I recently built up my dream TT machine with Sram Red and Zero Gravity Ti Brakes. I have just about had it with these brakes. The front wheel leaves only 2mm of clearance on both sides (I have the 2011 zipp carbon clinchers on the bike). I find myself having to readjust the calipers mid ride and a down descents. I think its absolutly ridiculous to have to do this on a tt bike. I want to know the expirience you’ve had with these brakes.
you have a confluence of factors going on here
-
you have brakes optimized to be very small and light, and sacrifice a bit in how far they can open up
-
you have wheels optimized to be aero with wider tires on them, and a slightly wider than normal brake track width. this is somewhat newschool thinking that post dates the design of your brakes.
the result is madness.
one option is to shave the pads down.
I had 5 pairs of them…I sold them all to suckers here on ST. I had all the problems you had and they dont brake as well as the SRAM red or shimano DA/ULT brakes I use. I suppose if you are building a super TT rig, maybe they could be cool if you want to spend more for less performance.
Around these parts though, we have hills, twisty, curvy mountain roads. Ill take a few extra grams for better brake performance any day.
But Im more into going out and crushing it than I am being into a tech weenie.
Like many, you are finding out that your ZeroGs aren’t near as good as the Sram Red brakes that would complete your setup. I do have some on my TT rig that I switched from my old road bike (don’t need good brakes on the TT rig), but they are very finicky to set up. But once set up, they do work, just not great (poor modulation, adjustment, etc.). Normally with wide rims, you have to have them far off the rim, then the cam effect comes into play with “all on” when they finally do grab. Not good. Having thinner pads and running them close helps some, but is a PITA. The good news is that they command a premium and will likely pay for a good set of Red or Force brakes for you 
You know what they say about Zero G - once you go Zero G, you never stop…
Around these parts though, we have hills, twisty, curvy mountain roads. Ill take a few extra grams for better brake performance any day.
But Im more into going out and crushing it than I am being into a tech weenie.
I like it!!
I thought with the continued reduction in frame weights and gruppo weights that specific super light things like brakes have become redundant outside of the weight-weenie crowd.
On the road side of things these days, Pro Tour Teams are having to add weight to the bike to get them back up to the UCI limit!!
I also dont like carbon stems… 
seriously though, I find myself in the lavender room more these days than in the main room even though I train as much as I ever did. I dont like talking too much about watts and Cda and whatever. I just like to ride and run…hard, and in cool places.
can’t take a little heat? wimp!
lol… you know what I meant!!!
http://fairwheelbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=7582
That lays it all out - though I wouldn’t mind seeing a SRAM brakeset in there as another point of comparison. I was considering the EE, but now I am taking a good look at the Far & Near .
I also had similar problems with two sets from 2005 and 2006. I changed to the yellow Swiss Stop pads. That helped with clearance. Also, I recently sent one set back to be re-furbished. The company was great to work with. The original pad holders were changed to lower profile pad holders. They work like a charm now.
I also had similar problems with two sets from 2005 and 2006. I changed to the yellow Swiss Stop pads. That helped with clearance. Also, I recently sent one set back to be re-furbished. The company was great to work with. The original pad holders were changed to lower profile pad holders. They work like a charm now.
What the forum member said times two. The low profile pads are a must for the new “Super Wheels”. I ride the Simkins Egg brake on my tt bike but do have a pair of Gravitas on my road bike. While the Simkins brake is not as difficult to set up as the Zero G its not as simple as a Campy, Shimano or Sram brake. Getting a Zero Gravity to work week takes a very precise set up and like doing anything aero on your bike its all in the details. Sometimes a little patience and attention to details pays back in spades with drag reduction.
I’ve had about seven sets of these brakes on various builds and NEVER had a serious problem. I honestly don’t understand whey people hate on the ZG’s so much.
They take about 3 extra minutes to set up correctly and once that is done I’ve had no problems with braking power, modulation, or staying centered. I’ve ridden them down some pretty hairy stuff in CO and most recently in the driving rain and hail coming home in IMC. Braking power was fine for my 175lbs.
To the OP - You need some low profile pad holders or shave your pads down. then make sure your cable housing is cut appropriately and you won’t have centering issues. I like to preload the cam about 1/3 of the way through the stroke for SRAM RED levers and TT levers.
Oh I guess it should be said that I’ve never liked the ZGs with DuraAce levers. But then I never liked DA levers.
If you want lighter weight calipers check out some of TRP’s options. TRP is Tektro’s high end line and they make good brakes. I have some TRP920 brakes that have been the best brakes I’ve ever owned. They weigh about 260 grams and stop superbly.
They usually sell for about %70 of what is listed on TRP’s homepage.
They suck- get the brakes to match your group and be done with it.
To simply put, they are not worth the time that it takes to dial them in, just to have to do it over and over again. Never buy single pivot brakes if you can help it.
ZG Ti brakes seem to be hit and miss. Although the stopping power is not up to Dura-Ace, mine stop fine. I have a set from '06. They worked perfectly on my Look 585 - never needed adjustment. They’re now on a Storck Scenario1.1 and need adjustment every couple of weeks - and I ride that bike maybe once each week from April through November.
Same problem with mine that is whyni went back to dura ace. Now let’s delete this thread so we can sell ours :0)
I had 5 pairs of them…I sold them all to suckers here on ST
nice line
.
I don’t have any problems setting mine up, but the braking power is very average. I was never sure whether it was the brakes or those stupid aero vision tech brake levers. But between the two of them you would not want to stop in a hurry.