https://flocycling.com/...aluminum-rim-braking
I'm not here to re-plow well-tread grounded about the strength of carbon rims, I'm strictly interested in a discussion of stopping performance for rim brakes in carbon v. aluminum brake tracks. I know this has been discussed a lot, but I'm still interested. To the extent it is a myth, I have certainly bought into the idea that carbon rims brake more poorly than aluminum brake tracks. Flo suggested in the above article it is a myth. But, even its statements regarding the performance of carbon rim braking are filled with all sorts of qualifiers. This may only be so "when" carbon and compound brake pads are designed together. We "consider" our braking in our carbon rims to match aluminum rims (sounds like aluminum is the gold standard then if you are trying to get carbon to match it). You will only get the best braking results "if" you use our brake pads.
To be clear, I'm not attacking Flo here. All manufacturers basically say the same thing. It always struck is as a total gimmick to say you must use our brake pads to maximize braking power much like a manufacturer claiming you must use their batteries to operate their product correctly. And, it was also signal to me that something is wrong. If I can use virtually any pad with an aluminum rim, why do I need a special pad for carbon, unless there's the potential for inferior braking??
For me, braking is more important than going fast. I earn a living doing something other than riding and as much as I like to ride and race, I need to wake up the next day with my faculties and I'm not willing to gain an extra .1 MPH to lose an extra .5 seconds of braking of braking power (random numbers I'm using there). For rim brakes, I have never ridden carbon--in fact, I have refused to and sworn by HED, Flo for this reason.
So...….in the year 2020, with better carbon than existed 20-30 years ago, is it really a myth that carbon rim brake performance is inferior to aluminum brake performance?
I'm not here to re-plow well-tread grounded about the strength of carbon rims, I'm strictly interested in a discussion of stopping performance for rim brakes in carbon v. aluminum brake tracks. I know this has been discussed a lot, but I'm still interested. To the extent it is a myth, I have certainly bought into the idea that carbon rims brake more poorly than aluminum brake tracks. Flo suggested in the above article it is a myth. But, even its statements regarding the performance of carbon rim braking are filled with all sorts of qualifiers. This may only be so "when" carbon and compound brake pads are designed together. We "consider" our braking in our carbon rims to match aluminum rims (sounds like aluminum is the gold standard then if you are trying to get carbon to match it). You will only get the best braking results "if" you use our brake pads.
To be clear, I'm not attacking Flo here. All manufacturers basically say the same thing. It always struck is as a total gimmick to say you must use our brake pads to maximize braking power much like a manufacturer claiming you must use their batteries to operate their product correctly. And, it was also signal to me that something is wrong. If I can use virtually any pad with an aluminum rim, why do I need a special pad for carbon, unless there's the potential for inferior braking??
For me, braking is more important than going fast. I earn a living doing something other than riding and as much as I like to ride and race, I need to wake up the next day with my faculties and I'm not willing to gain an extra .1 MPH to lose an extra .5 seconds of braking of braking power (random numbers I'm using there). For rim brakes, I have never ridden carbon--in fact, I have refused to and sworn by HED, Flo for this reason.
So...….in the year 2020, with better carbon than existed 20-30 years ago, is it really a myth that carbon rim brake performance is inferior to aluminum brake performance?