Everybody seems to be using cantilevers on cc bikes, but I wonder if V-brakes would work too? Why are they not as common?
thanks.
When using road-style shifter/brake levers, you need an adaptor on the V-brake in order for the cable pull to be appropriate for the shifter/brake levers (I believe they’re called a Travel Agent).
Regardless, i’ve raced on a Cannondale with this set-up and it’s fantastic - best 'cross brakes i’ve ever used, WAY better than cantilevers. Having said that, they have less mud clearance than canti’s, which is the reason most people race with canti’s. If you’re in a dry area, go with the V brakes.
V-brakes will work just fine… I used to have a set on my Major Jake CX bike. Either one (canti or V), when properly adjusted, will give you plenty braking power and muddy tire clearance. I’m not sure, but my guess is that canti’s are more common just out of tradition. I happen to think that they look and perform better, but that’s just my opinion.
Using a travel agent makes setting up V-brakes a pain in the butt. I have them on my current bike (as well as my prior bike) and the braking performance is good. Canti’s are easier to work on and also stop pretty well.
I would guess tradition and ease of use would be the big reasons. There are a few rediculously light cantilever brakes out there, and the travel agent adds a few grams, so I would guess that weight could be an issue for some people as well.
V brakes will work with the DiaCompe 287-V road levers. You can also use mini V brakes with standard road levers- Tektro makes some and I believe they were originally intended for bmx bikes.
I have the Tektro, and they are squishy without a travel agent.
The reason you need a travel agent is that v-brakes require some form of mechanical advantage built in - the DiaCompe V road levers probably have it in the lever much like MTB levers do.
Cantilevers use the effect of a vector pull on the straddle cable and road calipers use a lever created by the pivots in the caliper to create their mechanical advantage.
Thanks for all the answers. It makes so much sense. Just by doing a quick search I find that the major players in cantilevers are Avid, Cane Creek and Tektro. All being around $30 per wheel (I am yet to find out who sells Tektro) So not a big deal.
Talking about the brake levers for CC…aren’t those top mount levers kinda useless? From rd. bike I am used to always ride on the brake hoods, thus I can reach brake quite readily.
Where/when you see the most advantage in using top mounts during a race? Sounds like it quite depends on once’s riding style and they are not necessary. Wrong?
Tektro is a “generic” brand. In fact they make brakes (and other parts) for many other manufacturers. Any IBD should have them, or have access to them.
Bar top levers are simply a matter of personal preference. It seems to me that most of the people around this area that use them come from a more MTB background than not, but there are a few roadies using them as well. All about your comfort level.
Talking about the brake levers for CC…aren’t those top mount levers kinda useless? From rd. bike I am used to always ride on the brake hoods, thus I can reach brake quite readily. <<
I have them on my cross bike but I think we are going to take them off.
clm
You will find if you race at all, that most guys racing take those top mounted brakes off. Honestly can’t remember the last time I used them racing. I’ve left them on, only because I frequently ride my cross bike on single track trails and for an around town bike, and I use them frequently then. But not for racing.
Most guys take them off because they aren’t hip these days, an occurrence that seemed (shockingly!) to coincide with their ready commercial availability.
I have heard many, many riders say something along the lines of “top mount levers aren’t ‘core’ dude!” proving clearly that they weren’t racing back in the days when we had to make our own levers, or even braze extra cable mounts on to our frames.
I have top mount levers on all my cross frames, and although I only use them a couple of times a season, on a couple of courses, I’m really, really glad I have them when I need them.
Want to see how they pay off? Watch Wellen’s at the '06 worlds attacking on the technical descent, hands on the tops, and note how Nyjs crashes out of the race when his front wheel washes out in the sand, hands down in the drops. Watch the footage of the Koppenberg cross from last season; Gadret had top mount levers on his “a” bike, but not on the “b” bike, and was noticeably slower on the “b” - I was sympathetically wincing every time I saw him change bikes!
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Oh - and as to the OP’s question - Velonews did a really good writeup on this topic last season; it’s worth Googling…
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Thanks for all the answers. It makes so much sense. Just by doing a quick search I find that the major players in cantilevers are Avid, Cane Creek and Tektro. All being around $30 per wheel (I am yet to find out who sells Tektro) So not a big deal.
spooky carbons… yummy.
Talking about the brake levers for CC…aren’t those top mount levers kinda useless? From rd. bike I am used to always ride on the brake hoods, thus I can reach brake quite readily.
Where/when you see the most advantage in using top mounts during a race? Sounds like it quite depends on once’s riding style and they are not necessary. Wrong?
I use one. the left, run to the rear brake. I find it usefull in trimming speed coming into barriers. right hand is already on saddle/toptube for bike pickup, right foot is already unclipped for dismount… left hand is on bar top for bike pickup…
but I really want to scrub just a little more speed… viola! nice and safe way to do. it.
BTW!!! this only works with reversed brakes… if you don’t do that, then grabbing it will put you in a world of hurt (weight in all the wrong places, poor traction and a front brake).
hth
g
I agree, and when I ride single track on the crosser which I do, I find myself using them all the time. I’ve never had anyone at a race say anything, but I wouldn’t care anyway, I use them for other purposes though…
“BTW!!! this only works with reversed brakes…”
Kind of… for a while, a decade or so ago, I would run one top mount brake, on the left side, that ran off the right side standard lever; voila, left hand rear braking for dismounts off the tops, right hand rear for everything else…
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ok, but that is f’d up…
g
Yup.
Caused the single greatest bike crash I have ever seen when I lent my B bike to a friend at the local practice session.
:0)
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Consider using Tektro Mini V’s they work great with STI and you do not need any travelers or agents to help. I have them on my Cross bike now and they work great. Tektro makes the lightest versions available at this time and they do not cost very much. I think they run about $40.00 for a complete set on Ebay.
Check out this link for a lot more information on the subject.
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23565&highlight=
There is a big more with a lot of racers to go towards the mini V’s as it is a good compromise between canti and V’s