Cantilever brakes

[outlash]

My CX bike is a lovely thing, except for one important detail. The brakes are useless! Even with Koolstop Salmons compared to the calipers on my road bike they're vague at best.
The units on the bike are Tektro 520's. I know they're not great but will upgrading them make a noticeable difference? Can Canti's be as good as calipers? If they can (or even get close), which units would you recommend?


Tony.

 

[mcshroom]

The 520s should be fine if set up correctly. I have some on the front of my tourer (with Oryx on the back) and those can stop me plus luggage well enough.

How high is the straddle wire, and how close to the rims are the pads? The lower and closer you can get these, the more efficient brakes tend to be.

 

[Citius]

As above, the 520s should be ok if set up..

 

[outlash]

I've tried all sorts of positions for the pads and straddle wires but they're just not cutting the mustard. In the wet I have to think further ahead to stop safely than I would with calipers or discs, hence my question. Is it just that canti's aren't as good as calipers period?


Tony.

 

[Slioch]

I've got Oryx cantilevers on my tourer, and they've always felt underpowered. I didn't realise how bad they were until I got a new road bike last year with ultegra calipers, and the stopping power on them is awesome.

I've finally got reasonable stopping power on the cantis by a) fitting Ultegra brakeblocks, b) investing in some better cables & outers, and c) spending ages adjusting them to get them as close to the rims as possible.

They're now a lot more effective then they were, but still not a patch on the calipers.

 

[e-rider]

My CX bike is a lovely thing, except for one important detail. The brakes are useless! Even with Koolstop Salmons compared to the calipers on my road bike they're vague at best.
The units on the bike are Tektro 520's. I know they're not great but will upgrading them make a noticeable difference? Can Canti's be as good as calipers? If they can (or even get close), which units would you recommend?


Tony.

In order of stopping power;
Disc - V-brake - cantilever - mini Vs - caliper (dual pivot) - caliper (single pivot)
cantilevers should generally be better than caliper brakes

 

[outlash]

In order of stopping power;
Disc - V-brake - cantilever - mini Vs - caliper (dual pivot) - caliper (single pivot)
cantilevers should generally be better than caliper brakes

Not in my experience. Cantis, despite trying 4 different brake blocks and constant tweaking aren't even close to the calipers or discs on my other bikes.

 

[John the Monkey]

With the 520, you'll need the straddle as low as you can get it. They're a good brake, but I couldn't get them to the point I wanted on my Surly.

I tried Oryx (too grabby) and settled on IRD CAFAMs, which are ok -not as good as the dual pivots on my road bike, but good enough.

 

[mjr]

I always thought cantis were meant to be just worse than Vs and better than calipers, as they have bigger pads on a more direct connection than calipers.

 

[User6179]

Have you toed the pads in
I have Tekro on my Caadx and they need constant adjustment to get them good.

 

[dan_bo]

My avid ultimates are brilliant. Really.

Pricey and a different feel to discs but they're very very powerful.

 

[outlash]

With the 520, you'll need the straddle as low as you can get it. They're a good brake, but I couldn't get them to the point I wanted on my Surly.

I tried Oryx (too grabby) and settled on IRD CAFAMs, which are ok -not as good as the dual pivots on my road bike, but good enough.

It's as low as I can get it without making contact on the mudguards it occasionally wears. TBH it doesn't make a huge difference.

Have you toed the pads in
I have Tekro on my Caadx and they need constant adjustment to get them good.

Same here, Tektro's on a CAADX and it's a constant faff as I'm never happy with them. In an ideal world I'd get a CAADX with discs but budgetary constraints won't allow that so...

Tony.

 

[dan_bo]

My avid ultimates are brilliant. Really.

Pricey and a different feel to discs but they're very very powerful.

Easy to set up as well.

 

[outlash]

@dan_bo those look nice, but as you say, not cheap

 

[dan_bo]

@dan_bo those look nice, but as you say, not cheap

If they're good enough for Tim Gould they're good enough for me. And you.