centre pull or side pull canti's p mid 60s

[daysnways]

I've still not got around to starting my 1966? Percy Stallard frame, but it is time to start buying bits for it.

it's 531, quite svelte, the Cotswold version probably 1966 or 67 judging by the number - it's airing towards club ride as oppose to high end race.

Before I knew any better i thought some centre pull Mafac's would be the way to go, Percy was French inspired and his stuff seems to have been mostly fitted out with Simplex, stronglight, GB etc, but drawn a bit of a blank on what brakes...

I read somewhere that side pull brakes were becoming popular on higher end bikes mid 60's, though centre pulls were still dominant on most bikes?

If i went side pull, what manufacturers made them in the mid 60's? Would I be looking italian Universal or Campi? ...or were Mafac doing any side pulls that early?

I also read somewhere that Fiemme were a brand that adorned his bikes, although the name is familiar i can't seem to find anything on them?

What is the braking quality difference, if any, between Mafac Racers and say a 1969 side pull Campy?

cheers

Keith

 

[Sharky]

Fiamme were known for their rims. I'm sure I had a pair of sprints in the 60's with Fiamme rims and campag hubs.

Cheers,
Also Keith

 

[daysnways]

Fiamme, that's it, ringing a bell now. cheers

 

[RichardB]

I'm not an expert at all, but this is my 2p worth, having been a teenager and into bikes at the relevant time:

Centre-pulls were seen at that time (by the general buyer) as a distinct improvement on side-pulls, and were a selling point in adverts. Easier to get balanced and adjusted, and therefore stronger and better for the average rider. Side-pulls (the stamped-out metal kind) were associated with cheap kiddies' bikes. Mine were Weinmann (think they were Swiss), but I think Mafac (French) were the brand to have if you could afford it. Pro racers would have side-pulls, because they were lighter and more rigid, but only well-engineered kit at the top end of the market, Campy and so on. In between the pros and the bargain-basement stuff, centre-pulls dominated.

Could be wrong with all of this. It was the 60s, after all

 

[midlife]

I have replied on Retrobike

Shaun

 

[Ian H]

There was a school of thought that sidepulls were good in the peloton exactly because they weren't very powerful. The reason being the notion that abrupt braking caused crashes.

 

[Spokesmann]

Both types work well, if correctly set up.

 

[mikeymustard]

All the bikes I owned as a bairn in the 60s and a teen in the 70s had sidepull, but then we never bothered much about stopping!

 

[Dean Griffin]

For a 60's bike I think the centre pulls look more "correct" for the period, and personally I think that the Universal type 61's look better than mafacs if you can find a set. Otherwise Universal side pulls. The trouble with the centre pulls is finding a set with all the correct hardware in good conditions.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I had a Ted Gerrard with Mafac Racers in the early 60s. In our club they were the brakes to have at that time

 

[ChrisEyles]

Mafac Racers (centre pull) look spot on for a 60s bike, and will work very nicely with some decent pads on them (I use salmon koolstops with mine).

 

[daysnways]

some great advice, I'll keep you posted.