Heatsink

It certainly is I really hope they impress! Steve

Michel has a different way to transfer the Coust raw sheet into pad shapes, sands the sides and adds the tapered ends as styling. I receive the blocks precut by Michel for my convenience, then I cut these manually on my cutting jig to create the recess geo needed. I leave the square corners to maximise the braking area and see no need to sand the sides. These pads are then carefully stuck into the Magura plastic/HeatsinkBikes CNC Vee/HeatsinkBikes CNC Magura backings and then the breaking surfaces bedded in with abrasive agitation so they're ready for to strut their stuff straight away. Better get back to pad making As it would happen I'm assembling some Coust pads into V2 CNC Magura backings as we speak These continue to be one of HSB's biggest selling products. Steve

The winner! I'll have the watch posted off to you this weekend. I hope you like it Ross Thanks to all those (few) who entered Steve

Yes

There are so many variables if you're comparing different pads on different bikes. How the pads are set up, rim roughness, presence of grime and grease on the braking surfaces. Naturally a truely fair comparison is never very easy to do (Same bike, proper measurements, exactly the same rim and level of cleanliness of braking surfaces). Taking this premise further, it's surely impossible to do a comparison between a brake set-up in 2004 and now? Sometimes we are all guilty of looking back with rose tinted spectacles. I know that my first Trials bike seemed the best frame I've ever ridden compared to my current, but the cold facts of the geometry tell the real story! I'm handling Coust pads everyday, preparing them for brake pads and able to assess the material properties in a straight-forward scientific way which isn't clouded by other variables. There's no denying that these pads sat in front of me have an exceptional coefficient of friction and durability which justifies their reputation. I still have samples myself from 2004 in the original Coust backings. My tests show no drop in quality for 2009. Steve

Note that pigment variation can occur between batches and doesn't mean the compound is different. I asked Michel to straighten out these bizarre allegations from some quarters that he would intentionally sell inferior pads to shops whilst lying that they were the compound used by the Coust brothers Here's his response: In short, he refutes these allegations and can't understand why someone would think it would make sense for him to sell different Coust pads to HSB. HeatsinkBikes sell "Real Coust" pads, and these now come with 20% extra of this supreme pad compound as well as the choice of being ready fitted into the market leading V2 Heatsink CNC Magura or Vee backings. The original and best superstar CNC backings! Steve

Just to clear up any misunderstandings, the Coust material sold via HeatsinkBikes comes direct from Michel Coustellier himself (Father of World Champs Giacomo and Gilles), as it always has. It will perform exactly as this legendary material has always done. I just carefully cut it to the correct size and carefully mount it into the range of Heatsink plastic magura/CNC Magura/CNC Vee backings as riders wish. I offer this alternative to the HSB pad material due to the sheer weight of rider demand! Long may Coust pads reign Steve

There's still time to put in an entry - A bike & a background One rather smart watch here which will be given away in a matter of days Could be the easiest prize you've ever earnt! Steve

CNC backed pads are great You may find my CNC pad fitting guide of use at some point in the future http://www.heatsinkbikes.com/?p=padsguide Cheers, Steve

Thanks very much for your new entries. Sorry for not being online. My priority was working on a backlog of pad orders, and have just sent all these out today. My sincere apologies for falling behind with these and the subsequent lack of email updates as I worked to catch up. I've been working through all my TF messages and emails this evening. I'm really proud about the new CNC Vee & Magura pads, but not proud of the really poor service HSB have been providing I hope that I can re-establish belief in HSB in the run up to Xmas and look forward to giving away more stuff Steve

Thanks for your entry Ross! A great idea to look through the frame. I hope this will get people's imagination going Keep the entries coming! Steve

Final entry date is the 30th of Nov 09 No, but it does feature a novel way of showing the time. Something different that will become a talking point I'm sure with your friends and family. I really like it and thought that others would too Steve

Sounds fair! Amending the rules then (1st post editted): If you don't have any stickers , please have "Heatsinkbikes.com" visibily on the bike somewhere Of course, extra brownie points for HSB components actually on there and I'd love to know what these are! Steve

Hi all, Christmas is fast approaching so I thought that it would be fun to hold a competition and give away some stuff The idea is to submit photos of your bike against an interesting background. It could be a well known internationally known land mark/back drop or any scenary near you (urban/natural where ever you want!) which makes an interesting or beautiful photo. The one stipulation is that the bike feature heatsinkbikes.com clearly visible somewhere. Extra brownie points for the bike featuring a named HeatsinkBikes component (CNC Magura/Vee brake pads, C9 Middleburns bash guard, Vee adapters) or HSB bike sticker. Please post this info below the photo. The difference about this photo comp and others is that it doesn't give those with the best riding ability an advantage. The comp is wide open to the rider with the best eye for a photo and access to some interesting scenary and a Trials bike! I was intending to get a photo of my bike against one of the Cambridge Town scenes but time hasn't permitted me yet! I propose awarding the prize near the end of November. It's a brand new rather snazzy watch as seen below: Quick way to make your own HSB sticker - Simply print this out! Good luck! Steve

Hi Simon, Thanks for your email yesterday. Sorry I didn't manage to reply the same day - I was a bit exhausted after work that evening to catch up with emails! I popped you back a reply earlier this evening, and then saw this thread and naturally thought I'd better reply here aswell to parry the swelling TF rumours of my demise! I'll have all the pads sent in the same parcel tomorrow I've been really pleased with the demand for new V2 CNC Vee and Magura backings. Thanks to all of you who have been snapping these beauties up! I'm making them non-stop at the moment for shops and riders alike. Apologies to all for the slight delay but I'm sure you'll find they're worth it Steve

Hi! Thanks for your email and sorry about the delay getting back. I've just started a new job which kind of distracted me! I can get some replacements sorted for you. Expect mail this evening Steve

It was one of the key positive points I was telling the world about when I first got the Heatsink Pad mould tooling sorted, that the Heatsink pads were 8mm rather than the previously standard 6mm of competitors (1/3 extra pad for your money!). The cautious V1 CNC backing design added 1.5mm to the backing height at each side compared to standard plastic backings, and over time as rim set-ups got tighter then it unfortunately wasn't always possible to fit the full 8mm of pad. Bad times Now the V2 thickness acknowledges the standard plastic backing height as optimum Steve

Thanks for your patience on the weights. Here's the full summary V2 CNC Magura backing = 7.8g each, a 33% weight reduction compared to the V1! These backings have been slimmed from 9mm to 7.5mm and material removed at the rear too V2 CNC Vee backing = 10.8g each (assembly of alu backing and steel boss), a 9% weight reduction compared to the V1. No change to backing thickness of 7.1mm, material removed at the rear. Thanks! The white or yellow pads (same compound but different colour pigment) have the closest properties. As used by the HSB Team riders including Aurelien Fontenoy (4x World Jr Champ), Patrick Donovan (2009 Spanish Champ + many other titles!). Aussie female Trials star Janine "J9" Jungfels swears by the HSB blues in CNC Magura backings. Watch out for the Interviews with Patrick and Janine I'll have up on my site soon! Thanks for your nice comments! The CNC backings are where it all began for HeatsinkBikes. It's great to be in a position now to revisit these and make them as good as they can be in the light of current knowledge and hard won experience! Cheers, Steve P.S. The CNC backed pads are all now winging their way out to those who have ordered them so far. I look forward to your feedback here once these beauties arrive with you! I have more backings looking for new homes too All they want is a master who will ride them hard and refill them after they have shown outstanding service!

It's "Edie" by The Cult Cracking tune I agree! I'm gald that you all enjoyed the vid so far Keep the comments coming! Steve

Just a quick one because I'm working hard at the moment on preparing CNC brake pads for send out to those who have ordered them! Check out this BMX video of Sam Davis Bate riding Heatsink CNC Vees! http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/forum/index....t&p=1992627 EDIT: Some new photos! All now available to order (ignore the old CNC backings on my site whilst I get around to updating them) and they come with the usual FREE Heatsink goodies of Cadbury Chocolate Eclairs sweets and large HeatsinkBikes.com sticker! Cheers, Steve

Hi, I thought you might like to see this new video from Sam Davies Bate riding for HeatsinkBikes.com with his Heatsink CNC Vees. Sam has been a fan of them from many years of riding! More info on the brand new V2 CNC Vees here: HeatsinkBikes News I hope you enjoy the video! http://www.vimeo.com/6871858 Cheers, Steve

First ever photo! I'll catch up with you later today Steve

Fantastic Patt! Amazing locations and riding I've been looking forward to this video and it's great to see it in such top quality so that your riding is fully done justice! All done on the standard plastic backed white/yellow Heatsink Magura pads - Nice one! Steve

It's a question of attention to detail on multiple things, to create the optimum blend of: PerformanceLooksEase of use during their life (notably the changing of pad refills).This attention to detail is only possible because of the HeatsinkBikes' track record with CNC Magura backings. In 2005 we led the way by releasing our Magura CNC Alu backings which time has shown were the first to get the design right. These backings became firm favourites with riders all over the world combining the rigidity of Alu with a reliable design geometry, pimp looks, and the long term great value of using cheap pad refills. In recent times they have inspired other CNC backings from competitors. For Performance, it's not only about short term improvements that the rigid Alu backings provide each time the brakes are applied. It's also about the long term improvements and here after careful thought over the years, we've taken the original clip design (which now is present in all competitors models) and made an important improvement to minimise damage to Magura slave nipples in the long term. For Looks, our original backings had simple lines and no styling touches to speak of! With the emergence of competitors I set myself the goal of making the new backings at least as attractive as the best looking competitor. Hopefully we've surpassed this goal in the eyes of most riders! For Ease of use during their life, HeatsinkBikes backings have always been designed with refill use in mind. We were the first to make this a feature for riders and to provide our own refills and information on how to fit pads. I notice that competitor backings don't score as highly in this regard. One of these wasn't originally intended to be refilled and later the manufacturer buckled under rider pressure, exposing a backing cavity geometry which requires difficult pad cutting to fit. Another competitor is too slim so the slave nipple pokes in the space where the pad is, so requiring a similar pad modification. The other aspect to ease of refilling is the design to optimise the glueing in of pads. An important thing because glue will be necessary to help with the range of pad sizes from different sources. For ease of pad insertion it's necessary to have air holes so the pad doesn't get stuck halfway down at which point the superglue will go off. These air holes should be positioned right so that glue can sit in the tips of the cavities, and not be too large so that glue bond area is lost and gunk can readily get in. Competitor backings sit at the two extremes, no holes or loads of holes. We've stuck with our lucid air hole thinking from our years of experience, whilst making the holes look a bit sexier if that's possible (triangular!) I'll keep you posted on progress! I'd love to - maybe in time if the market is right! Thanks for all your help tweaking these backings Adam! You're one of the most experienced users of CNC Magura backings so it was really useful to capture your thoughts and suggestions I finally get my hands on the new Magura backings tomorrow. Can't wait Hopefully I'll be able to get photos up the same day if it's sunny! Steve

Hi there, I'm investigating getting the red compound available again. All being well, at the start of 2010 I may be able to offer it again once more Sorry about the timescales but it does require a few projects being completed first! Steve