are doing not bad..

 

[k turner]

redbike - how many miles was that in one day then?

just worked it out again, only did 2miles for 5 months and 4miles for this month, so total of 420

looks like I just need to learn to change them quicker then.

 

[RedBike]

It's the mud /grit off-road. It acts just like sand-paper. A few good hills and the brake pads just vanish.

 

[k turner]

redbike - so will the grit when it is icy, from gritters, make them go even quicker? what will the salt do to the bike? where else will the grit go besides under the brake pads? and will the brakes still work with a piece of grit under it?

 

[RedBike]

The salt will speed up the rate at which the pads wear. However, you don't need to worry. If you're only dong a mile or two a day the pads will still last months.

Salt will act as a catalist for rust. You need to make sure that you don't put the bike away with salt still on any steel parts. These are normally the cassette, chain and bolt heads.

 

[k turner]

as long as the brakes will still work in the grit that's fine. will pour a hot kettle over everything once a day then.

 

[RedBike]

Yes the brakes will still work.

I must admit i've never tried using boiling water.
Leaving the parts wet with the protective lube washed away could be disasterous. I just give the bike a quick wipe with a cloth and a spray of GT85 / re-lube the chain.

Perhaps this could be a new question. I'm sure everyones got their own techniques.

 

[k turner]

thanks for answering all the brakes questions. bye for now.