Brakes in Epic

[xak1]

I see there were quite a lot of issues with disc brakes binding in the Epic.  Would V-brakes have been an option, or should one stick with disc brakes for the Epic.  Maybe V's on cermaic rims?

[Mudsimus]

Stick to Disc's. To many riders ride with inferior or badly set up disc brakes, thus the problems. I love V's, but only on short one day races.

[Velouria]

Ask Colonel about brakes binding, and how he rode down one of the meanest downhills with just his back brakes. (Also ask him about the tumble he had).

 

On the same downhill I my back brakes overheated and I lost them completely. Several other riders weren't as lucky, and lost both front and back brakes on that hill...

 

[TitusTi]

What are you lot doing to your brakes?

I never had a moments trouble from my brakes.

[Marius]

V's rule

[xak1]

Did anyone do the Epic on V's, and what was your experience?  Titus, which discs did you run?

[dirtrider]

What are you lot doing to your brakes?

 

I never had a moments trouble from my brakes.

 

 

 

I would also like to know ? It is far to easy to blame the equipment for lack of ability .

[AuctionLamb]

 

What are you lot doing to your brakes?

 

I never had a moments trouble from my brakes.

 

 

 

I would also like to know ? It is far to easy to blame the equipment for lack of ability .

 

Daar slaan jy die spyker op die kop!

 

[Mudsimus]

I dont know about any v's in epic, but there were a few guys with mechanical discs. That is looking for mech failure.

[1kTT]

Juicy Ultimates + new pads + proper maintenance= not a moments issue for the whole epic. 

 

I kept asking if the pads were worn and needed replacing, but they were perfect to the end!

 

I suspect people who had issues with disk brakes overheating on the nasty downhills probably had old/suspect break fluid which is prone to boiling (you then lose pressure in the brake line and the handle goes soft).  Also you dont want to run any sort of super lightweight disk on a race like the epic!

 

From what I saw 99.9% of riders where on disks and nobody around me had issues.

[dirtrider]

Somebody once said : Brake like you mean it . I.E if you wanna stop then brake don't fart around

[TitusTi]

Did anyone do the Epic on V's' date=' and what was your experience?  Titus, which discs did you run?[/quote']

 

Was running Avid Juicy Carbon's, nothing special, alot has to do with technique as well. As long as you're not w**king on the brakes all the time and learn about modulation you're generally fine.

[Johan Bornman]

Did anyone do the Epic on V's' date=' and what was your experience?  Titus, which discs did you run?[/quote']

 

Yes, I've done it with V-brakes. The first day was a wet one when we started and at the 50km mark outside Knysna many many disc brake riders were out of pad material. Many of them braked by jamming their expensive shoes onto the seatstays and rear tyre. Not only does it make a terrible noise, but nothing stinks like a R3000 Adidas doing 30 kph downhill.

 

That night in Saasveld there was a run on brake pads. None of the dealers could supply any more and those who had, hoarded them in secret. It caused pandemonium. Fortunately, that was the only hilly and wet day. It's the combination of hills and wet that destroys brakes.

 

I rode with V-brakes on a set of pads that weren't new when I started. I think I must have had them in for two years by then. They took a hammering on the first day as well, abrading at least 1mm, which is a lot for Vs since there isn't much pad material left. However, I finished the race and more on that set.

 

The particular brand was Koolstop and the compound, Salmon. They didn't damage my rims at all, I'm still riding with those same rims.

 

Shimano brake pads are a different story altogether and would have destroyed themselves and the rim.

 

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

I suspect people who had issues with disk brakes overheating on the nasty downhills probably had old/suspect break fluid which is prone to boiling (you then lose pressure in the brake line and the handle goes soft).  Also you dont want to run any sort of super lightweight disk on a race like the epic!

Although boiling fluid is a side-effect of overheating pads, the fluid itself has nothing to do with brakes overheating on downhills.

 

Overheating brakes can be attributed to:

 

1) The rider is unskilled and relies on his/her rear instead of front brake.

2)The hill is simply too long and steep.

3) The rider is particularly heavy

 

You have cause and effect slightly mixed up.

 

 

[1kTT]

I suspect people who had issues with disk brakes overheating on the nasty downhills probably had old/suspect break fluid which is prone to boiling (you then lose pressure in the brake line and the handle goes soft).  Also you dont want to run any sort of super lightweight disk on a race like the epic!

Although boiling fluid is a side-effect of overheating pads' date=' the fluid itself has nothing to do with brakes overheating on downhills.

 

Overheating brakes can be attributed to:

 

1) The rider is unskilled and relies on his/her rear instead of front brake.

2)The hill is simply too long and steep.

3) The rider is particularly heavy

 

You have cause and effect slightly mixed up.

 

 

[/quote']

 

nope, I think I am clear. 

 

If you have your brakes setup properly (like mine) I have never ever been able on overheat them ie no matter how hot they get they will still work. 

 

Fluid (or other) issues would result in over heated (ie not functioning properlt) brakes under conditions that well maintained ones would not.  

[swift]

Stick with discs for epic... just make sure youget a good brand and have spare pads. I have used formula ORO for the past 2 years and no problems.