Bicycle Mechanics - v brake w/ drop lever

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Seggybop
06-27-06, 06:36 PM
I'm trying to switch out a cantilever brake with a v brake. I've heard about the touchiness problem, and wouldn't mind that, but when I squeeze the lever the cable doesn't retract to its original position upon release. Arms stay clenched. aidplz?

'nother
06-27-06, 06:52 PM
If you're going to run v-brakes with "road" levers you need something to compensate for the difference in mechanical advantage. There is a device called a Travel Agent which may help. It's not touchiness that's the problem; it's the fact that you'd need to squeeze twice as hard to stop as you would given the same conditions versus cantis. Not safe unless you have really strong hands.
supcom
06-27-06, 07:06 PM
If you're going to run v-brakes with "road" levers you need something to compensate for the difference in mechanical advantage. There is a device called a Travel Agent which may help. It's not touchiness that's the problem; it's the fact that you'd need to squeeze twice as hard to stop as you would given the same conditions versus cantis. Not safe unless you have really strong hands.

Actually, the problem is that the road levers pull less cable than moutain (V brake) levers. This makes it easy to squeeze the levers, but you don't get much travel on the V brakes. The Travel Agents double the cable pull and make everything work like they should.

Just pay attention to the directions and position the pulley correctly when you route the cable through the device and they're pretty foolproof.

HillRider
06-27-06, 09:06 PM
If the arms don't retract, check the cable and housing for contaminations and dirt. V-brakes don't work well with road levers but the arms should move freely never-the-less.
CHenry
06-27-06, 09:55 PM
You might want to look at the DiaCompe 287-V levers which are made to pull inline brakes with a drop bar type lever, no travel agent needed. As for sticking, have you over-tightened your mounting bolts on the brake pivots?
supcom
06-28-06, 07:02 AM
If the arms don't retract, check the cable and housing for contaminations and dirt. V-brakes don't work well with road levers but the arms should move freely never-the-less.

If you install Travel Agents, V brakes work very well with road levers. I have a pair of Avid V brakes connected to a pair of Shimano 105 levers via Travel Agents. They work perfectly.