Cantilevers Versus V brakes

[widowmaker]

I am a little embarassed to have to ask this but I know you are a friendly bunch - deep breath - here goes.

Due to a cycling gap of many years i missed out having much experience with cantilevers and v brakes because i went from weinmann centre pulls to hydraulic discs, so i need some opinions.

I am building a 90's Raleigh mtb, i like the look of cantilevers and i am a sucker for polished alloy but do they work as well/better than v brakes. My opinion is that v brakes dont look very nice but i will sacrifice looks if the performance is FAR greater than cantilevers.

 

[cce]

v brakes are easier to set up properly, and stay set up far better. a perfect high end canti can be as powerful as a decent mid-level v brake, but it's a lot more fuss.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Vees are a lot easier to set up. With cantilevers I always feel like you need 3 hands to set them up.
In fact it's so bad that I simply refuse to do that job myself. I don't mind changing a cable, but pad adjustment or replacement are done by my LBS. I'd rather spend a little money than be frustrated an entire afternoon.
Setting up Vees only takes a few minutes.

As for braking power, I'll pick Vees over Cantis anytime. Add a brake booster, and it's just stupid. In that case I'll pick them over any disc.
I currently have tricked-out Formula RX20 brakes on 180mm floating Hope rotors, and it's nowhere near as powerful, controllable, durable or reliable as the boostered Vees on my previous bike.

The one thing you need to keep in mind, is that Vees have an asymmetrical design. They are designed to be used with the front brake on the left side. If you want the front brake on the right, you'll need a 135° noodle at the front and the cable routing will look odd.

 

[widowmaker]

Thanks , i must admit the easy set up sounds good.

I am swinging towards v brakes.

 

[widowmaker]

Vees are a lot easier to set up. With cantilevers I always feel like you need 3 hands to set them up.
In fact it's so bad that I simply refuse to do that job myself. I don't mind changing a cable, but pad adjustment or replacement are done by my LBS. I'd rather spend a little money than be frustrated an entire afternoon.
Setting up Vees only takes a few minutes.

As for braking power, I'll pick Vees over Cantis anytime. Add a brake booster, and it's just stupid. In that case I'll pick them over any disc.
I currently have tricked-out Formula RX20 brakes on 180mm floating Hope rotors, and it's nowhere near as powerful, controllable, durable or reliable as the boostered Vees on my previous bike.

The one thing you need to keep in mind, is that Vees have an asymmetrical design. They are designed to be used with the front brake on the left side. If you want the front brake on the right, you'll need a 135° noodle at the front and the cable routing will look odd.

Great info

 

[tricky43]

My 94 clockwork came with STX canti's which I upgraded to XTR canti's

You'd have to mess around every few rides setting them up as the pads would move sometimes into the tyre tearing the wall.

I'm an auto electrician so I use hand tools all day and my fingers are really strong but I remember my hands aching at the bottom of a downhill section from braking.

When V brakes came out I got a set of them. The difference was astounding V's are much more powerful and once set up the pads don't move till its time to change them. also you can lock the wheels at speed with 1 finger.

I'd never ride cantilever brakes again.

 

[ishaw]

The one thing you need to keep in mind, is that Vees have an asymmetrical design. They are designed to be used with the front brake on the left side. If you want the front brake on the right, you'll need a 135° noodle at the front and the cable routing will look odd.

Or get some Paul's v brakes as you can switch the hard wear around and gave the noodle and cable clamps on whatever side you wish.

I'm sure other brakes can be modified like this, though not shimano or any others with the integrated noodle mounty thingy.

 

[widowmaker]

I had a feeling that v brakes might be the way forward and certainly being easy to set up appeals to me, its time to put the old cantilevers in my spares museum

 

[barry2017]

Personally, I like Maguras.

Set them up once, and they are perfect forever.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Vs are cantis.

Next.