Road bike brake pads

Bike brake pads, the perfect balance

Before the arrival of disc brakes, rim brakes were the absolute benchmark for bicycle braking systems across every discipline and specialty. Today, however, they remain highly appreciated on wheels designed for speed, such as road bikes or track bikes. On rough terrain, the characteristics of the disc brake have made it the dominant choice, while on asphalt rim brakes still have many supporters, including among pros. The main reasons for this preference are: light weight, aerodynamics and better temperature management. Rim brakes are made up as follows. In direct contact with the bike rim, we find the brake pad. A component as small as it is crucial, the pad is the real force behind braking. Used both with V-brakes and with the more high-performance caliper brakes, it also stands out on Cantilever systems, brakes with a retro feel.

A look at the compound

When replacing the brake pad on our road bike, we must pay close attention to the rim. In fact, for each type of rim, a suitable pad must be chosen to ensure maximum braking performance without damaging the wheel. An aluminum wheel requires fairly hard pads. The same applies to a carbon wheel with an aluminum braking surface. A fully carbon wheel, on the other hand, requires greater care, so much so that cork is often used in the compound. There are models, such as the Zipp 100% cork pads, made entirely from this material, which also offer optimal heat dissipation. The type of pad compound also behaves differently in dry or wet conditions. In the dry, a softer pad is better; in the rain, a harder pad ensures better and safer braking. In both cases, the pad must feature the characteristic grooves to drain water in rainy conditions.

With or without a pad holder?

Not all rim brake pads are the same. In caliper models, for example, the pad is supported by a pad holder, whose setting remains unchanged even when the rubber insert is replaced. Designed to fit perfectly into the holder, they are the most precise and reliable pads, provided the correct mounting standard is chosen between Shimano and Campagnolo. The Swissstop Flash Pro Yellow King, for example, pair perfectly with rim brakes and high-end carbon wheels. A V-brake braking system, on the other hand, does not allow the pad holder. The brake pads, in fact, are secured by a pin with a screw that must be adjusted each time we replace the pad. The price, however, drops significantly, as in the case of Ashima Direct Mount pads.