I've managed to do a 'stoppie' on a fully loaded (40kg luggage) tourer using Shimano DP's - scared the [inappropriate word removed] out of me having my luggage up around my ears but i landed in one piece having avoided being squashed by a Polish truck 'driver'! The look of horror on a nearby pedestrians face as my bike tipped up haunts me still when i think of it.
I've also, just three weeks ago managed to get both wheels on my commute ride locked at the same time on a damp road using a pair of old pattern Veloce DP's - another 'oh [inappropriate word removed]' moment as i headed out of control towards the rear of the stupid $%&! who decided to stop on the main road to let someone turn across in front of him! i've ridden the same road several times a week for years without any previous braking 'issues' so it must have been 'panic' braking power!
To put those instances into context, in 36 years of racing and sportive riding i can only once recall getting a lock up whilst competing, 35mph to zero in twenty yards, straight through a brand new tyre using my trusty seventies Galli single pivots (remember them?)
So i've first hand experience with the sharp end of road braking (lets not even think about off tarmac although i've never got my DP's or any road brake to lock up when trail riding except on pea gravel!)
I was known as a bit of a speed descender, never braking until the last minute - no fade or heating of rims, i might have been lucky but i seemed to get it right all the time. With age i've become a little more cautious but knowing your brakes will stop you in emergency situations is peace of mind. The tourer is currently running Centaur DP's if the new Skeletons are at least as good i might upgrade those when money allows.
I think i can cope with some fiddly cleaning, i strip and clean my existing DP's, front and rear mechs etc so the Skeletons hold no fears that way!
