Cantilevers Versus V brakes

[tintin40]

The bike is an early 90's and cantis would certainly look more 'period' and v brakes just dont look nice in my opinion :?

Agree 100%

 

[oldave]

Vs. That's it. Can be difference between life and death if riding in heavy traffic IMO - and that trumps any aesthetics.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

If wet weather traffic safety is your concern then both are crap. Bits like comparing shite to fractionally just a little bit less shite. It's the difference between Ebola and rabies.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

If wet weather traffic safety is your concern then both are crap. Bits like comparing shite to fractionally just a little bit less shite. It's the difference between Ebola and rabies.

...

Tyre choice probably more critical too...

 

[konacarl]

canti vs v's

I have changed from V's to cantis on a couple of my bikes. I have found that xt 737 canti's seem to stop better than xt739 v's and the pads will last a lot, lotlonger. I was only getting 2 rides around a wet Cannock Chase on a set of v pads.
Canti's easy to set up once you get used to them. Instructions above are exactly what I do too.

 

[SantaHul]

Re: canti vs v's

I have changed from V's to cantis on a couple of my bikes. I have found that xt 737 canti's seem to stop better than xt739 v's and the pads will last a lot, lotlonger. I was only getting 2 rides around a wet Cannock Chase on a set of v pads.
Canti's easy to set up once you get used to them. Instructions above are exactly what I do too.

Have to say I've been round Cannock tonnes of time on the same V blocks. That was just bog standard Shimano blocks too, plenty of stopping power.

I'd say if you'll be doing serious mounting biking go with V's for safety, but if you're not doing anything too off-the-hook you'd be ok choosing canti's purely for aesthetic reasons.

 

[tintin40]

Those instruction are perfect - Thanks

Just what i needed as well

 

[saulus]

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.

Erm.. so with the exception of the cable routing looking a bit odd..whats the drama if you do run 'em with the front on the right hand side with a std noodle? *whistles* :shock: (We're talking XTRM900 levers and calipers here)..

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Erm.. so with the exception of the cable routing looking a bit odd..whats the drama if you do run 'em with the front on the right hand side with a std noodle? *whistles* :shock: (We're talking XTRM900 levers and calipers here)..

No drama, but it will look even worse.

With a 135° noodle, it still looks somewhat ok because the outer cable can make one gentle turn.
With a standard noodle I can imagine that it either makes a very sharp turn at the top or makes 2 turns

Either way, it just looks better with the front on the left. Just learn to ride with the brakes the proper way around, like every other country in the world has them.

 

[saulus]

Guess I'll have to live with function over form then . It works fine, albeit with a squiggly 's' shape... I dont like excessive lengths of cable but I have ridden with the fr brake on the left and it wasn't for me.

I'm off for a cycling/campervan holiday with the family over to Belgium/France/Germany this Summer. I will swap the brakes over on our bikes then. That should make things fun.."Now then kids, remember we are on the other side of the road and so are our brake levers..."