Rim Brakes and Rain

[AndyPeace]

Last year I n+1'd, as you do, and bought a swanky racer to compliment my day to day hybrid. My Hybrid which I've ridden for years, has mechanical disc brakes...which I've nought but praise for. However the 105 brakes on my Madone only seem effective in the dry. Is this something I just need to 'get over'/'man up' about or are there more reliable rim brakes?

 

[ianrauk]

They are not set up properly or you need better pads.
I used to have 105 brakes on my commute bike over the years with no problems.
Try changing the pads.

 

[MikeW-71]

Indeed, the stock pads in my 105 brakes are great on the dry, but terrible in the wet. On my other bike I have Clarks pads which are much better in the wet. Pads make all the difference.

 

[jay clock]

This site and these blocks are excellent. http://www.discobrakes.com/?s=0&t=2&c=52&p=283&

 

[fossyant]

They should still stop you promptly. Give the rims a good clean and fit new pads. I use Clarkes here on all mine and they aren't expensive either. Look at Wiggle or Chain Reaction for the pads and shoes plus spare pads.

 

[AndyPeace]

They should still stop you promptly. Give the rims a good clean and fit new pads. I use Clarkes here on all mine and they aren't expensive either. Look at Wiggle or Chain Reaction for the pads and shoes plus spare pads.

The rear rim was filthy (I washed it with water only and rubbed it down with a clean rag) and the cables needed tightening. I washed the blocks with water too and gently wiped them down. Bikes too clean now to intentionally go riding in the rain but I'm sure they'll get tested soon enough. Pads seem cheap enough so will give them a go if poor braking persists. Cheers!

 

[fossyant]

Change pads. Water alone is not enough. Soapy car wash solution is enough and a scrub.

 

[Ian A]

Another Clarke user. My brakes aren't great (sora groupset) but they are pretty much as effective in the wet as they are in the dry. Have you done many miles on the bike? Do the pads need a bit of roughing up first?

 

[Crankarm]

You need some sort of detergent or light degreaser to get rid of any oil/grease on the braking surfaces and then a thorough rinse with cold water. Cold water on it's own is not enough. Make sure the blocks are set up correctly too. My Ultegra brakes work brilliantly in all weathers, ok better when it's dry, but still good in the wet as well, although the bike seldom/never gets wet these days.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Koolstop Salmon Andy, best blocks I have ever used, can be had for about £8 a set from time to time if you look.

 

[KneesUp]

Disc brakes weren't even fitted to all cars when I last owned a road bike

I'd agree with all the posters saying make sure the rim isn't greasy and get decent pads - it doesn't take too much to lock up a road tyre in the wet, and if your set up can't manage that then there is something wrong with the set-up because they should be able to all to easily!

 

[andytheflyer]

Koolstop Salmon Andy, best blocks I have ever used, can be had for about £8 a set from time to time if you look.

+1. End of.