Actually, Alan, we did have a fresh set of pads in the brakes. They are simply worthless. Oh well, fortuantely, since I do like to ride my vintage bikes, there are a lot of nice stretches here where I live without a lot of side streets, stop signs and a lot of gentle curbs. And, at least, the Masi handles and brakes a WHOLE lot better than the "Nago. Dave Novoselsky, Chicago, Illinois