Gorilla Brake Pads

After my ride on Saturday, I needed to get some new brake pads as I was losing confidence in them towards the end of the ride. Historically I’ve headed straight to Amazon, but I’m trying to be more mindful of supporting smaller and independent businesses. A quick online search for brake pads led me to Gorilla Brakes, which is based in Lancashire.

“Based in Lancaster, Lancashire we supply high-performance bicycle brake pads for cyclists across the UK and abroad. With a wider range of bicycle parts and disc brake pads, we cover the needs of bike enthusiasts, daily commuters, and competitive racers. We are a provider who is passionate about cycling, with a vision of creating a safer environment on the roads and trails. We are the official Disc Brake Pad supplier for HEL MTB Disc Brakes.”

And:

“We don’t just sell brake pads, we support riders. We are actively investing in the local cycling community, sponsoring young riders who are pushing their limits. Check out our social platforms to see which riders we are sponsoring and how you can get involved in our community events.”

This last paragraph is why we should all be supporting our independent shops and suppliers!

On the website you can filter your search by calliper, compound, racing or ‘pro’ brake pads which makes it easy to find what you want. I ordered two pairs of the SRAM Enduro Pro Ultimate Disc Brake Pads Sunday evening and they arrived Tuesday afternoon. Prices for my brake pads ranged from £9.99 to £20.99 depending upon the compound I wanted which made them comparable to (and cheaper than some) other brands.

Inside each packet you get a pair of pads and the clip. There is no retaining pin provided so make sure you don’t lose your original.

I removed my old pads, cleaned my brakes and installed these with no problems at all. Following an online chat with Lee (who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable) they recommended that I might also need to bleed my brakes but I’m going to try and avoid that if possible in the first instance!

As with all new pads they need bedding in to give them a longer lifespan, reduce that dreaded squeal, and ensure consistent power when stopping. That’s a job for tomorrow as it’s throwing it down with rain at the moment!

Gorilla Brakes recommends for Gravel Bikes that you follow the MTB process (on a downhill trail, brake firmly to half speed) and repeat 25–30 times to counter debris on gravel trails.

Gorilla Brakes also operate a recycling programme for pads and rotors giving you a credit towards your next purchase! What more could you want! The amount of credit varies:

• NRS Brake Pads £10 credit on return of back plates. Free returns provided.
• Titanium Brake Pads £5 credit on return of back plates. Free returns provided.
• Old Used Rotors £5 credit on when you send back your worn rotors. Free returns provided.
• All Other Brake Pads £1 credit on return of back plates. Free returns provided.

I’ll update on the long-term use of the pads at a future date.