Rigida Tugsten-Cardbide Rims

Photo: SJSC

Two of the most common issues brought up when discussing the downsides of rim brakes are wearing out rims and wet weather performance.  Rigida has come out with a Tungsten Carbide treatment for their rims that seems to resolve both these issues.  Rims last many times longer than normal and wet weather braking is improved.  The downside is that you need to use brake pads specially made for these rims, but that’s no different than having to buy brand/model specific disc brake pads if you ran discs to resolve the same problems.

Interestingly they have a special Rohloff drilling to allow spokes to follow a more natural path when used with high flange hubs like the Rohloff.

Photo: SJSC

What SJSC says:

“Ultra hard wearing Carbide Super Sonic brake surface, allowing fantastic braking and wear characteristics. The carbide is projected at seven times the speed of sound on to the rim embedding it into the alloy. Unlike a ceramic surface it cannot flake away as it is part of the rim (not a layer). The only recommended brake blocks are Swisstop C.S.S. Blue V brake blocks.”

Quiet Disc Brakes

Photo: Velonews.com

From Leonard Zinn’s colum on Velonews.com:

“Swiss trains are always on time, and their brakes don’t squeal when they come into the station, thanks to a special spray technicians apply to their brake pads that smoothes the friction surface with sliding platelets of molybdenum and graphite. Swisstop is sending the stuff over to the USA in large containers and having it canned in Georgia in aerosol cans so you, too, can quiet your bike’s disc brakes.”

If it really works this new spray for disc brakes made by Swiss Stop could be a big hit.  I hate brake squeal and on some bikes nothing I’ve tried got rid of it [and yes I tried every trick in the book!] so I’d be happy to have a can of this in my bike tool box.