Kool Stop Dura 2 Brake Insert

Product Information

These are versatile pads that offer powerful and consistent braking in both the dry and the wet. Naturally, the pads are only compatible with Sram/Shimano brake shoes. Asymmetrical design. When a bicycle brake is applied, the friction of the shoe against the rim causes a slight twist of the brake arm. This makes the rear end of the brake shoe dig in and do most of the braking, while the forward end can tend to lift off. (The practice of setting "toe in" is intended to somewhat counteract this, but this creates other problems.) These pads have something of a cult following for how well they perform in the wet. The soft compound is super grippy, although that does mean they wear faster than other pads. This is the classic choice where it fits. The Eagle 2 will fit most rear brakes, but due to the long rear section, there may be clearance problems in some front brakes. If your rim/forkblade clearance is tight, you should choose one of the thinline models, or the Continental.

A softer compound will be more grippy and offer better braking – especially in the wet. However, because the compound is softer, it will wear faster than a harder compound. On the bright side, a soft compound is easier on the rims, meaning they’ll last longer before you have to replace them. Swapping them for some well-worn winter-abused pads pads, the effect was noticeable immediately; they brought a new lease of life to the bike. This was especially noticeable on the few occasions they were used in the rain. They gave the brakes a decent level of grip despite the wet stuff, which is always appreciated.

This Dual Compound model is the top choice for modern mountain bikes with direct pull brakes, and for road bikes as well. Angled Water Groove | Asymmetrical Design | Dual Compound | Plow Tip | Salmon Compound | Spherical Washers If your brakes, caliper or cantilever, use threaded hardware, the "Mountain" model is the very best you can get, for road or off road use. You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

One-piece pads are cheaper to manufacturer and so are often spec’d on lower value bikes or bikes that are trying hard to come in below a certain price point. The brakes tend to feel a little mushier and they tend to be made from lower performing compounds to keep the costs down. Compounds All Kool Stop shoes feature an angled water groove under the stud attachment point, to permit the escape of trapped water that makes it past the plow tip. While this is a cheaper option, it is likely that you would get better results with one of the " Mountain" complete shoe sets.They can be a little difficult to get hold of in the UK, but a definitely worth the extra effort for those who are concerned about performance. Both Sram/Shimano and Campagnolo versions are manufactured. This guide is road bikes with calliper rim brakes only. If you have a hybrid/mountain bike with V-brakes and pads with threaded stud, these won’t be suitable. The same goes for touring/cyclocross bikes spec’d with cantilever brakes that take a smooth stud. Which pad for which rim Kool Stop Features: Angled Water Groove | Asymmetrical Design | Dual Compound | Plow Tip | Salmon Compound | Spherical Washers