The custom bike buying Brevet event riders who love the traditional bikes of the French Custom Constructeurs
as used for the Big French Annual Paris-Brest-Paris event, that is as old as the TdF,
have specified the brakes a like the Hearse and Singers used in the 50's ~ 60's .. were center pulls
adding the pivot as a braze on right below the fork crown.
If I were designing a bike from the ground up, what would determine
what kind of brake system I'd use?
The intended service function you have in mind for the bicycle.