Are all Cantelever brakes rubbish?

[mynydd]

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

Thanks, will have a proper look at this later, sounds like I need to get them properly set up........ though on the Sunday club run after fitting new cables and pads they were great...... until the end of Mondays commute, then crap again....

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Nope, no where near

OK, it shouldn't be like that. You need to fiddle with the straddle wire. That is the inverted Y on the brake, also called the yoke. You need to make the angle more obtuse. In other words, shorten the straddle wire. It means you will have to re-adust the main cable tension as well. But work on achieving a 120 degree or so angle on that straddle wire. What that does is decrease the amount of brake lever travel. Post a photo if you can and we can advise you based on that. So far it is all guessing.

 

[mynydd]

Anything obvious wrong? Thanks

 

[mynydd]

 

[Spiderweb]

The mudguards have been bodged!
Apart from that poor quality Clarks pads.
Try some fine gauge emery cloth on the braking surface and rougher grade sandpaper on your pads.

 

[mynydd]

The mudguards have been bodged!
Apart from that poor quality Clarks pads.
Try some fine gauge emery cloth on the braking surface and rougher grade sandpaper on your pads.

Mud guards work just fine bolt hole threaded though hence bodge.....
Will try better pads, otherwise set up looks ok?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Mud guards work just fine bolt hole threaded though hence bodge.....
Will try better pads, otherwise set up looks ok?

No, it seems to me as if there is plenty of slack in the cable system. How much travel is there in the lever before the pads bite?

Also, your rim is pretty worn, so any new pad will have to work a bit before it fits the profile of the rim. However, that will NOT affect braking performance. You should be able to easily lock up the back brake.

 

[mynydd]

No, it seems to me as if there is plenty of slack in the cable system. How much travel is there in the lever before the pads bite?

Also, your rim is pretty worn, so any new pad will have to work a bit before it fits the profile of the rim. However, that will NOT affect braking performance. You should be able to easily lock up the back brake.

Thanks. Will try better blocks, resetting and tightening as you suggest. It's virtually a new wheel, the grime from the last few days weather make it look older in the pic.....

 

[mynydd]

Just taken the pads off and compared it to an identical new one.... that's after less than 120 miles!!! Guess skimping on pads may have been my biggest problem...... thanks for all the help... off to order some koolstop salmons.....

 

[Soltydog]

Better pads will help & possibly using this tool https://www.athleteshop.co.uk/tacx-brake-pad-tuner-t4580?gclid=CNPqodPNv9ACFcE_Gwod_l4BhA will help get the pads adjusted correctly I found it improved the performance of my cantis.

 

[stumpy66]

I shimano cx70 cantis and they have been great, Good stopping power on my tourer, bit more expensive but worth ii imo. Easy to set up properly after watching YouTube video
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-br-cx70-cyclocross-cantilever-brake/

 

[Ajax Bay]

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.

Replace the front end with a disc fork/wheel/brake. Or accept that your commute (all weathers, descending x00 feet every morning) demands an N+1 with discs. See also 'icy' thread for tyre options.

 

[mynydd]

Replace the front end with a disc fork/wheel/brake. Or accept that your commute (all weathers, descending x00 feet every morning) demands an N+1 with discs. See also 'icy' thread for tyre options.

My front brake is fine, it's the rear I have an issue with. Hovever N+1 with disks is certainly on the wish list...... need to do some convincing first though

 

[Dirk]

[QUOTE 4569597, member: 45"]Cantis are somewhere down the pecking order for effectiveness of different brake types. Tricross cantis aren't great. I swapped mine for mini-v's.

Having mainly used V brakes, which are easy to set up and make and keep effective, we've been spoiled.[/QUOTE]
I swapped mine for Mini Vs as well.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/improving-touring-bike-brakes-cantis-to-mini-v-conversion.205631/

 

[jay clock]

My latest winter bike is a RIbble CR3 with hydraulic disks. Amazingly good. My last bike with cantis was a terrible stopper.