brakes on drop bars

In article Yxr6b.280099$Oz4.74053@rwcrnsc54 said:

I just converted a hybrid bike to a touring/commuting bike. I guess the biggest change is flat bars
to drop bars. Everything seems to work OK, but the road brake levers paired with the cantilever
brakes leaves alot to be desired. I wouldn't mind mechanical disc brakes, but I'm under the
impression they require special hubs and I ain't even opening that can of worms! How about using a
complete mountain bike brake/shift system butted right up against the stem? Any other ideas? I
might be able to put side pull road brakes up front, but I'm not sure about the back. Plus I've got
a 700 x 38 tire and fenders on this bike, which probably would eliminate road brakes Yes? No? Help
me out with this, please!

There are a couple of devices designed to make "road" levers more compatible with cantis. "Travel
agent" is one of them. Check the Nashbar catalog or web site, it's item TA-WT-S.

Tom Gibb <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I just converted a hybrid bike to a touring/commuting bike. I guess the biggest change is flat bars
to drop bars. Everything seems to work OK, but the road brake levers paired with the cantilever
brakes leaves alot to be desired.

Most road brake levers are designed for use with sidepull brakes, and will pull less cable than
a corresponding mountain lever will. This will usually lead to poor brake performance such as
you describe.

If this is your situation, you have a couple of options:

1) Switch to a brake lever designed for use with cantilever brakes.

2) Install an adaptor which will modify the cable pull of your existing brake lever. An example can
be seen at: tinyurl.commhgxOpen ↗

(My experience with such gadgets is they do work as advertised, but brake lever feel still leaves
something to be desired)

Good luck!

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Matt Ashbrook" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Yxr6b.280099$Oz4.74053@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

I just converted a hybrid bike to a touring/commuting bike. I guess the biggest change is flat
bars to drop bars. Everything seems to work OK, but the road brake levers paired with the
cantilever brakes leaves alot to be desired. ....Any other ideas? I might be able to put side pull
road brakes up front, but I'm not sure about the back. Plus I've got a 700 x 38 tire and fenders
on this bike, which probably would eliminate road brakes Yes? No?

Indeed sidepull brakes won't work with anything larger than 700x25 without fenders. The long-reach
sidepull brakes would work with something slightly larger, but not much... and the longer the brake
reach, the harder they are to use.

There are a few options.

1. Use v-brakes with Dia-Compe 287-V brake levers. These levers are designed to pull more cable and
therefore work appropriately with v-brakes. However, you need either bar-end or downtube
shifters. Probably not what you had in mind.

2. Use STI or Ergo briefters (shifter-brake lever combo) with v-brakes and a gizmo called either
V-daptor or Travel Agent.

3. Readjust your cantilever brakes. This is certainly the cheapest option. Cantilever brakes allow a
lot of adjustment, especially if you use a traditional straddle cable. I'd suggest you read
sheldonbrown.comcantilever adjustment.htmlOpen ↗ to see how you could adjust them.

Regards,

Michel Gagnon

Actually, I already am using Bar-ends and plan to keep them. Are the Dia-Comp 287V levers the "aero"
type or does the cable come out of the "horn"? "Michel Gagnon" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Matt Ashbrook" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<Yxr6b.280099$Oz4.74053@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I just converted a hybrid bike to a touring/commuting bike. I guess the biggest change is flat
bars to drop bars. Everything seems to work OK,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the road brake levers paired with the cantilever brakes leaves alot to

be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

desired. ....Any other ideas? I might be able to put side pull road brakes up front, but I'm not
sure about the back. Plus I've got a 700 x 38 tire

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fenders on this bike, which probably would eliminate road brakes Yes?

No?

Quoted message said:

Indeed sidepull brakes won't work with anything larger than 700x25 without fenders. The long-reach
sidepull brakes would work with something slightly larger, but not much... and the longer the
brake reach, the harder they are to use.

There are a few options.

1. Use v-brakes with Dia-Compe 287-V brake levers. These levers are designed to pull more cable
and therefore work appropriately with v-brakes. However, you need either bar-end or downtube
shifters. Probably not what you had in mind.

2. Use STI or Ergo briefters (shifter-brake lever combo) with v-brakes and a gizmo called either
V-daptor or Travel Agent.

3. Readjust your cantilever brakes. This is certainly the cheapest option. Cantilever brakes allow
a lot of adjustment, especially if you use a traditional straddle cable. I'd suggest you read
sheldonbrown.comcantilever adjustment.htmlOpen ↗ to see how you could adjust them.

Regards,

Michel Gagnon