wyrm said:
I'm gonna ask this question even tho I know what to expect from you. How does the Oro work under long DH high speed races....for the average riders? Compare this to other brakes out there, ie: Hayes. I have the Mags and am on the verge of buying new brakes even tho I really like the ones I currently like them.
Don't appeal to Greg Minnar and his expirience since he probably doesn't even use his brakes. Pro rides don't ride like normal people....they are completely off the brake the whole time.
Wyrm,
Thanks for your interest. As you noted everyone has a different style of braking...the better ones (Greg Minnaar would obviously fall into this category) will tend use their brakes less frequently, but more intensely, as they are generally more comfortable at high speeds and limit their brake use to just before entering a turn to shed some speed. For most average riders the reality is quite different, as brakes are often used even on the straights if the rider feels like they are getting out of their comfort zone with regards to speed. However, the need for good powerful and consistent braking doesn't change regardless of if you are a pro or a weekend warrior.
Here are my honest impressions on longer, braking intensive DH runs I have taken at places like Whistler and Downieville:
-First off I can say that the Oro has less fade and experiences less "heat induced pump-up" than any other brake I have ridden. There are a several factors that play into this including the vented caliper, high quality fluid, and rotor design.
-Power wise I noted that the brake maintains a more consistent feel on DH runs when the system is kept relatively warm. As opposed to say riding cross-country where the system might heat up and the cool down completely before it is used again. This is true with many of the better brakes I have ridden.
-Modulation: I believe one of the best features of the Oro is the great modulation. On longer DH runs I feel like I have a lot more control of the amount of power I want to apply. One of the reasons for the good modulation is the organic pad compound we use on the Oro. The organic compounds tend to be a bit softer than the metallic (sintered) and IMHO seem to deliver better modulation. One drawback to the organic material is that is does wear a bit faster than the sintered. This could be more evident if you are the type of rider who uses their brakes a lot and favors long DH runs. Not to worry for all you sintered fans...we will have sintered pads available in the next few months.
Hopefully that answers some of your questions. If you want any more info please feel free to contact us. Our info can be found at either one of our web sites:
www.formulabrakeusa.com
www.formula-brake.com
Thanks,
Chris