Okay, I know, this might seem like the most ridiculous thing to review. Brakes pads are one of those things that most riders give little thought. But if I learned one thing from switching brake pads, it's that they are something that most riders should give some more consideration.
After my original Campagnolo pads wore out earlier this year, I switched to Kool Stop's dual compound pads. I didn't really notice any difference between them and the originals. I am not someone who usually rides in the rain, unless I get caught in it, so wet weather braking had not been a major concern form me. However, a few weeks before my Italy trip, feeling undertrained and anxious to ride, I went out in some questionable weather. Of course, five miles into the ride at the top of the first climb, the sky opened up. It was then that I found out just how terrible those brake pads were in the rain. That feeling of having no brakes as you approach the intersection at the bottom of the hill is something that is hard to forget.
Upon returning home from that ride and getting out of my soaked through clothes, I sat down behind the computer and ordered myself a set of new brake pads. I had heard good things about Swiss Stop and I've seen them on many pro bikes, so I figured they were worth a shot. After a bit of research, I found that the blue BPX compound would be the best pads for all conditions on aluminum rims. I had read that I was to be visiting Italy on the cusp of the rainy season, so the last thing I needed was to be flying down mountain pass switchbacks in the rain only to grab for the brakes and have nothing.
So, back to my original point; a brake pad review, why? Well, these brake pads are amazing. Throughout my month in Italy, I put them through it all; hard urban braking in traffic in Firenze, twisty mountain pass descents in Lombardia, race conditions in multiple Gran Fondi. The confidence they inspired greatly affected the way I rode, especially in conjunction with the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Tubeless tires I reviewed earlier. I'll share this anecdote to that effect:
It was a dreary day in Magreglio, Lombardia. I had not planned on riding that day due to the weather forecast. I took the bus down to Bellagio, with plans of taking the ferry across the lake to visit the other lakeside towns. As soon as I got to Bellagio, the sun came out! I must have been the cycling gods tempting me. After walking around town and buying a loaf of bread, I headed back to the bus and back up to Magreglio. Of course by the time I got back up the mountain, the clouds had rolled back in. But I was committed. It was either ride or sit around all day at the hotel and do nothing in the deserted mountain-top town. So, ride it was. I decided to head to the Muro di Sormano, which was on my bucket list for the trip and check out the hill climb race. After riding up that epic climb, I stepped into the little restaurant at the top of the climb to try and stay warm and dry. In the process I ran into a group of British cyclists and decided to bail on standing around in the cold epic fog to watch the race and instead head down the Colma di Sormano with them. This is the 16km descent that has brought many pros to grief in Il Lombardia year after year, one that Dan Martin considered one of the most dangerous in any race. The fog was such that you couldn't see more than ten feet in front of your face and as fate would have it, it started to drizzle 500mt into the descent. I immediately went to the front. Even on the wet roads I had a great descent. By the time I got to the bottom I had nearly three minutes on the rest of the group. The confidence I had in my stopping ability in the wet conditions definitely inspired me to be able to fly down the mountain with no fear.
The point is, think about your brake pads a bit more. Swiss Stop BXP Blue brake pads are simply the best if you are riding aluminum wheels. I cannot recommend them enough.
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