Boardman Bike - brake upgrade

 

I've been thinking about doing this for a while and the recent rides over gravel trails and steep descents spurred me on to do it.  The brakes on the Boardman where Avid BB5 which dont have a particularly good reputation for effectiveness as they are regarded as entry level single sided cable operated brakes.  I got on with them but you had to be cautious in descending and give yourself plenty of braking time.  However I  I found that after nearly every ride I needed to adjust them to keep them at peak effectiveness.  I was probably ultra conscious of doing this as a cycling friend had these brakes on his bike and  going down a steep hill, failed to slow down enough and crashed resulting in a broken collar bone, which took ages to heal.  

We oldies dont bounce so well.  

So I bit the bullet and upgraded to TRP Spyres, which although still cable operated have dual pistons so the pads are operated evenly on both sides.

Old brakes

New brakes

They were easy to fit as they were just a straight replacement.

I took it for a test ride as the pads need to bed in before they are really effective and so far they feel good but the test is always on a good ride.  

On the way back I pass the rugby field and saw this in the distance, initially I though they were birds as we do get Fieldfares flocks here but its a bit early for them, so I had to take a walk over.

They were toadstools, Inkcaps 

Ink caps and I think',Shaggy mane inkcaps.