This time, we will thoroughly explain braking when using road bike carbon wheels. We will also introduce how to replace brake pads. However, the same can be said for brakes not only on carbon wheels but also on cross bikes. Therefore, this article is useful even for those who don't ride road bikes. We will also include the ICAN brake pad products introduced this time. We are distributing a "3350 yen" coupon, so please enjoy shopping at a discount.

If you're using road bike carbon rims, stop using aluminum brake pads.

It's not good to use aluminum brake pads if you're using road bike carbon wheels. This is because the rim can heat up and deform or break. To prevent the rim from overheating, we recommend using carbon brake pads if you're using carbon wheels. And it's not simply that changing from aluminum brake pads to carbon brake pads and using carbon wheels makes them "safe." I wrote about precautions for using carbon wheels in the article below.

Precautions for using carbon wheels

There are some points I want those who are currently using aluminum wheels and are considering switching to carbon wheels to be aware of. When you search online for carbon wheels, you'll find:

・Carbon wheels accumulate heat more easily and are weaker to heat than aluminum.

・Brake firmly and briefly. Continuous braking is a no-go.

・Latex tubes are not suitable for carbon clinchers.

・Higher rim height means higher rigidity.

This is what came up. At first glance, some people who see this might feel, "Wow, carbon wheels are scary." However, in reality, it's not that scary. Squeezing the brake firmly and briefly is a basic rule. This is true not only for carbon wheels but also for aluminum wheels. Nevertheless, road bikes go faster than cross bikes, so you need to be careful when braking.

[Road bike carbon wheel brake pads] Perform regular maintenance to ride safely and enjoyably.

If you use road bike carbon wheels, especially perform regular maintenance on your brake pads. The reason is that road bikes go faster than cross bikes. Brake maintenance is essential for adjusting the speed of a road bike.

[Maintenance] How to replace road bike brake pads

Brake pads are the parts that clamp the handlebar when you squeeze the brake. Brake pads on carbon wheels and the like are critical components. Now, let's look at how to replace road bike brake pads. 1. Check if the brake pads are worn. 2. Slide and remove the pad section. 3. After removing the pads, wipe the brake pads with parts cleaner or similar. Now, let's look at the above three in detail!

1. Check if the brake pads are worn

When checking for worn brake pads, look at the "grooves" in the brake pads. If these grooves are shallow, it's time to replace them. Of course, if metal or anything else gets stuck in the brake pad, you should immediately install new brake pads. Depending on the manufacturer of the brake pad, there may be a line indicating "replace when the groove wears down to this point." In such cases, even if you feel that the brake pads "haven't worn much," you should replace them.

2. Slide and remove the pad section

To replace the pads, you need to slide them. Look at your road bike from the side, then look at the brake pads. You should see a small screw. Remove that screw with a 2mm hex wrench. Note that some brake pads may have a different size hex wrench. Also, when adjusting the brake pads, you don't need to completely loosen the screw; loosening it about halfway is sufficient. This will allow the brake pad to come off.

3. After removing the pads, wipe them with parts cleaner, etc.

After removing the pads, wipe them with a cloth moistened with parts cleaner or similar. There are right and left pads, so make sure to install them correctly. After installation, tighten the screw that you loosened about halfway earlier. Also, this screw is small, only 2mm, so be careful not to overtighten it, as it could become an 'unusable screw'.

4. Adjusting the tightness of the brake pads

When you get new brake pads, the feel of the brake lever might change. In such cases, you will need to adjust it to your preferred feel. Otherwise, you might end up squeezing the brake too hard or finding that the brake doesn't work at all. There are two ways to adjust brake pads. The first is to adjust the adjuster bolt. This component is located slightly above the brake. Turn it clockwise when looking at the road bike from the front. This will allow you to increase the brake's play and tighten it more firmly. However, what should you do if the adjuster bolt can't be turned any further? In that case, loosen the screw that secures the brake cable. Turning a hex screw counter-clockwise will loosen it and allow you to adjust the play. Unlike the adjuster bolt, make sure to tighten this cable screw securely.

How to center the brakes after changing them

1. If it's a caliper brake, tighten the screw on the back of the caliper with about 80% force.

2. Hold the cable in place and firmly tighten the screw from step 1 while squeezing the brake.

3. Adjust the pad position.

4. When looking at the road bike from behind, adjust the brake screw on the right side.

By adjusting the screw in step 4, you can tilt the brake to the right or left. If you perform these four steps carefully, your brakes should be centered. Depending on the brake model and manufacturer, the location of the screw in step 4 may differ, so please refer to the instruction manual for each manufacturer.

Points to consider when adjusting brake alignment

Align the brake with the side (rim) of the road bike carbon wheels. It's best to fix it parallel to the carbon wheel rim and match it to the rim's width. If the rim's orientation and the brake pad's orientation are not aligned, the tire may get scratched. It's even entirely possible for the road bike tire to puncture. Therefore, it's good to regularly maintain the brake pads on road bike carbon wheels and similar. Also, for those who are thinking, "I want to replace my brake pads soon, but I don't know which ones to choose," we've listed our (ICAN's) brake pads below.

[ICAN Brake Pads] Road bike carbon brake pads

3,357 yen. Brake Pads

ICAN brake pads are specially designed to be compatible with ICAN carbon road rims. They feature a 20% larger pad surface area for increased stopping power, a specially formulated compound, and a unique air-cooling design to enhance braking control in wet conditions. We are distributing a "3350 yen" coupon, so you can shop at a discount!

6,607 yen. Brake Pads

This product is "Black Prince & Yellow King." The difference between Black Prince and Yellow King is that Black Prince provides braking power with a feel closer to aluminum rim brake pads. It's suitable for those who often ride courses with ascents and descents and require precise brake control. Yellow King provides high braking power from the initial squeeze, making it suitable for races like time trials where quick stopping is desired. Black Prince generates 56% less friction heat during braking than Yellow King, reducing damage to carbon rims. We are distributing a "3350 yen" coupon, so you can shop at a discount!

Summary

Thank you for reading this far. This time, I wrote an article for those who ride road bikes with carbon wheels. However, the same can be said for brakes not only on carbon wheels but also on cross bikes, so this article is useful even for those who don't ride road bikes. Brakes are a vital component, so please make an effort to perform regular maintenance.