|   Skateboard griptape on the rim | Fabulous
Dec 22, 2001 1:26 AM | | Somebody posted this idea somewhere a while back, and I decided to try it. The stuff is cheap- $5 for enough to do one entire rim- and any skate shop sells it. It was easy enough to install, I just traced a section of the rim on the backing, then cut copies of that, and trimmed the edges so the seams would match up. Took about an hour (I only did the rear rim). I rode it for about an hour and didn't have my brakes slip once, and I have Avid SD7's with Koolstop Salmon pads, which I've always found pretty inadequate until now. My fingers used to hurt after riding from straining against my levers so much, but this time I found myself taking it much easier on the levers and still locking up the back wheel just fine. After only that one short ride I can say that the power increase is pretty amazing, and it's much quieter than tar, but my pads are worn about halfway down. So I guess the lesson is to treat that rear brake like it's an on-off switch and leave the modulation to the front. Pads for ceramic rims would probably work too. When I did need to modulate, though, I could without a problem- I don't manual much but I'd imagine you could manage a delicate enough touch to control the bike pretty easily. The tape seems to be in great shape after that ride, and if you really wanted to you could probably peel it off and replace it without any problems. If you try this, make sure to file the edges of the tape flush with the edge of the rim, and put a bit of a bevel on the edge so it won't peel off. Just to make a good situation better, the tape comes in different colors. My black Rhyno Lite XL is now all-black, which looks pretty swank. If anyone else has any long-term experience with this stuff, or decides to try it themselves, let's hear it-
Nick |
| You dont like the SD7's?? | OrBust
Dec 22, 2001 1:48 AM | | Damn man...thats what I have been planning on using on my bike. I have hayes disk on it now....and my buddy has SD7's on his XC bike, and his avids lock up alot better then my disks. Its instintaneous...and he even has the stock pads, with no booster, and he's not running big thick cables or anything. Have you tried any other pads? |
| Re: You dont like the SD7's?? | Fabulous
Dec 22, 2001 9:30 AM | | I do like them, in fact I swapped out my HS33 in the rear for the SD7 and I like the SD7 more. I haven't tried any other pads besides the salmons. I use thick cables and no booster on a Zebdi and I'd say 95% of the time they locked up for me without any problems, and I brake with 1 finger all the time. Those times that they don't lock up, it's usually because I'm just slightly too slow with that finger. It also helps a lot to keep your rims and pads clean, but even here in Arizona where I never ride in the rain, I was cleaning them every ride. If your buddy's SD7 is locking up better than your Hayes, something's not right- you should try cleaning your pads and rotor with rubbing alcohol and see if that makes a difference. I've been riding a little over a year, and it's only recently that I've started being concerned about my braking power, because I'm just starting into back wheel moves. The first 4 or 5 months I learned on low-end Tektro's with stock pads, on a BMX cruiser, and never needed any better braking power. I'd imagine that Plazmatic or Planet X pads would really help your lockup when you need it, but as a beginner you'll mostly just be modulating the rear brake anyway. |
| re: Skateboard griptape on the rim | Regder
Dec 23, 2001 12:26 AM | | I'm pretty sure I was the one that posted it, yet I haven't gotten around to trying it on my own bike yet. Seems like an affordable alternative to the plaz coating. For the pad wear, you might want to try a hard compound pad. Over in Japan they make their own out of strips of polyurethene glued to worn out brake pads, they don't have a problem running them with a grind so should work for you.
Now that the snow is inevitable I might finally get my lazy ass up and do it myself, will see... ;) |
| Polyurethane strips | Fabulous
Dec 24, 2001 1:52 PM | | I was thinking I'd try pads for ceramic rims, but the polyurethane idea sounds worth a try.. Any ideas where I can pick some up? |
| Polyurethane strips | Regder
Dec 24, 2001 5:04 PM | | hmmm, guess you could try one of the big hardware store. Can't say I've ever gone in search of polyurethene. The ceramic pads might also work alright |
| re: Skateboard griptape on the rim | Jerry Wardlow
Dec 27, 2001 6:55 PM | | Hey guys,
I had a friend who tried the grip tape thing and he said the only problem he had was that the glue on the grip tape wasn't storng enough and the tape was torn off after a while while running xtr v-brakes. Just something to think about. Make sure you use high-quality grip tape.
-Jerry |
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