Congrats on your new bike justin98. It's a steel Raleigh, so the frame and forks will work well and components should be simple and rugged enough to last almost as long as the f&f - which is almost indefinitely. On a two minute test ride a slightly more fashionable (and several times more expensive) old ATB might feel superior, in the real world as the miles and luggage pile on, a Nottingham built Raleigh will usually more than equal others. I love their unpretentious feel, it's an increasingly rare attribute.
Thias":2qp19ven said:
V-Brakes are always better performing than cantis. But the question is: Is it worth the hassle? From an enthusiast point of view that is a no. Vbrake on that kind of frame is't looking good
I agree sidepull cantis/v brakes can often look wrong, but to say they're always better performing is just not true. They're cheaper to make to a standard which works as well (on a new bike) and less easy for someone with an allen key to mess up.
Both variants have their weak points, the trad variety needs someone with a modicum of basic practical understanding (which not so long ago was nearly universal within the cycling fraternity) to set up and adjust, while sidepull ones cause clearance problems through muddy ground, are generally less easy to 'feather' (which on slippery surfaces can cause bother) and are less tolerant of rims which aren't perfectly true and smooth.
I'd choose the older-design cantilevers every time, they're just as powerful when set up correctly, to my hands always offer better feel and usually offer better control of the braking. Additionally the feel and controlability is adjustable (within seconds), unlike sidepulls which offer only one setting for a given handlebar and business-end lever.
