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SRAM Guide RSC brakes


Avid’s last brake, the Elixir, was so unreliable that the brand’s reputation to make quality brakes slid downhill like a runaway truck without, um … brakes. The Elixir’s Achilles heel was that it required a perfect bleed.

There was no safe place for the air that is bound to fnd its way into any braking system to hang out. Guide brakes–SRAM’s latest innovation–use a timing port system, which employs a reservoir to accommodate fluid expansion and air bubbles. As you pull the lever, a seal closes a hole (or port) that joins the reservoir to the system. While the lever is not engaged, air bubbles can float up into the reservoir where they are safely cut off from the system during braking.

The top-end Guide RSC features the most fine-tuning ability, with tool-free reach and pad contact adjustments–perfect for picky fingers. A cam mechanism at the lever blade advances the pads very quickly at first to initially contact the rotor. The curvature of the cam is shaped so that after the pads make contact with the rotor they begin to advance more slowly. This makes them less sensitive and grabby, allowing for much better power modulation.

We’ve been testing Guide brakes since last May and they have quickly become our favorite brake. The insane amount of power that the four-piston calipers deliver is more controllable than on any other brake we’ve ridden. This incredible modulation allows later braking into corners without skidding–which improves traction, resulting in faster, more-controlled riding. For years we’ve favored Shimano brakes for their easy setup, consistent feel and reliability, but so far the Guides have proven to be a worthy competitor in these categories, and absolutely blow Shimano away at power delivery.

PRICE 200$ (per side, without rotor)





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