The pads on my kid's bikes are getting small bits of aluminium stuck in them from the rims.
Anyone got any reasonably priced alternatives that I can get. I need to get 4 pairs and don't really want to spend any more than 30 quid.
think clarks do some which should be reasonable priced, cant say how good they are but should do the job
Discobrakes are cheap if you buy a few pairs. http://www.discobrakes.com/
I used to get this all the time when I rode to work. Only solution I found was to dig the bits out of the pads and use some fine sandpaper on the rim braking surface.
The best I've found are made by Aztec (£6 a pair), Clarks are also good but Aztecs work better in the wet.
Are the pads currently eating your kids' wheels made by Shimano by any chance?
Yes they are shimano. I have scanned the internet and it is a common occurrence with their pads.
Thought so, the irony is that they damage the braking surface of the rims yet aren't particularly good at slowing the bike. Bet they last forever though.