Cheap brake blocks, worth it or not?

[Kins]

Ordering cables, blocks etc for project bike and wondering how much I should be spending on brake blocks. Wheels on the bike are light weight aluminium and mark even using soft plastic tire levers so don't wan't to buy anything that will ruin the rims.

They start at £1.99 for 4?! What price point or manufacturer should I be looking at? Is there a way to tell the hardness of them?

Might not be an issue if the rims are warped but some pointers please.

 

[MattHB]

Cheap blocks are made of nails and cheese. Buy good ones. Koolstops or clarks are good.

 

[Kins]

I like cheese.

 

[subaqua]

Cheap blocks are made of nails and cheese. Buy good ones. Koolstops or clarks are good.

if you want blocks/pads then Koolstps are great, but i have had some good results with Quad.
for cables, then clarks are good but there are others just as good for around the same price. there are also silly money cables coated in virgins excretions to make them super slippy frictionless for greater efficiency.

 

[avsd]

+1 for Koolstops

 

[Berties]

I use Aztec road inserts,on my 105's about £8 a pair,around mid range, good wearing

 

[Banjo]

I have had good results with Halt Gooey blocks. Stop well and not to harsh on the rims.

 

[Kins]

Thanks guys, looking at the Kool Stop webby and seem fine so thats sorted. Cheers.

 

[biggs682]

another vote for kool stops

 

[Kins]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gusset-incontinence-pads/

Orly!

 

[fossyant]

Use Shimano compatible clarkes pads here. Very happy, quite soft, but grip in the wet.

 

[Profpointy]

I bought some koolstops (half-and-half grade) and they are only marginally better than the original Shimano pads. That said, I'd still be inclined to avoid "cheap" pads, and rather suspect a quid is too cheap

 

[slowmotion]

I've been using KoolStop Salmons for only three days, and I'm completely underwhelmed by them. £18 for four blocks of rubber that are no better than ones that cost £6. What have I done wrong?

Tektro dual pivot brakes, BTW.

 

[Kestevan]

The koolstop salmon ate good, but expensive. I've switched to using the halt gooey pads....nearly as effective as the koolstops but a fair bit cheaper.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I've been using KoolStop Salmons for only three days, and I'm completely underwhelmed by them. £18 for four blocks of rubber that are no better than ones that cost £6. What have I done wrong?

Tektro dual pivot brakes, BTW.

Perhaps they have not bedded in yet? and did you clean your rims before the change over?