An ode to Kool Stop
01-15-16, 12:13 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
An ode to Kool Stop
I have mentioned them before, but I just put a new set on my CX bike. They are amazing. I spend tons on money on cycling gear that produces, at best, nearly imperceptible gains. Ultegra drivetrain might shift better than the Tiagra. Lighter wheels might be faster. New tires might corner better. But the Kool Stops? They stop. Night and day.
I have all alu breaking surfaces, so YMMV, but wow. I really do regret spending $100 to upgrade to fancier (and heavier) Ultegra brakes. I rode my new CX bike through some disasters today, and I am pretty sure that that new disc-ready frame is no longer in my immediate future.
And all this from a company whose website and packaging was frozen in time in 1998.
I have all alu breaking surfaces, so YMMV, but wow. I really do regret spending $100 to upgrade to fancier (and heavier) Ultegra brakes. I rode my new CX bike through some disasters today, and I am pretty sure that that new disc-ready frame is no longer in my immediate future.
And all this from a company whose website and packaging was frozen in time in 1998.
01-15-16, 10:13 AM
#2
Senior Member
Agreed! They also make a good replacement pad for the old orange Weinmann's, which I put on my Raleigh. I also use Kool Stops on the tandem.
01-15-16, 10:20 AM
#3
For the last couple of years they are the only thing I have used on my touring bike with cantis. Just had a new set put on this week. The Mountain Salmons, I believe. I like to incorporate dirt roads into my tours. The pads work well and hold up great even on mountainous, dirt roads in the rain.
01-15-16, 10:38 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Agreed, KoolStops are one of the best "bang for the buck" upgrades you can make to a bike.
01-15-16, 10:44 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Cambridge UK
Posts: 1,667
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL6 .... Miyata One Thousand
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times
in
22 Posts
I am looking at getting some Kool Stops ...
I see that there are a few different types of Kool Stop. Which are the best for wet conditions? (aluminium wheel rims)
I see that there are a few different types of Kool Stop. Which are the best for wet conditions? (aluminium wheel rims)
01-15-16, 11:18 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,114
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2.0, 2016 Trek Emonda ALR 6, 2015 Propel Advanced SL 2, 2000 K2 Zed SE
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Salmon are the ones that people rave about. There are only two brake pads people pretty well universally rave about - KoolStop Salmon for alloy rims, and SwisStop Black Prince for carbon.
01-15-16, 01:18 PM
#8
Woman make me faster
Kool Stop Salmon are my go to brake pad. I just bought some new alloy wheels and will pair them up with a set of salmon pads. Its usually the first thing I change on a new bike.
01-15-16, 02:52 PM
#10
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,739
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Liked 1,565 Times
in
1,028 Posts
Swisstop BXP RacePro/Flashpros have been working well for me. What would equivalent Koolstop be -- the salmons?
01-15-16, 02:58 PM
#11
L-I-V-I-N
Kool Stops
love 'em. Though Shimano's latest are a lot better than they once were.
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
Last edited by dtrain; 01-15-16 at 03:02 PM.
01-16-16, 07:26 PM
#12
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Salmons are a little aggressive on one of my bikes with very light, less expensive wheels. The fronts shuddered and wore down very quickly no matter how I adjusted them. The dual compound pads have a little better feel and don't wear as fast, still stop on a dime. My road bike with good Mavic wheels have the full salmon pads.
01-16-16, 08:36 PM
#13
Bad example
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Seattle and Reims
Posts: 3,303
Bikes: Peugeot: AO-8 1973, PA-10 1971, PR-10 1973, Sante 1988; Masi Gran Criterium 1975, Stevenson Tourer 1980, Stevenson Criterium 1981, Schwinn Paramount 1972, Rodriguez 2006, Gitane Federal ~1975, Holdsworth Pro, Follis 172 ~1973, Bianchi '62
Liked 446 Times
in
209 Posts
I am another Kool Stop fan, and just bought a set of salmon pads for Old Peugeot #2 . They offer a noticeable improvement when the rims are wet, which is nine months out of the year in the NorthWet.
01-17-16, 07:56 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La La Land (We love it!)
Posts: 6,301
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
All I will use.
Dual compounds for my wife, blacks for me (they work great!)...
Dual compounds for my wife, blacks for me (they work great!)...
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
01-17-16, 07:59 PM
#16
Senior Member
Salmons are a little aggressive on one of my bikes with very light, less expensive wheels. The fronts shuddered and wore down very quickly no matter how I adjusted them. The dual compound pads have a little better feel and don't wear as fast, still stop on a dime. My road bike with good Mavic wheels have the full salmon pads.
01-17-16, 08:37 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: The New World
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride with Shimano 5700 brake calipers. Do these work with them? Kool-Stop Salmon Road Brake Pads
Where do you guys in the US usually order them from online?
Where do you guys in the US usually order them from online?
01-17-16, 11:12 PM
#19
Senior Member
01-17-16, 11:35 PM
#20
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
The other bike is pictured below. Only the front shudders and I'm not sure the steel fork doesn't have something to do with it. The wheels are also radial lacing in the front with thin gauges spokes, aluminum nipples and Joytech hubs - 700 grams for the front wheel and not what you would call stiff by any means. Full salmon pads are just a bit aggressive but the dual compound pads are smooth as glass and stop on a dime.
Last edited by TimothyH; 01-17-16 at 11:49 PM.
01-18-16, 08:39 AM
#21
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,565
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Liked 2,250 Times
in
1,510 Posts
