What brake pads do I need?

[jnb]

Not that I think I need any replacements right now but as I was shopping for other bits I thought I shuld get some just to have in the spares box but ...

The Haynes Bike Book and Evans web site both suggest that it's important to selct a compound that's suitable for my rims, riding style and local weather. Que? All I know is that I need V brake pads and when I look at Evans web site it offers no advice other than to tell me to buy the right ones.

So how do I make a decision, or is it not really that critical?

 

[NotFabian]

Just make sue they're for V brakes, I got replacements from decathlon the other day, £3.99, fitted myself, I'm not experienced in that regard, so as long as they're pretty much the same length as your existing pads you'd be fine.

 

[Mad at urage]

Seeing no-one else has answered, re. "suitable for my rims, riding style and local weather":

Rims - There are still pads available for steel rims, these will chew through (or in the case of leather pads, just not work well on) alloy rims. Generally though modern bikes have alloy rims (steel wheels are more expensive to produce now) and modern bike shops by default sell pads suitable for these; still worth checking though. Some pads are wide and short and are suitable for wide rim edges, others are slim and long, suitable for narrow rimedges (and larger wheel sizes).

Riding stylee - Are you a late-braker or do you tend to feather brake on hills? Soft pads will wear quickly doing the latter (I prefer to brake alternately front-back-front etc, quite hard on steep downhills, others gently rub their rims with the pads). If you tend to sprint and brake late then softer pads might be better for you (they'll stop you quicker than harder pads, until they wear out).

Weather conditions - Some pads work well in the wet, others less well; this depends on pad composition and the design of the braking surface.

Best bet TBH is take your bike to your LBS and ask what different pads they have and what they can tell you about the advantages/disadvantages of each: "Why is this one half the price of the other?... The other is better? But how? " etc. It is then of course polite to buy at least that set from them if they have been helpful, as the advice will be worth the few pennies you might have saved by buying online.