Which V-?

DB4 said:

Hi
Seeking opinions on Avid V-brakes (Single Digit-7) over the more commonly
available Shimano jobies my local bike shop promote! I'm upgrading the
cantilevers (at significant expense) on my trusty old Orange C-16. Can't
bring myself to part with it yet, largely because all the new bikes seem
fashionably expensive.

You could always Do It Properly, and put on HS-33 hydraulics, which
aren't cheap but if it's to be "considerable expense" why not go
the whole hog?

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

in message <[email hidden]>, DB4

(') said:

Seeking opinions on Avid V-brakes (Single Digit-7) over the more commonly
available Shimano jobies my local bike shop promote! I'm upgrading the
cantilevers (at significant expense) on my trusty old Orange C-16. Can't
bring myself to part with it yet, largely because all the new bikes seem
fashionably expensive.

So folks - anyone able to vouch for the Avids? I'll be coupling them to
XT
levers. Or do the Shimano's win out with their XT brake.

I haven't tried the 7s. However, Avids were the brake of choice before the
widespread adoption of hydraulic disks, and you still see a lot of them in
womens' cross country racing. The 5s, which I have used and are similar
design in cheaper materials, are certainly very good. Yes, they will work
with Shimano levers PROVIDED the levers are designed for V brakes - cantis
(any make) use approximately the same cable pull as calipers (most makes)
but completely different from Vs (any make); and you can't use V brake
levers with cantis brakes and vice versa.

If you have canti levers, go for Avid Shorties.

The XT/XTR V brake is over complex. I've got XTR, too (same bike as now has
an Avid 5 on the front; it did have XTR on the front). They're vulnerable
to dirt and really not as good as simpler designs.

As Pete says, if you want really really good rim brakes Magura hydraulics
are the way to go, but they cost a fair bit more.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; So, before proceeding with definitive screwing, choose the
;; position most congenital.
-- instructions for fitting bicycle handlebars

Thanks guys. My thoughts on the XT brake itself seem confirmed. Interesting
concept on paper but overly complex in reality. Given my budget, I'll go
with the Avids!!
Thanks again
Dennis

DB4 said:

Hi
Seeking opinions on Avid V-brakes (Single Digit-7) over the more commonly
available Shimano jobies my local bike shop promote! I'm upgrading the
cantilevers (at significant expense) on my trusty old Orange C-16. Can't
bring myself to part with it yet, largely because all the new bikes seem
fashionably expensive.

So folks - anyone able to vouch for the Avids? I'll be coupling them to XT
levers. Or do the Shimano's win out with their XT brake.
Thanks
Dennis

Avids work fine but I replaced mine with Magura HS11 which were 70 quid for
a pair at the time and the improvement was massive, especially regarding
modulation (feel)

SW

DB4 said:

Thanks guys. My thoughts on the XT brake itself seem confirmed. Interesting
concept on paper but overly complex in reality. Given my budget, I'll go
with the Avids!!
Thanks again
Dennis

On 6/5/07 16:44, in article [email hidden], "DB4"

Quoted message said:

Hi
Seeking opinions on Avid V-brakes (Single Digit-7) over the more commonly
available Shimano jobies my local bike shop promote! I'm upgrading the
cantilevers (at significant expense) on my trusty old Orange C-16. Can't
bring myself to part with it yet, largely because all the new bikes seem
fashionably expensive.

Quoted message said:

So folks - anyone able to vouch for the Avids? I'll be coupling them to XT
levers. Or do the Shimano's win out with their XT brake.
Thanks
Dennis

I've got Avid Arch Rivals on the front of the GPB and they are
excellent - far better than the LX or the Deore ones and look to be
better than the XT ones as well. LX were good but not very durable in
a thriving on neglect sort of way.

Good luck finding any - they are now rare as hens teeth.

...d

On May 7, 11:58 am, David Martin <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I've got Avid Arch Rivals on the front of the GPB and they are
excellent - far better than the LX or the Deore ones and look to be
better than the XT ones as well. LX were good but not very durable in
a thriving on neglect sort of way.

Good luck finding any - they are now rare as hens teeth.

I'd second the Arch Rivals. I went for XTs on my bike and, although
they worked fine, squealed to buggery on the front. So replace with
Arch Rivals which are way better still, and quiet.

£24.99 from the most excellent www.chainreactioncycles.com