I'm setting up a CX bike as an all-around bike for the mountains where I live.I'm leaning towards a linear brake set,probably Avids.Any reason to take a second look at some of the newer canti's?
Brakes....canti's or linear?
Al Young
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I suppose it depends on if you plan on riding in muddy conditions, where cantis may provide better clearance. If you're sticking to clean roads and can find appropriate brake levers that suit you, I'd go with linear brakes. What levers are you thinking about? I should point out that Shimano/Campagnolo road lever/shifters probably don't play nice with linear-pull brakes.
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Linear pull brakes will require the use of a "travel agent" to modify the amount of cable pulled. They look ugly, but they work. Mini-v-brakes don't require thhe travel agent, but don't have much pad clearance - they do stop really well though.
IMO, older cantis from the 90s work well. I'm not sure any modern canti that worked any better (and many are worse) than an old Shimano or Dia Compe cantilever brake.
IMO, older cantis from the 90s work well. I'm not sure any modern canti that worked any better (and many are worse) than an old Shimano or Dia Compe cantilever brake.
I use the Travel Agent and it works great. I keep hearing they're ugly, but don't understand why they would be deemed more ugly than a noodle, which they replace? They're just a piece of hardware that is well designed to serve a purpose. I guess I have no sense of aesthetics.
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"Form follows function."
It applies in all sorts of design if you ask me. Not just architecture. If it improves the function it influences that should be the primary concern.
It applies in all sorts of design if you ask me. Not just architecture. If it improves the function it influences that should be the primary concern.
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3,940 Posts
Cantis are "good enough", so I'd be basing my selection more on what is going to be easier to set up on your chosen frame.
Linears require either a travel agent or a special lever that pulls more cable. Tektro makes one, but that only works if you don't want a brifter.
Cantis work very well and operate under a little more spring tension, so they are sometimes easier to set up and center. But they require hangers or cable stops because the housing doesn't run right up to the brake.
For most cross bikes, cantis are just easier and brake very well - even the cheapest ones.
BTW, these are really nice for preventing chatter on fork mounted cantis instead of steerer tube type. From Origin 8:
![Image]()
Linears require either a travel agent or a special lever that pulls more cable. Tektro makes one, but that only works if you don't want a brifter.
Cantis work very well and operate under a little more spring tension, so they are sometimes easier to set up and center. But they require hangers or cable stops because the housing doesn't run right up to the brake.
For most cross bikes, cantis are just easier and brake very well - even the cheapest ones.
BTW, these are really nice for preventing chatter on fork mounted cantis instead of steerer tube type. From Origin 8:
^ Agreed, but it's very hard to find these things or the equivalent Tektro stops anywhere. I suppose I should just cut a few out of bar stock and be done with it!
Nothing wrong with cantis, they worked 50 years ago and still work now. They're just not fashionable any more, and don't seem to come in carbon fibre - maybe a marketing opportunity for someone. Cantis have the advantage that you can use any brifter you like and not have to agonise about whether the brakes will work. All the linear pull brakes have issues, either requiring travel agents, not having much tyre clearance or requiring dead straight wheels with very little pad clearance. They are easier to understand, but I'm not sure that encouraging mental atrophication is actually a good thing!
Nothing wrong with cantis, they worked 50 years ago and still work now. They're just not fashionable any more, and don't seem to come in carbon fibre - maybe a marketing opportunity for someone. Cantis have the advantage that you can use any brifter you like and not have to agonise about whether the brakes will work. All the linear pull brakes have issues, either requiring travel agents, not having much tyre clearance or requiring dead straight wheels with very little pad clearance. They are easier to understand, but I'm not sure that encouraging mental atrophication is actually a good thing!
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I've got mini-V's on my cross frame that I use for commuting. They work great with my campy levers and don't require any adapter or travel agent. You give up mud clearance compared to cantilevers but that's not an issue even on my worst commute. If you have cantilevers and change over to mini-V's, you'll have to change cables and housings when you install them.
What you really mean is: "...any bike shop IN THE USA is just a couple of days away from having them," but I'm not in the US so that doesn't help me at all! They are not distributed here in OZ and I haven't found them online for a reasonable price, or without exorbitant shipping fees attached.
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They have bikes in Australia?
Avid Shorty Ultimates
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/sea-otter-2011-fsa-showcases-new-products/169670
^these FSA's are kind of a blatant carbon knock-off of the Avid Shorty Ultimates:
![Image]()
![Image]()
These are seriously THE BEST canti's I have ever used. When set in the narrow position like mine are (more powerful), you can easily lock the tires up. However, they still have excellent modulation, to avoid wheel lock-up. You can switch them to the super-wide position for huge mud clearance and even better modulation. The difference between these and the OEM Kore canti's that came with the bike is literally night vs day. Worth every hard-earned penny, IMO.
actually:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/sea-otter-2011-fsa-showcases-new-products/169670
^these FSA's are kind of a blatant carbon knock-off of the Avid Shorty Ultimates:
These are seriously THE BEST canti's I have ever used. When set in the narrow position like mine are (more powerful), you can easily lock the tires up. However, they still have excellent modulation, to avoid wheel lock-up. You can switch them to the super-wide position for huge mud clearance and even better modulation. The difference between these and the OEM Kore canti's that came with the bike is literally night vs day. Worth every hard-earned penny, IMO.
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