What To Look For
Road bike brake pads need to be replaced more often than many riders realize, but perhaps less than the average bicycle shop may lead you to believe. Road bike brake pads often incorporate a mark allowing users to know when a pad wears through. Allowing worn pads to remain may severely damage bicycle rim braking surfaces. Worn rim surfaces may fail under high heat generated during hill descents. Rim failure at high speed could seriously injure a road bicycle operator, states bicycle lawyer Ray Thomas. If unable to find brake pad wear mark, replace pads when precut pad markings disappear.
Common Pitfalls
The most common mistake a road bicycle brake pad purchaser makes involves pad compound choice. Many bicycle companies manufacture a variety of pad compounds designed for specific uses. Purchasing and installing pads designed for softer carbon rims on more abrasive aluminum rims can lead to short pad life. Installing harder aluminum designed compounds for use with carbon rims can wear the protective glaze finish from the carbon rim. Some manufacturers use rim-friendly compounds that wear aluminum and carbon rims slower, but burn pads faster.
Where To Buy
Local bicycle shops often offer a selection of road bicycle brake pads for a variety of pad styles. Road brakes use several pad attachment styles, including offering a solid pad housing that accepts replacement pad inserts. For this reason cyclists often order improper road brake pads through mail order catalogues and online bicycle merchants. Local bicycle shops can assist road bicyclists with stopping concerns and compound options. Large cyclists attempting to stop quicker and professional cyclists needing high-speed reliability will likely require harder compounds. Small cyclists and riders in flat areas often use softer compounds.
Cost
Replacement road bicycle brake pads vary in price depending on design, manufacturer and application. Replacement pads sell by the pair. Most road bicycles require two pair. Cartridge brake pad replacement inserts typically cost $10 to $20 per pair. Full cartridge replacements run $30 or more per pair. Specialty rubber carbon rim pads cost $20 to $40 per pair and cork carbon pads are $30 to $50 per pair. Local bicycle shops typically charge $10 to $30 per pair for installation labor. Brake pad replacement requires several minor adjustments, according to online bicycle repair resource BikeWebSite.com.
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