I've both read and heard a lot of conflicting reports about rim brakes on carbon rims.
The most common thread to it all seems to be that as carbon does not conduct heat well it suffers badly from heat buildup under repeated heavy braking.
i.e. alluminium is a good conductor of heat and radiates it away fairly efficiently, whereas carbon does not conduct it well and therefore the braking surface gets hotter and hotter.
This can lead to the pads getting very grabby as the surface gets tacky, and binds onto the rim under braking.
The ultimate expression of this is your front wheel locking up under braking and a 50mph faceplant.
How much of this is true?
And to what extent can this be mitigated by both technique and pad compound?
I've both read and heard a lot of conflicting reports about rim brakes on carbon rims.
The most common thread to it all seems to be that as carbon does not conduct heat well it suffers badly from heat buildup under repeated heavy braking.
i.e. alluminium is a good conductor of heat and radiates it away fairly efficiently, whereas carbon does not conduct it well and therefore the braking surface gets hotter and hotter.
This can lead to the pads getting very grabby as the surface gets tacky, and binds onto the rim under braking.
The ultimate expression of this is your front wheel locking up under braking and a 50mph faceplant.
How much of this is true?
And to what extent can this be mitigated by both technique and pad compound?