Cantilevers or V Brakes?????

[Bugner]

I have Specialized Tricross with fitted V Brakes (This isn't a question about judder, as I haven't experienced it) but the brakes are very hard to adjust so that I don't have to pull the lever almost completely all the way before I feel like stopping. I have recently replaced pads with Koolstops, but still not entirely happy. I have seen a couple of people mention Avid shorties, but then I have read that Cantilevers are not as good.

Very confused Advice most welcome!!

 

[jimboalee]

IMO, V brakes are pretty good.
They have a large Mechanical Advantage.

They can be adjusted for lever movement like any other brake by adjusting the cable in its clamp on the brake arm.
Don't forget to set the screw adjuster at the lever end before you pull the cable tight.

If they move unequally, the springs can be moved and a screw adjuster on each arm 'fine tunes'.

 

[wafflycat]

I have cantis on one bike, caliper brakes on another and drum brakes on the recumbent - all are fine.

 

[Bugner]

Doing a bit of searching for reviews etc. The tricross has STI drop handle brakes as well as additional 'sissy' brakes which I hardly use. I am thinking of removing the sissy brakes as surely the brakes can't be optimised for both sets of brake levers??

 

[jimboalee]

They're not 'Sissy' brakes. They are there so you can hold on the tops and operate the brakes, similar to a narrow handlebar MTB.

There should be an adjustment at the cable joint.

 

[chris667]

Assuming the cables are set up right, they shouldn't make such a difference. That was true in the old days of "GT extension" (commonly known as "suicide") levers, but modern ones overcome that issue.
Where you are probably finding it hard is running V brakes with levers that aren't designed to pull as much cable.
If you want to stick with STIs, you need to use a travel agent, or go back to cantis.

 

[PpPete]

Frogleg cantis are very good. Tektro 520 or 720 . Seems to me like more mechanical advantage than shorter canti - and absolutely appropriate on the Tricross IMHO

 

[Dave5N]

Frogleg cantis are very good. Tektro 520 or 720 . Seems to me like more mechanical advantage than shorter canti - and absolutely appropriate on the Tricross IMHO

Yeah? For what? 'Cos they certainly aren't great for stopping.

ANd don't tell me I have them set up wrong. I haven't.

 

[Bugner]

I'm still none the wiser

 

[mickle]

ANd don't tell me I have them set up wrong. I haven't.

You set them up wrong.

 

[gwhite]

Yeah? For what? 'Cos they certainly aren't great for stopping.

ANd don't tell me I have them set up wrong. I haven't.

Are you running these with the Tektro blocks which are not too clever?
I can't understand why these shouldn't work well. I've fitted three sets and all are fine but do work even better with Salmon blocks.

 

[Dave5N]

Tektro blocks on Frogslegs? Why?

As a matter of fact the blocks are koolstop salmon.

 

[Radius]

Ergo useless in the wet

 

[Dave5N]

Ordinary black blocks on the front.

No modulation either end.

Still, It's not like I go very quick anyway.

 

[gwhite]

The thread moved on to discuss Tektro 520 and 720 in posts 7&8 and my reply concerned these brakes. "Froglegs" as made by a Belgium firm but the Tektro cantis are sometimes referred to as Froglegs. "Froglegs" were originally made by Mafac as a cyclo-cross brake.