Final thoughts
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The wear sustained by this pad is obvious from its thinness
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It's easier to replace brake pads when the wheel has been removed
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The poor condition of this graphic is evidence of wear suffered by the rim
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Pads can be persuaded to leave the shoe with use of a screwdriver
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Silver particles on the pad are likely to be pieces of aluminium from the rim. Remove with a pick if the shoe has sufficiently good to be used again
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Grub screws can wear and easily become rounded. If your replacement pads are supplied with new grub screws, use them
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New pads and regularly inspected rims - a safe combination
Final thoughts
Riding regularly in a group will increase pad wear, says Jon. The additional braking required to maintain a distance to the rider in front, and the concertina effect that causes heavier braking for riders in the middle of a pack responding suddenly to the deceleration of the riders at the front, are two causes.
Another thought provoking issue: a worn rim will one day collapse. The consequences can be catastrophic. As the rim becomes thinner and thinner, it will start to bow outwards beneath the pressure of the tyre. When the rim is no longer strong enough to bear the pressure of the tyre, it will crack, and large sections will peel off.
“It’s extreme, but it happens,” says Jon. “It happened to a guy I was riding with recently – luckily on a flat piece of road.”