[jh_on_the_cape]

I searched this in the brake forum. Nothing. Then I looked at the brake forum, and I think it's just for disc brakes?
I am looking for suggestions for a good upgrade for my V brake pads. The rims are not ceramic, brakes are XTR.
So far I have used:
1. shimano: seem to dissolve in water
2. 'bontrager' from LBS: i think they are the same as shimano
3. avid rim wrangler: OK, i guess.

at the lbs i saw some wtb dual compound (orange and black), are they good? seem good. the reviews support kool stop eagle 2 pads are good. what color?

I ride in pretty much dry weather, but not always. the other pads have always been fine in the dry, but bad in the wet. and once ridden in the wet, my rims are very slick and the pads are full of pieces of metal (rim?) and need to be cleaned.
I dont have disc mounts on my frame, considering a disc brake in the front, but would need a new wheel and brake... $$$ ka ching! maybe just some new brake pads would solve my issues? or not?

OK... thanks.

 

[Drevil]

Try the Kool Stop salmon. It's what I always try to use and gives me the best braking power. Don't bother with those half black half salmon ones.

Cartridge or the whole shebang.

 

[jh_on_the_cape]

Try the Kool Stop salmon. It's what I always try to use and gives me the best braking power. Don't bother with those half black half salmon ones.

Cartridge or the whole shebang.

are the inserts specific to shimano or avid? or are they all the same?
why not bother with the black/salmon? are they gay?

 

[dirtpaws]

I searched this in the brake forum. Nothing. Then I looked at the brake forum, and I think it's just for disc brakes?...

I hear ya, mostly disc info being discussed nowadays. The old forum format had alot more info on Vees. But disc are just the sign of the times. I am still running Vees.

BTW, I am running the black/red dual compound Koolstops and really get good braking.

 

[Drevil]

are the inserts specific to shimano or avid? or are they all the same?
why not bother with the black/salmon? are they gay?

Nahh, the cartridges pads are not discriminatory. They will insert into either.

Gay? I don't know, but IMO they definitely stop better than the half-breeds.

 

[steelbike]

Koolstop

are the inserts specific to shimano or avid? or are they all the same?

Shimano and Avid rim wrangler 2 use the same pattern. Avid rim wrangler 1 is different.

why not bother with the black/salmon? are they gay?

No, they're androgynous

 

[jh_on_the_cape]

No, they're androgynous

oohh... like C3PO

thanks. for the info. seems like a cheap upgrade to try. I think I have a pretty universal brake pad holder, since everything else has slid right in there no problem, kind of like jenna jameson's coochy. only smaller. MUCH smaller.

 

[Rockin]

Go with the salmons. I have tried a bunch of different ones and they have the best feel and stopping power in my opinion.

Long live V-brakes!

 

[TACSTS]

I still run V's too, so don't think you're alone. My rides almost always involve some kind of mud hole or creek crossing no matter how dry it is and the best pads I've found for just about every situation is Blue Ritchey's. I'm not even sure what they're called, but they're about $7 a pair for inserts for Shimano or Avid RW2. Sometimes they're hard to find, I think I ordered my last set from Performance. They're a little softer material and wear fairly quickly (well not TOO quick 1000mi or so) but they stop on a dime reliably. I've never used Kool-stops so I can't compare, I've always meant to, but when something works so well, why change?