Comments on: Review: Velo Orange “Squeal Free” Brake Shoes and Pads http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/ Bike Your Drive! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:26:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Raiyn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23282 Raiyn Fri, 21 May 2010 06:41:45 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23282 Perhaps a location line could be added to the blog posts to help clarify such matters? A "Boston" winter is certainly different from a "Tampa" winter. Perhaps a location line could be added to the blog posts to help clarify such matters? A “Boston” winter is certainly different from a “Tampa” winter.

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23277 Ghost Rider Thu, 20 May 2010 17:54:36 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23277 Duly noted...an oversight on my part. I've just added a brief description of my riding conditions. Duly noted…an oversight on my part. I’ve just added a brief description of my riding conditions.

]]> By: Andy http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23274 Andy Thu, 20 May 2010 13:55:23 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23274 Sounds like we have major differences in how we use(d) these pads then! It would be really helpful to explain that sort of thing in your reviews. Knowing what kind of conditions you ride in makes a significant difference in a review about brakes. Sounds like we have major differences in how we use(d) these pads then! It would be really helpful to explain that sort of thing in your reviews. Knowing what kind of conditions you ride in makes a significant difference in a review about brakes.

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23252 Ghost Rider Wed, 19 May 2010 09:19:56 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23252 @Andy, I live in SW Florida, where winters are...well...not so bad. And it's dead flat here, so no heavy braking on the downhills. We do have a lot of stoplights, though! @Andy, I live in SW Florida, where winters are…well…not so bad. And it’s dead flat here, so no heavy braking on the downhills. We do have a lot of stoplights, though!

]]> By: Raiyn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23245 Raiyn Wed, 19 May 2010 05:55:10 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23245 Hrrm. I think I'll stick with My Kool Stops for the time being as I've already had an issue with the previous set of Jagwires snagging some metal and scarring my rims. Hrrm. I think I’ll stick with My Kool Stops for the time being as I’ve already had an issue with the previous set of Jagwires snagging some metal and scarring my rims.

]]> By: Andy http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23239 Andy Wed, 19 May 2010 03:50:21 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23239 I had a similar experience with metal bits. It picked several out, but they were always coming back. I since switched to Koolstop pads, and while they make a little noise, they were generally quieter than other generics I've used, and they wear at a normal rate. I wouldn't be surprised if Russ ditched cantis because he thought the stopping power would be better with linears. That's certainly been my experience, although the terrible stopping power of the VO pads might lead people to falsely believe it's the brakes that need replacing when it's really the pads that's the issue. I'm not sure where you are, but if you went 400 miles including some winter riding with no undue wear, than I don't really know what to say. These suckers literally wore down to the base in just 200 miles for me, which is a problem I hadn't seen the previous winters I've been riding. I know my combination of slushy roads and significant hills is a recipe for fast wear, but these pads were the worst I could imagine. YMMV! I had a similar experience with metal bits. It picked several out, but they were always coming back. I since switched to Koolstop pads, and while they make a little noise, they were generally quieter than other generics I’ve used, and they wear at a normal rate.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Russ ditched cantis because he thought the stopping power would be better with linears. That’s certainly been my experience, although the terrible stopping power of the VO pads might lead people to falsely believe it’s the brakes that need replacing when it’s really the pads that’s the issue.

I’m not sure where you are, but if you went 400 miles including some winter riding with no undue wear, than I don’t really know what to say. These suckers literally wore down to the base in just 200 miles for me, which is a problem I hadn’t seen the previous winters I’ve been riding. I know my combination of slushy roads and significant hills is a recipe for fast wear, but these pads were the worst I could imagine. YMMV!

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23235 Ghost Rider Wed, 19 May 2010 00:10:59 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23235 @Logan...I'll have to keep my eyes out for metal bits embedded in the pads -- one of the reasons I am so fond of the salmon-colored Koolstop pads is that they are virtually immune to such things. Thanks for reporting this consideration. The last thing I want is my rimwall all torn up! @Logan…I’ll have to keep my eyes out for metal bits embedded in the pads — one of the reasons I am so fond of the salmon-colored Koolstop pads is that they are virtually immune to such things. Thanks for reporting this consideration. The last thing I want is my rimwall all torn up!

]]> By: Logan http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23230 Logan Tue, 18 May 2010 22:40:16 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23230 Hi Jack! :) Thanks for the review! :) I also had these VO pads for awhile I gave up on them. The pads did indeed prevent squealing but for some reason, unlike other pads I've owned, the VO pads seemed to pick up alot of metal bits from the rim. The accumulation of this metal in the pad caused hissing when the brakes were applied. I had to routinely pick out the metal and file-down the pads every 300 miles or so to prevent excessive rim wear. This phenomena seemed to be rider independent (my wife vs me), climate independent (Portland, OR (wet and cool) to Sacramento, CA (dry and hot)), and occurred on different rims (Alex adventurer rims and Mavic 720s). Like Andy mentioned, Russ also wrote a glowing review on these however I noticed he and Laura swapped out the pads when they reached Texas. I'm not sure if it was due to just trying new gear (Russ switched to linear pull from cantis) or another issue. ;) Anyway, I hope they work great for you! I've put mine in the spare parts pile. :) Cheers! :) Hi Jack! :)

Thanks for the review! :) I also had these VO pads for awhile I gave up on them. The pads did indeed prevent squealing but for some reason, unlike other pads I’ve owned, the VO pads seemed to pick up alot of metal bits from the rim. The accumulation of this metal in the pad caused hissing when the brakes were applied. I had to routinely pick out the metal and file-down the pads every 300 miles or so to prevent excessive rim wear.
This phenomena seemed to be rider independent (my wife vs me), climate independent (Portland, OR (wet and cool) to Sacramento, CA (dry and hot)), and occurred on different rims (Alex adventurer rims and Mavic 720s).

Like Andy mentioned, Russ also wrote a glowing review on these however I noticed he and Laura swapped out the pads when they reached Texas. I’m not sure if it was due to just trying new gear (Russ switched to linear pull from cantis) or another issue. ;)

Anyway, I hope they work great for you! I’ve put mine in the spare parts pile. :)

Cheers! :)

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23229 Ghost Rider Tue, 18 May 2010 19:42:52 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23229 Andy, odd...the writer for Epicurean Cyclist (Russ) used to write for us, but I can assure you that we didn't crib each other's reviews of the brake pads. ;) And, although I've had them on my bikes for just 3 months or so, that equals hundreds of miles (400+; I don't own a car). The pads still function beautifully with no noises, squeals or undue wear. Andy,

odd…the writer for Epicurean Cyclist (Russ) used to write for us, but I can assure you that we didn’t crib each other’s reviews of the brake pads. ;)

And, although I’ve had them on my bikes for just 3 months or so, that equals hundreds of miles (400+; I don’t own a car). The pads still function beautifully with no noises, squeals or undue wear.

]]> By: Andy http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/17/review-velo-orange-squeal-free-brake-shoes-and-pads/#comment-23228 Andy Tue, 18 May 2010 19:36:12 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=3734#comment-23228 I bought 2 sets of these brake shoes myself, after reading a very positive review on the Epicurean Cyclist blog. Both of these reviews seem very similar, where the writer had used the pads for a very short period of time, and only in ideal conditions. My experience was very different. I used these in cold winter weather, hoping that these might finally be the pads I could rely on to make the noises end. That was true when they were new, but after 100 miles of use, the noises were much louder than any other brakes I've heard. I got one month commuting (about 200 miles) before the pads were completely worn down, when I can normally deal with 2 changes per year (I live in a very hilly area also). I emailed Velo Orange, and their response was poor. They simply said that these don't always make the squeeling go away, and didn't address my concern about how quickly they wore down. I would not recommend these to anyone unless they only ride in ideal conditions with few hills. The stopping power is very poor, and the life of the pads is pathetic. Andy I bought 2 sets of these brake shoes myself, after reading a very positive review on the Epicurean Cyclist blog. Both of these reviews seem very similar, where the writer had used the pads for a very short period of time, and only in ideal conditions.

My experience was very different. I used these in cold winter weather, hoping that these might finally be the pads I could rely on to make the noises end. That was true when they were new, but after 100 miles of use, the noises were much louder than any other brakes I’ve heard. I got one month commuting (about 200 miles) before the pads were completely worn down, when I can normally deal with 2 changes per year (I live in a very hilly area also).

I emailed Velo Orange, and their response was poor. They simply said that these don’t always make the squeeling go away, and didn’t address my concern about how quickly they wore down. I would not recommend these to anyone unless they only ride in ideal conditions with few hills. The stopping power is very poor, and the life of the pads is pathetic.

Andy

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