2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Chargeride]

Final update, Gary took the motor out to send it off and two off the lugs are snapped off.
They are quoting 350 to fix everything and upgrade bearings.

 

[edobici_forza]

Haha, what a coincidence Chargeride, I was just coming on to post about my brake pad swap yesterday. But you ride through some rough stuff, so I am not surprised by the wear. My brakes were screaming like a banshee. But I also changed the rotors too - transferred from another bike. And, I got a new tool to help out with the process: a caliper piston press. Yesterday I did a piston cleaning with DOT fluid just to get everything to baseline. I have 1300 miles on the original pads, whatever comes with SRAM Apex brakes in 2025. Now using MTX Red ceramic pads, which I have on my MTB. The shakedown ride afterwards went well. Though, I still hate the feel of the Apex brake levers (D1) – poor modulation and slow return. I may upgrade to the Rival E1 levers, in the future.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Haha, what a coincidence Chargeride, I was just coming on to post about my brake pad swap yesterday. But you ride through some rough stuff, so I am not surprised by the wear. My brakes were screaming like a banshee. But I also changed the rotors too - transferred from another bike. And, I got a new tool to help out with the process: a caliper piston press. Yesterday I did a piston cleaning with DOT fluid just to get everything to baseline. I have 1300 miles on the original pads, whatever comes with SRAM Apex brakes in 2025. Now using MTX Red ceramic pads, which I have on my MTB. The shakedown ride afterwards went well. Though, I still hate the feel of the Apex brake levers (D1) – poor modulation and slow return. I may upgrade to the Rival E1 levers, in the future.

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Is there some kind of brake virus going around now? Just did a total brake upgrade on my Vado SL for a recurring drag in the rear.

 

[edobici_forza]

@Jeremy McCreary, likely just that we are riding so much that our pads get worn quickly, and the system gets dirty. you can see in my first Before photo of my rear, the pistons are compensating for the thin pad material so, that can cause some drag. The funny thing is my rear pads in my photo were double the thickness of my front, which was the one really squealing! All, nice and quiet on my 21 mile ride yesterday.

BTW, I followed this video for cleaning the pistons. My first time doing it on SRAM, so I had to go get some DOT 4 brake fluid (my other bikes are all Shimano)

Park Tool Brake Piston Cleaning Video

.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

@Jeremy McCreary, likely just that we are riding so much that our pads get worn quickly, and the system gets dirty. you can see in my first Before photo of my rear, the pistons are compensating for the thin pad material so, that can cause some drag. The funny thing is my rear pads in my photo were double the thickness of my front, which was the one really squealing! All, nice and quiet on my 21 mile ride yesterday.

Recurring dirt accumulation on the exposed part of one (steel) rear piston definitely played a big role in my case. The pads themselves were never an issue.

Among other things, hoping the new ceramic pistons will be less prone to gathering dirt.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

BTW, I followed this video for cleaning the pistons. My first time doing it on SRAM, so I had to go get some DOT 4 brake fluid (my other bikes are all Shimano)

Park Tool Brake Piston Cleaning Video

Sorry, just watched your piston cleaning link. EXTREMELY helpful — hopefully no more lazy seals for me!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

"Horses, Go!"

That was a big evening gravel group ride, 40 km of gravel along the Vistula, a weekly event known as MOSTy (BRIDGEs). What was special, the "normal" group was controlled by the leaders not to exceed 23 km/h in the terrain. I will write a report on the "Laid Back MOSTy" but let me just tell you riding in a big group is something worth living for! I'M HAPPY!

Part of the riders were known as "horses": extremely fit racers. These were put in the front, and the organizer (blue trousers) said loudly: "Fast group, ALLEZ!" but the racers didn't understand the command. So someone said distinctly: HORSES, GO! And the horses went The three men on the left were controlling the "normal" group. The jersey of the fourth one reads: "Step up the pace".