Are all Cantelever brakes rubbish?

[mynydd]

hi, I'm a daily commuter (all weathers) I live quite high up, about 1300 ft and my commute in is pretty much all down hill.
I use a tricross cx bike for my commute with cantelever brakes. And I get through brake pads really quickly..... the back brake is also virtually useless on its own.
Is it normal to have to replace pads every couple of weeks? And does anyone have any advise as to decent (without breaking the bank) pads?
I changed all cables at the weekend, and fitted new pads, which were great for about 100 miles, but now virtually unnoticeable when I pull the lever....
Thanks

 

[Yellow Saddle]

All back brakes are pretty useless on their own. It is physics, not a faulty product.
If you are replacing pads every few weeks, you are doing a lot of braking and deserve some good pads. I don't know what will break the bank but a set of Koolstop Salmon pads will serve you several years. They may be a bit more expensive but take out your calculator and work out the cost of hassling with pads every few weeks.
Lastly, you allude that the brakes have faded somewhat since fitment. This could indicate a glazed rim. Use a piece of water (sand) paper and sand the braking surface until your hands turn black. It won't take long.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Yes

 

[Drago]

In answer to the thread title - "no". Like V's, drums or discs you can get crap ones, you can get great ones, and you can get ones that are crap but which would be great if maintained and set up properly.

It's like asking if all Frenchmen have a string of onions around their neck.

 

[steveindenmark]

I am confused as to why you are braking going downhill. :O)

 

[Racing roadkill]

In answer to the thread title - "no". Like V's, drums or discs you can get crap ones, you can get great ones, and you can get ones that are crap but which would be great if maintained and set up properly.

It's like asking if all Frenchmen have a string of onions around their neck.

They do, don't they?

 

[mynydd]

All back brakes are pretty useless on their own. It is physics, not a faulty product.
If you are replacing pads every few weeks, you are doing a lot of braking and deserve some good pads. I don't know what will break the bank but a set of Koolstop Salmon pads will serve you several years. They may be a bit more expensive but take out your calculator and work out the cost of hassling with pads every few weeks.
Lastly, you allude that the brakes have faded somewhat since fitment. This could indicate a glazed rim. Use a piece of water (sand) paper and sand the braking surface until your hands turn black. It won't take long.

Thanks for the advice, will look at getting some koolstop pads.
However, the back brake alone is effective on my road bike, 105 Calipers. Maybe it's an unfair comparison though.......

 

[Spiderweb]

In answer to the thread title - "no". Like V's, drums or discs you can get crap ones, you can get great ones, and you can get ones that are crap but which would be great if maintained and set up properly.

It's like asking if all Frenchmen have a string of onions around their neck.

I was in France in August so I can confirm that all French men have onions round their necks, they also wear blue and white horizontal stripey jumpers and wear beret's. They also eat frogs legs!

 

[Profpointy]

Thanks for the advice, will look at getting some koolstop pads.
However, the back brake alone is effective on my road bike, 105 Calipers. Maybe it's an unfair comparison though.......

Maybe we're slightly at crossed purposes - back brake alone can only slow you down fairly gradually since if you brake harder it'll just lock the wheel up. So, put another way, any even vaguely OK back brake can lock the wheel up- which is all you'll ever get.

To the OP - I had avid cantilever brakes on my touring bike which were extremely good compared to my older bikes. The side pull shimanos on my new bike aren't notably better in an unsientific comparison. Never had discs as I'm nervous of the potential downsides

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Maybe we're slightly at crossed purposes - back brake alone can only slow you down fairly gradually since if you brake harder it'll just lock the wheel up. So, put another way, any even vaguely OK back brake can lock the wheel up- which is all you'll ever get.

To the OP - I had avid cantilever brakes on my touring bike which were extremely good compared to my older bikes. The side pull shimanos on my new bike aren't notably better in an unsientific comparison. Never had discs as I'm nervous of the potential downsides

\
Good points. OP, can you lock up your rear brake on that problem bike?

 

[mynydd]

\
Good points. OP, can you lock up your rear brake on that problem bike?

Nope, no where near

 

[Profpointy]

Nope, no where near

In that case they are very badly set up. Even the crapyest crap brakes of yesterday would allow lock up of back wheel. Oil cable, check adjustment, also the geometry (if that's the word) of cantis is adjustable which can be fiddly. Then maybe pads are perhished / glazed and or the rims are oily. Even vaguely working should easily lock the wheels. Front brake matters more, as you do want the extra few % towards perfection to get maximum stoppiness.

 

[Dirk]

....... I live quite high up, about 13,000 ft and my commute in is pretty much all down hill........

13,000 ft ?!
Where do you live, the Andes?

 

[Tim Hall]

Sheldon Brown has an article on setting up of cantilever brakes.http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

 

[mynydd]

13,000 ft ?!
Where do you live, the Andes?

edited, thanks