Review of Gorilla Brakes Pads at Strathpuffer 2026
Rider Review – Aidan Webster
Event: Strathpuffer 2026
Conditions: Cold, snow, wet, winter endurance
Brake Setup: Hope X2
Pads Used: Gorilla Brakes Sintered Pads – Hope X2
Result: 3rd Overall U23
Pad Changes: None – full 24 hours on one set
“I ran one set of pads for the full 24 hours. Braking stayed super consistent the entire time, even in the wet. Not having to stop and change pads is a massive time saver, but more importantly it takes a huge weight off mentally when you’re deep into a race.”
– Aidan Webster
About the Event
The Strathpuffer is an annual 24-hour winter mountain bike race held every January near Strathpeffer in the Scottish Highlands. Riders complete repeated laps of an 8-mile (12.5 km) course, with around 17 hours of the race taking place in darkness. Brutal weather conditions often make it one of the toughest endurance MTB events in the UK.
My Race Experience
Leading up to the event is always stressful. You’re constantly questioning whether you’ve done the right prep, put the training in, and covered all the details. For me, that meant building the bikes properly and fitting fresh Gorilla Brakes pads as part of the final setup.
I was super nervous on the start line, especially trying to defend my title from the year before. Once the race got going though, I really enjoyed the start, even if it was probably a little too fast. The early hours went well, but by around hour ten I was properly suffering and genuinely considered scratching.
I managed to reset mentally and push through it. The second half of the race ended up being really positive. I started riding better again, found a rhythm, and gradually pulled things back to finish 3rd overall. Considering I was also dealing with back issues during the event, it’s a result I can be really proud of.
Brake Pad Performance Over 24 Hours
One thing that really stood out was just how many riders were changing brake pads during the race – some more than once. I went into Strathpuffer fully prepared with eight pre-bedded spare sets, expecting heavy wear in the conditions.
In the end, I didn’t need a single one.
I ran one set of Gorilla Brakes sintered pads for Hope X2 calipers for the full 24 hours. Braking stayed super consistent the entire time – no fade, no sudden change in feel, even in the wet and cold.
Not having to stop and swap pads is a massive time saver, but more importantly it takes a huge weight off mentally. When you’re cold, tired, and deep into a race like this, knowing your brakes are going to work every lap makes a big difference.
Final Verdict
Strathpuffer 2026 delivered exactly what it’s known for – brutal conditions, long hours, highs, lows, and a real sense of achievement at the finish. To come away with a podium result and equipment that performed faultlessly for the full 24 hours made it a race I’ll always be proud of.
Reliable kit lets you focus on riding and surviving the race, not fixing problems.
On to the next one.
Aidan Webster
📸 Follow Aidan on Instagram: @aidan_w
🔗 Event website: strathpuffer.co.uk