Kool Stop Tectonic V-Brake Inserts

Advantages: Excellent performance in wet/muddy conditions, rim friendly, good wear rates
Disadvantages: Pricier than the competition

..., and while there is a drop off in performance, it is nowhere near as much as with other brands that I have tried. In mud these pads really do come into their own. They are the only v-brake pad that I have tried that provide any braking at all when covered in mud. Mud is extremely abrasive, and every time you apply the brakes you are applying a grinding paste to your delicate aluminium rims. Before I changed over to the Kool Stops, my Avid Rim Wranglers lasted as little as 2 months, and also managed to wear my rear rim past the wear markers in under 9 months. With the Kool Stops, not only is the braking vastly improved, but my rims show significantly less wear. The other small advantage you get is the cartridge pads are a bit easier than the blocks to replace - pull out circlip, press out old pad, push in new pad, replace circlip, and then adjust... Read review

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Advantages: quality and value
Disadvantages: none really!

...Obviously with the high amounts of pressure and heat which travel through brake pads and the almost implicit faith which you have to place in them when cycling you need to trust your brake pads and know that if you need to stop they’re going to have the performance there to help you slow down as quickly as you need. I've used the Kool Stop's for many years and have never been disappointed once by the value or quality and would even admit to sometimes being surprised that they ‘still’ don’t need replacing even when I cannot remember the last time I did. I use disk brakes on most of my bikes these days but the ones which do continue to use rim brakes will always use Kool Stop pads… Really impressed and would most definitely be my highest recommended rim brake pad...... Read review

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Advantages: They Stop The Bike
Disadvantages: Not Disk Breaks

...Shimano LX M600 M-system V brake blocks (not pads but they are the same thing) are the brakes my bike uses. They consist of two rubber blocks with a screw comming out of them, for easy fixing to your bike. Fixing them is easy anyone who can use a spanner can do it, and at around about 6-99 a pair then they are a lot more resonable than brakes for cars. (Yet another reaon to ditch the motor around town) One of the most important things brakes do is stop your bike and it is vitaly important that they do it quickly. When new and properly adjusted these babies are bloody good at doing that task, and if you have been used to a dodgy old worn pair then it is not a good idea to hit the front brakes too hard. Unless a mate has a camcorder handy then you could earn a quick 200 quid from Youve been Framed. The next most important thing is how... Read review

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