UKH

Any recommendations for good brake pads to use with v-brakes and aluminium rims? On my commuter bike I have Avid Single Digit v-brakes and Mavic Aksium Elites. The last few years I've been using Avid Rim Wrangler pads (supposedly designed for aluminium). The name is pretty descriptive - a set will last a couple of months or more in the summer but at the first sign of rain they dissolve into grey rubber and aluminium paste faster than you can say "noli illegitimi carborundum". I also regularly have to dig flakes and splinters of aluminium out of them and an Aksium rim lasts maybe 2 to 3 years (Oslo winters are tough on wheels).

Would be interested in trying something different that might last a bit longer, especially since the Wranglers cost 8 quid a set now.

I've been using swisstop green on my road bike, effective and low rim wear. I don't know if they do then for v brakes though you'll have to search

Thanks - I haven't found any Swissstop pads but while searching I found that Kool Stop make some replacement pads to fit the Avid holders. A quid more than the Wranglers but if they don't dissolve in the wet it could be worth it. Might give them a try.

They only do their black compound for v brake style

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/swissstop-rx-plus-brake-pads-shimano-xt...

Kool Stop are ok, I wasnt overly impressed though, still better than the stock ones, I always despaired at seeing bits of metal in my pads

Many thanks for the link. I ordered some Kool Stops yesterday, will see how they perform and then maybe give the Swissstops a try. 

have you tried the koolstops yet?

Red koolstop for the win.

is the red called Salmon? If so thats what Ive tried before.

No - not yet. They'll arrive next weekend. Just in time! With the weather at the moment, the last set of Wranglers will be gone in a few days!

http://www.koolstop.com/english/compounds.html

Red is for hipsters, salmon is for harsh conditions