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Is it possible to get V-Brakes for my CX bike, that will work with my roady levers?
I can't put discs on, but would like to lose the style of brake that's so old I can't remember what they're called and fit something with some stopping power.
I've found a nice off-road loop I want to do, but there's one descent that's long and steep and, frankly, a bit terrifying as things stand!
You can get mini v-brakes that will work with road levers, also Shimano's latest canti brakes are really good as are Avid cantis. Advantage of cantis is that you'll have better mud clearance.
I have Tektro Oryx on my Colnago CX with some Decathlon 'carbon look' pads - stops on a sixpence. The Tektro brakes aren't expensive and have good reviews.
Yes, get the TRP 8.4 brakes. They are shorter to work with road levers. The other mtb ones are 9.0 and your lever cant pull enough cable.
I used ebay and got them direct from taiwan...they were cheap and ace
Ian
Another vote for CX 8.4, they clear my 40mm gravel tyres just fine and are plenty powerful.
I have been tempted to try cheaper mini-Vs with same arm length in the hope they are as good.
If you want to stick with cantilevers (I prefer in winter for tyre and rim clearance in the mud, at expense of power) then the Tektro CR720s are sturdy and good quality but I couldn't stop them squeaking. I put on the Avid Shorty Ultimates from my CX bike which are totally silent and powerful enough for my needs at nearly 90kg 🙄 Worth the cash in my opinion.
Thanks, that's perfect, I'll see how I go and jump on those TRP thing if I need them.
Have a look at Shimano CX50 as well. I've got them on my commuter after I found the 8.4 mini v's wouldn't clear my mudguards. More clearance for big tyres or more mud. Very impressed with the stopping. I've got swiss stop blue in at the moment.
You can spend a bit more on the CX70 if you like the colour better, or just buy the CX70 cartridge pads when you need new pads, it's the only practical difference. CX50s come with the all-in-one blocks.
Potentially important point: (from https://road.cc/content/review/110657-shimano-cx70-cantilever-brakes )
The CX70 cantis use road sized brake pads which has the twin benefits of making it easy to get replacements or to change the stock pads to suit your posh carbon rims. Being shorter than the V-brake pads that some other cantilevers use means the arms can spring open further as the stumpier pads will clear fork arms and chainstays. That makes it easier to remove wheels, especially fatter tyred ones.
As above, there are also slightly cheaper versions of the TRP's branded as Tektro (as in Tektro Racing Products), they come in a variety of lengths because technically BMX levers, canti levers, road brake levers all pull slightly different amounts of cable, but it's very marginal and won't matter. Just look for mini-v brakes on ebay. I quite like my bite point right against the bars anyway so I think I opted for the longer ones (but still substantially shorter than MTB V-brakes).
Tire / guard clearance can depend on rim width and the brake mount width too, neither of which are standardized and can vary a LOT.
Canti's can be an option, but IME even if set up perfectly they're still not as good, and take a bit of skill to get there, and the power drifts off as the pads wear and the angle of the straddle wire changes. Where as V's just seem to work first time every time as long as they fit.
You can get Mini V-brakes (Tektro RX1 would be the budget conscious alternative to TRP 8.4) those will work with road levers.
Alternative options:
You could use 'linear pull' drop bar levers like the Tektro RL-520 with a full sized V-brake (more mud clearance) but obviously you'll need a separate shifting option (or to go single speed) or you could buy some rather pricey Gevenalle modified RL-520 but by the time you've bought a new set of brakes and a new lever, Mini-Vs would be the sensible choice TBH...
Thanks! Are those V-brakes any different to the ones that come on my kids bikes? I have a set in a box outside because they didn't clear the 2.3" tyres I fitted, so if they're the same that could be a winner.
Cheap is important as ultimately this bike will be replaced with something nice in a the next year or so.
Easiest way is to measure pivot to cable clamp (the arm length). CX 8.4 are 85mm, CX9s are 90mm. Normal Vs are 110mm I think.
The difference between 85mm and 90mm is surprisingly significant!
Yeah, they're 85mm. I figured that not knowing that, the easiest was to fit them and see as I am putting new bars on so the brakes were off anyway. I just tested them and they were a bit mediocre, but it sounds like new pads a fettle and we're on to a winner.
Gave them a spin last night, really pleased with them, the braking performance is much better than it was. I'm getting a bit of squeak if I give them a proper pull, but I'm sure that's just the pads wearing in.
It's not often you're after some niche thing and it turns out you had something in the tool box already!
Win! What name/brand are they? I've got my old singlespeed hanging up on the wall crying out for set of cheap replacement brakes
They're unbranded, I guess cheap functional rubbish, whatever Giant put on last year's 20" kids bike.
I replaced them because the arms were too short to clear decent tyres, so I guess the ones I put on won't be what you want, but they were dirt cheap, something like £20 an end including the levers, so the ones I took off will probably be similar.