These items don't tend to get the attention they deserve, but as all cyclists know they are just as important as any other component. Like tyres, brake blocks and cables tend to perish much faster than most other parts of a bike, especially when we are talking about bikes from 30-40 years ago, and if you buy an old bike to ride, as opposed to admire, perhaps wheel out for the occasional photograph or to enter into beauty pageants, then brake blocks and cables are almost certainly going to be the first things you'll have to replace on any old bike if you value your life, along with the tyres.
Of course those of us who restore bikes primarily to ride while striving to maintain as much of the bikes original character as we can (when we can't get NOS catalogue spec tyres) will try to get modern tyres that at least resemble those old tyres aesthetically with tan walls and whatnot while delivering the safety and stability only new rubber can provide, so following on from that what's the best way to go when it comes to brake blocks and cables?
What brands do you guys tend to go for, are there any RB approved purveyors of such wares out there? Maybe old brake blocks aren't that bad as long as they haven't been worn to a wafer and old cables just need a wipe and a squirt of lube.
Of course those of us who restore bikes primarily to ride while striving to maintain as much of the bikes original character as we can (when we can't get NOS catalogue spec tyres) will try to get modern tyres that at least resemble those old tyres aesthetically with tan walls and whatnot while delivering the safety and stability only new rubber can provide, so following on from that what's the best way to go when it comes to brake blocks and cables?
What brands do you guys tend to go for, are there any RB approved purveyors of such wares out there? Maybe old brake blocks aren't that bad as long as they haven't been worn to a wafer and old cables just need a wipe and a squirt of lube.
just spent £70 
