Cyclocross - Cantilever v. Disk on my new build

Hey folk, I need a bit of guidance; I am getting a gem of a deal on a Lynskey Pro Cross & I have a bit of a dilemma with the braking options. The bike was original built up for one of the wrenches at my LBS and it didn't come to the specs that he wanted (very auspicious for me, as he and I are almost anatomical twins & I was in the market).

This said, he had it built up for disk brakes and I would like to use this bike for more than simply CX purposes (i.e., my hierarchy of needs are as such: 1) Commuting/Winter (the former set up as a roadie); 2) Cross riding; & 3) Back-up roadie when my road bike goes to the LBS hospital.

As such, here are my options: 1) Keep the disk break option; 2) Go disk only on the back and go cantilever up front; or 3) send it back to TN and have them weld on some mounts.

Other than the modest weight penalty, is there any reason that I should scrap the disks? Also, will switching out wheels set up on my roadie (when I am lazy and/or when I want some faster shoes on my cross bike) work with the disks set-up?

Any thoughts and or advice are appreciated.

...is there any reason that I should scrap the disks? Also, will switching out wheels set up on my roadie (when I am lazy and/or when I want some faster shoes on my cross bike) work with the disks set-up?...

No, that is, unless you plan to race under international (UCIdiots) rules CX.

Wheel changes are easier and quicker with disc brakes as you don't have to either fiddle with cable hangers or adjust for different rim and tyre widths.

edit: ...and you'll save yourself a bunch of money with disc brakes as you won't have to worry about rim wear and which compund pads to use.

If you want to swap back and forth wheelsets with your other bikes discs are a no go. Personally I think a disc in back is your worst option. It's extra weight and the rear isn't where you need the extra power.

I'd consider doing disc up front and canti in back. That way you can use rear wheels from other bikes, because the rear is most likely to get messe dup and need to be swapped out, and then you can use a disc up front where you'l realy appreciate the superior braking power.

Another option would be to have two sets of brakes and and wheels, assuming your disc wheels can't take rim brakes. Expensive, but you could put the cantis on during race season and use the discs the rest of the year.

Hi...

I'm not an expert in CX but im re-building a comuter bike with campy stuff and i got stuck in the dics or cantilver dilemma also. Well, what ms is saying is right in my opinion but happen that Cane Creek has a set of wheels that are disc and cantilever compatibles. U can use them with both brake systems.

Doing my homework i found that the darn discs hubs costs a fortune and the cheapest way to do it at least for me was getting a set of Cane Creek Strados discs. Those wheels are on sale right now for 275 bucks shipping included. A set of Shimano hubs goes for that much plus the spokes and the rims, u endup paying around 500 anyways. Even Formula discs hubs are about 200 bucks the set, plus shipping and stuff... The strados are a bargain for 275 bucks besides they look awesome, and the creek costumer service its outstanding anyways, thing that personally I can't say from many manufacturers and retailers.

Good luck.

ps: anybody know where i can get a cheap set of bb7s???

stay disc. for what you seem to want to use the bike for, they're definitely better.

commuting/winter riding? no contest. they're immune to the issues rim brakes have with picking up scum from the road, it's cheaper to replace a disc than a rim when they get eaten up with road debris, etc.

swapping wheels with the road bike won't work, though. not just because of the disc brake issue. the Lynskey Pro Cross has 135mm dropout spacing. which means your road hub's going to be too narrow.

i'd suggest putting the money you'd spend on having the frame modified to accept rim brakes and purchasing a new brakeset towards a second disc wheelset. they're not overly expensive.

If you plan on mounting a rear rack (to use for commuting), discs can be a problem since some racks don't play nice with the rear caliper. Other than that, I say keep the discs.