Carbon rimmed wheels are becoming ever more affordable and popular in time trial and road racing circles.
But standard brake pads on a carbon brake surface often grab and judder the wheel, and lock up easily. Hence the need for a carbon-specific brake pad - which is where the Dura-Ace 7700 pad comes in.
The 7700s consist of a softer rubber compound, similar in feel to cork, and give controlled and progressive braking - crucial for flat out last-minute braking. They lasted as long as standard Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 pads too. They are, however, £19.95 a pair compared to £6.95 a pair for their alloy rim counterparts - worth bearing in mind when upgrading to carbon rims.