brakes on Cervelo P2c

I just went through the process of buying a new bike and looked at Cervelos.

Buy new brakes not just pads. One shop shared that someone they knew did a summer internship at Cervelo few years back and needed a new set of brakes and bought them for cost at Cervelo..they were $4.  One of the ways Cervelo keeps built bike prices down is to make some parts less expensive and off brand.

Three different bike shops told me if I got a Cervelo upgrade the brakes to something similar to Shimano 105 or Ultegra.

What type of brake pad did you buy?  I would suggest KoolStop salmons and never worry about braking performance again.

I've run several different brake calipers (Sora, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace and Tektro/Cervelo) and with the KoolStop's, I couldn't tell you the difference in braking performance.  The only brake caliper I would not run is a ZeroGravity as even with good brake pads, they offer terrible stopping performance.

Shane

I just had the standard Shimano replacement pads, ultegra or DA or whatever.  Same thing is on my road bike with 105 brakes and ultegra levers.

Is this what you are talking about http://www.cswestbikes.com/servlet/the-506/Kool-Stop-Salmon-compound/Detail ?

Edited by jsiegs 2010-06-08 11:14 AM

I replaced my Cervelo P2SL with a P2C last summer.  Having had the P2SL, I knew about the weak brakes, so I upgraded to Ultegra brakes on my P2C.  The Ultegras have much more stopping power.  Which is a good thing in the CO mountains!

What kind of wheel are you running?

I actually do ride a Cervelo p2c and have ridden it with the standard brakes levers for about 3 years.  But given my size and riding style I wanted to be sure that I had the best braking possible.  So a short while ago a did upgrade them to Dara-Ace (7800) brakes, and although there was some improvement is certainly wasn't night and day, and nowhere near the improvement I felt when I upgraded my rubber (Gatorskins to GP All-seasons)

So no I don't think the cervelo brakes are bad.  And I to have been told at LBS's that bad mouth the cervelo brakes and try to sell upgrades.  I have also seen reviews that have covered the issue of the cervelo brakes and generally give the opinion about the same as mine.

Cervelo came with the Shimano R500s.  I've sent them to permanent trainer use though cause the rear is out of true and I'm too lazy to have it trued.  So my Bontrager Races from my roadie get used on both bikes (also cause they seemed slightly more aero to me).

Those are the ones; install those on pretty much any caliper, adjust it well and you're good to go (stop actually).

ETA - alos, since the bike was used, try cleaning the braking surface - keep the surface clean will help stopping power and prolong the life of your rims.

Shane

Edited by gsmacleod 2010-06-08 11:24 AM

I use Kool-Stops too.  The ones you link (Salmons) are the best pads I've tried in wet weather and I keep a set ready to go for a rainy race day.  But they are significantly worse in dry conditions compared to the Kool Stop Black compound, which are much worse in wet conditions.  I do use the dual compound version on my commuter full time.