[zenloki]

About 5 years ago, I put drop bars, bar ends and appropriate shifters on a Cannondale Caad2 MTB. Kept the Avid cantilever brakes. While the front brake was perfect the rear was mushy in the extreme. I used aero brake levers (Shimanos?) designed for this but was less than impressed with the results in the rear. Need to have better mechanical advantage at the lever or change the brakes. Anyone else do something similar or have suggestions on how to get a decent back brake out of this set-up?

 

[zenloki]

53 views and not one idea?

 

[zenloki]

93 views, still not one idea. i'm saddened and disheartened.

 

[speedfan]

questions

Are the pads up to par? Can the travel of levers be shortened? No great ideas, just trying to understand for myself why there is a different feel.

 

[zenloki]

thanks speedfan!

the pads are/were new so definitely up to the task. cables were new also.
don't know how i could shorten the lever travel.

the feel of the rear brake is mush as originally posted. i squeeze and it just feels soft all the way to the bar with some slight braking action. not enough to make me feel secure riding aggressively through city traffic. its like i don't have a sufficient mechanical advantage to get a good squeeze on the back rim. I installed Shimano Tiagra Aero levers which have (according to the late Sheldon Harris) the best mechanical advantage available and what Harris Cyclery suggested for my application.

any thoughts?

 

[BlazingPedals]

I'm not well-versed on cantis, but can you shorten up the length of the hanger cable, or whatever you call it? That might give you more pad movement for a given lever travel.

 

[Industry_Hack]

There used to be some little gizmos for this sort of situation. BRB, I gotta Google.

 

[Industry_Hack]

Damn, I'm fast. Problem Solvers.

 

[Mootsguy]

Wasn't the little doo-hickey called a travel agent? I used them so that I could use some Grafton canti brake levers with linear pull brakes and they worked to perfection.

 

[LarryM]

Try to decrease the yoke angle - ( get the yoke cable close to the tire) See http://sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-geometry.html#mechanical for why yoke angle is important in getting the best mechanical advantage on cantilever brakes.

Also, consider trying a softer pad, like Kool Stop Salmon brake pads.

Those two changes made a world of difference in the Tektro cantis on my LHT

 

[retromike3]

a tip I got

I got this from MTB review site.

Dia-Compe makes the only drop-bar lever specifically designed for V-brakes, the 287-V. They offer excellent braking. Theoretically, this should be the next-best solution (following hydraulics) for a tandem's rear brake, as the increased cable pull will lessen the problem the loooong stretchy cable run creates.

I used to use a short arm V-brake made by Tecktro and a sidetrack brake booster on my mountain bike that I set up with Ned Overand drop bars( I can't throw anything away) But I think these will do the job for you.

Mike-going down hill without benefit-Frye