Bicycle Mechanics - Road levers with MTB canti-brakes?

I have an old mountain bike frame that I love, but am not currently using. I'm thinking about building it up as a single speed, just because. In my imagination I am putting bullhorn style time trial handlebars on it, again, just because. I saw a good price recently on dia-compe brake levers that mount at the end of a bullhorn bar. I understand that the brake levers wouldn't pull enough cable to actuate V-brakes--at least not without one of those little pulley deals to help it along.

Since the frame has cantilever bosses, I am wondering...would a road lever like this work with an old school cantilever brake? Or, would the set up still require a booster?

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Since the frame has cantilever bosses, I am wondering...would a road lever like this work with an old school cantilever brake? Or, would the set up still require a booster?
Should work fine. Remember most 'cross bikes have road levers and canti brakes.

I did remember that. Just didn't know the details. Thanks!

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Since the frame has cantilever bosses, I am wondering...would a road lever like this work with an old school cantilever brake? Or, would the set up still require a booster?

it probably will work fine (as velo pointed out cross bikes are like this) the only problem is that trying to adjust canti brakes with road levers can be a bear, because side pull breaks (at least shamno) have an adjustment, and often canti levers have an adjustment... where shimano road levers and canti brakes often do not, and you have to adjust it by where the cable is clamped.

hope this makes sense :p

Excellent point, Vegas. A barrel adjuster somewhere in the system would be a real boon. Anyone have an idea for a work-around?

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Excellent point, Vegas. A barrel adjuster somewhere in the system would be a real boon. Anyone have an idea for a work-around? An adjuster on the hanger.

Road levers are designed to give maximum braking force over a very small amount of travel. If you have canti's (not V-brakes!), you should set the bridge wire as long as possible, in order to limit the amount of cable travel. Of course, this will make the brakes stiffer and harder to modulate well. Start long, and adjust downward.
FWIW, drop bars will make you sit in a more constricted fasion than flat bars. Unless your top tube is extremely long for a MTB, this will likely be very uncomfortable.

its a bullhorn bar, not a drop bar. I actually think its a good idea, its kinda like having built-in bar ends on the bike that you can brake from. I think its a creative idea to put them on a mountain bike

Your LBS can order an inline cable adjuster.

Just as a comment
Dia-Compe makes a road lever that is V-brake compatable.