Classic Brake Block advice

[RobinS]

A month or two back after advice on here regarding the Sturmey Archer 3 speed I got an old 1970s ish (maybe older) Peugeot bicycle operational for one of our lodgers. She has been using it a reasonable amount, and after a few more tweaks it is going fine, however she reports that the brakes have very little effect! They are ordinary side pull brakes, with old-school rubber blocks, in a metal shoe - the sort of thing I can remember from that time, and are operating against a very shiny chrome rims. So - are there any blocks that will give better effect on a chrome rim? - or were brakes just really rubbish in those days? Hard to remember as I graduated to Wienmann centre-pulls in 1972, then alloy rims, mtb cantis, V brakes, then discs!

 

[raleighnut]

Yep Fibrax make a chrome specific brake pad.

 

[si_c]

Chrome rims are lethal, worth looking at replacing them with an alloy wheelset and koolstop pads.

 

[Chris S]

Chrome rims are OK till it rains. It's my excuse for not cycling in the rain.

Fibrax blocks will help until the strip wears off.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-BL...081523&hash=item360735f47d:g:9UcAAOSwPe1UGpIq

 

[raleighnut]

Chrome rims are OK till it rains. It's my excuse for not cycling in the rain.

Fibrax blocks will help until the strip wears off.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-BL...081523&hash=item360735f47d:g:9UcAAOSwPe1UGpIq

They're the wrong type, the OP needs this type,

 

[RobinS]

Thanks all - I can now remember that my brake blocks back in the 1970s had a bit of leather on them. Swapping the rims is not an option, as the total cost of the bike and refurb has been £12.50 - she doesn't want to spend too much more!

 

[rogerzilla]

People are so cheap...I just spent £90 on a single speed freewheel

 

[Chris S]

They're the wrong type, the OP needs this type,

View attachment 526948

Good point, the ones in the add are for cantilever brakes. There can't be too many of those with chrome rims

 

[rogerzilla]

My old Raleigh Lizard did!

 

[Baldy]

They're the wrong type, the OP needs this type,

View attachment 526948

Just what I'm looking for, where can I get them?

 

[raleighnut]

Just what I'm looking for, where can I get them?

Well I'd get em from John at Bob Warner Cycles in Leicester but that might be a bit of a journey for you.

I'd try a local bike shop, somewhere not too flash or on-line.

 

[Baldy]

LBS is closed at the moment due to the plague. I'll just have to wait until they open again or when I'm next in Leicester.

 

[figbat]

My old Raleigh Lizard did!

That’s the first MTB I ever had!