Road Cycling - Any real difference in brakes???

I currently have Dia-Compe older style single pivot sidepull calipers on my bike. I purchased and installed the newer 105,Ultegra, Dura Ace shoes with pads and the bike seems to stop fine. I live in mostly flat areas so my speed doesn't get that high. I have never tried the newer dual pivots so I'm not sure if it is worth my money to upgrade or not. I have recently upgraded all of my components to 105 except the brakes and I guess the upgrade bug is not finished biting. I do know that either my single or a new pair of dual pivots can always benefit from Salmon pads, but not sure if it is worth $60 to upgrade the calipers. Anybody have experience with both???

i think it's worth the money for some good calipers... squeezing them are a lot smoother with just the right amount of tension...

I currently have Dia-Compe older style single pivot sidepull calipers on my bike. I purchased and installed the newer 105,Ultegra, Dura Ace shoes with pads and the bike seems to stop fine. I live in mostly flat areas so my speed doesn't get that high. I have never tried the newer dual pivots so I'm not sure if it is worth my money to upgrade or not. I have recently upgraded all of my components to 105 except the brakes and I guess the upgrade bug is not finished biting. I do know that either my single or a new pair of dual pivots can always benefit from Salmon pads, but not sure if it is worth $60 to upgrade the calipers. Anybody have experience with both???


The difference will be huge. Only you can decide if it's worth the $$$. For me it is and I would never go back to single pivot brakes (other than the new Campy Record D brake set I currently ride that has the single pivot rear).

I think, and I may be wrong, that my Ultegra's stop me every bit as well as the discs on my mtb. The difference between canti and single pivot is amazing.

IMHO, the most noticable difference in brakeing quality I've noticed is in the rim surface. Changed wheel set and couldnt believe the difference with the same ultegra brakes.

I nupgraded from crappy Weinman single pivot to 105 dual pivot, the ones with a long drop to the brake shoes. They are really great, every bit as powerful as my cantelevers , with better control.