Cyclocross - Building a bike...what brakes would you use?

If you were building a cyclocross bike, what would be your brakes of choice? The local dealer says the TRP's are good, and from what I've read they seem to be. But, is there better out there?

I don't want to break the bank, but if a certain brake is much better than something else, I don't mind paying to get quality.

Tektro 720

I like my Paul's Neo Retro and Touring brakes, though they are a little expensive. I put some Tektro Oryx ($15/pair) brakes on my Wife's bike and she is very happy with them. The Tektros are definitely the better bargain, but I prefer the Paul's brakes.

I just bought a pair of cr720s after all of the good reviews. I'm waiting for them in the mail. However, i think i might have to get different ones in the rear since these are sort of wide.

PM me if you are interested in running a new cr720 in the front and something else in the back. Maybe we can work something out??

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 121gr

Are the 720's worth the extra weight? Although they are about $25 cheaper.

I didnt look into the TRP?? I liked the reviews on the 720 cuz they were easy to adjust and had good stopping power...and they were cheap. I bought a set and didn't realize that i might kick the rear one when i dismount/remount..

I'm about to upgrade from shorty 4s to 720 but only in front. I'll leave the shorty in the rear because of the dismount/remounting issues.

I love my CR720's but have banged them on remounts a few times. However, my bike sees far more time commuting (all weather) and dirt road riding than hopping barriers, so it's staying on.

If I'm building a bike from scratch, it'll have disk brakes.

If I'm building a bike from scratch, it'll have disk brakes.

I love my BB7's :)

Tektro 720
+1

I just switched the rear brakes on my bike to these and they're very good for only $30-35/pair. I just ordered another set for the front. They have a wider range of pad adjustibility compared to the older Avid Shorty 4 brakes.

The NEW Avid Shorty 6 brakes are also interesting which have been redesigned to supposedly reduce chattering/squealing but i'm not sure if they increased the pad adjustment range...

http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/brakes.html

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 121gr

Are the 720's worth the extra weight?I will pretend this was a joke.

I will pretend this was a joke.

Or, you could not pretend and actually answer the question.

We're only talking about $40 more total for the TRP's. They are lighter and from what I've read...the reviews are just as good.

I love my BB7's :)

I expected someone to bring up that they aren't UCI legal. My response is that if I'm ever racing in a UCI pro event, then I'll be sure to worry about that then.

I don't think many people realize that discs are an advantage or feel that they're too heavy or something. Well, they're definitely heavier than a canti, but what we should be worried about lap time. If it's faster over the course of a lap, the reliability is there, and the cost isn't ridiculous, then it's worthwhile. I honestly believe that it is all of these things. I'm in a minority.

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 121gr

Are the 720's worth the extra weight?

Come over here and let me give you a hug. I love you. People like you are going to keep the economy alive.

On a side note, you have no idea what wattage 18 grams turns into over the course of a race, do you?

Or, you could not pretend and actually answer the question.

We're only talking about $40 more total for the TRP's. They are lighter and from what I've read...the reviews are just as good.Okay fine, then it is my expert opinion that $40 divided by 2 x (121 - 103) equals a little over a dollar per gram. Personally, I'd want a little more bang for my buck. For example, I recently changed out my steel fork for carbon, which took off well over a pound, for about $200. That comes out to about 40 cents per gram.

But remember we are talking about a grand total of 36 grams, folks. 0.036 kg. 0.079 lbs.

Do you know how little 36 grams weighs? Seriously, take out your kitchen scale, measure out 36 grams of something, and hold it in your hand.

IMO the TRPs look nicer than the Tektros. That's a much better reason to cough up an extra $40 than 36 grams.

I realize that 40 grams (total) isn't that big of a deal. But, it is a positive (one of them) and since I *need* to buy brakes anyways, $40 really isn't that much more in the grand scheme of things. Seriously, if $40 makes or breaks your budget, then perhaps you need to find a new hobby (or not have one).

If I already had brakes, then no...I wouldn't spend the money because the cost/weight ratio isn't the greatest. But since I don't have any, that's why I am looking at some decent ones because I only want to do it once on this bike.

The sensitivity on this forum really makes me chuckle.

The sensitivity on this forum really makes me chuckle.
i find it hilarious you're whining about the sensitivity on the forum, yet you're the one who got their weight weenie panties in a bunch when you didn't get your hand-holding question answered properly.
:bday:


People like you are going to keep the economy alive.
he'd have to buy paul's to keep our economy alive. otherwise, he's just keeping taiwan's economy alive.

i find it hilarious you're whining about the sensitivity on the forum, yet you're the one who got their weight weenie panties in a bunch when you didn't get your hand-holding question answered properly.
:bday:

I was really expecting an informed reply. Nothing more. I guess folks are jaded over weight questions??? I dunno, it just seems as if I hit a sensitive spot. And from your reply, it seems that I did.

At least this month is the month of my birthday, so thanks for the early well-wishing.



he'd have to buy paul's to keep our economy alive. otherwise, he's just keeping taiwan's economy alive.

Perhaps, but somewhat the LBS. They had both the 720 and the Euro-X in stock. I went ahead and bought the Euro-X a few minutes ago, actually. $39 vs. $55 was the difference. Maybe the price margin is much larger on the Euro-X, but he definitely recommended them vs. the 720. He had the Euro-X on his personal bike, as well.

I realize that 40 grams (total) isn't that big of a deal. But, it is a positive (one of them) and since I *need* to buy brakes anyways, $40 really isn't that much more in the grand scheme of things. Seriously, if $40 makes or breaks your budget, then perhaps you need to find a new hobby (or not have one).

If I already had brakes, then no...I wouldn't spend the money because the cost/weight ratio isn't the greatest. But since I don't have any, that's why I am looking at some decent ones because I only want to do it once on this bike.

The sensitivity on this forum really makes me chuckle.If you are building up a bike, then obviously you are buying more than brakes. Trust me, the price of componentry does add up.

If gram-shaving is your game (and it appears to be), then computing the cost per gram shaved is really the sensible approach. At a dollar per gram, you'd have to spend an extra $450 to shave a pound. You can set up a spreadsheet and really go nuts with this stuff.

If you really want to save tangible weight, however, look to your frame, fork, wheels, and tires. Again, you can make a spreadsheet, make a bar chart of weight by component. It'll put things in pretty stark perspective. Or, like I wrote before, hold 36 grams of something in your hand.

he definitely recommended them vs. the 720. Oh I'll bet he did.

Enjoy the bike. I do mean that sincerely.

i couldn't care less how much your bike will or won't weigh, pal. i just hope you actually race it and have fun doing so.

I'd rather get brakes that work well versus saving a few grams. So ultimate stopping and mud clearance should be the deciding factors. Plus, it makes more since to run slightly lighter tires to save weigh if you want to get down with that sort of thing. I have weighed one set of cross clinchers at 400g each tire and another at 305gram each, both knobbie.

Hehe, still racing on Speedmax 700 x 40s, until I get paid. I think they weigh about 600 grams each :). I love college.

Kores are pretty awesome. fair price. adjustable.

i just got a pair of white kore kross bikes

pro

but with adjustability ;)

Guys, seriously now. Forget that I even mentioned weight. I had no idea that was such a sore subject around here.

For the record, no--I am not building a bike to be the lightest that I can get it. I'm making sacrafices with certain components because I don't want to pay $150 more to save a few grams. The reason why I mentioned the TRP's is because after I did some research, I had heard good things. And the LBS cross guys swear by them.

And heaven forbid...they are lighter than others, but they do cost a few $$ more. Plus, they are much better looking and if they work well, then it's a win-win. I really don't think brakes are an item to skimp on, hence the reason behind this thread.

I honestly don't understand the attitude around here. And hey--it's my money and my bike. If I want to spend $30 more to save 40grams, then what's the issue? That's not necessarily the case, but so what if it was.

you should have spent a little more and got some brakes that can be adjusted without having to bend them with plyers.

Guys, seriously now. Forget that I even mentioned weight. I had no idea that was such a sore subject around here.


Honestly, I don't think it is that sore of a subject, no one wants to carry around extra weight for the fun of it. I think what got everyone's feather's ruffled was the miniscule amount of weight you were mentioning as a factor in the decision. The difference between old and new pads is more than what you're talking about. The difference between blowing your nose or not before the race is more than what you're talking about. It's tiny. Without beating the dead horse any more, functionality is much, much more important.

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 121gr

Are the 720's worth the extra weight? Although they are about $25 cheaper.

So, that's 18 grams or .63 ounces. Is that supposed to be a lot of extra weight?

I have no idea how much my brakes weigh. They were cheap - and have good stopping power. Easy to work with and dont require me to bend or twist them.

I have the white kores as well. Milwaukie had a good deal on them.

I figure if I make it to A Ill care about how much my brakes weigh. Maybe. I also might start wearing dresses and sipping tea.

I'm going to add a little more fuel to the fire. I did a little more research and it seems one website had the 720's listed incorrectly:

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 161gr

Now we're talking 116 grams difference.

I'm going to add a little more fuel to the fire. I did a little more research and it seems one website had the 720's listed incorrectly:

TRP EuroX = 103gr
Tektro 720 = 161gr

Now we're talking 116 grams difference.You are cherrypicking data. One figure includes hardware, the other doesn't.

According to cyclocrossworld.com, who include hardware in the weights and AFAIK weigh the products on their own scale,
TRP Euro X, 140g per wheel (http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/trpeucycabrn.html)
Tektro CR 720, 161g per wheel (http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/tecr720cabr.html)

Which brings us back to "meh". When it comes to bike weight, it's all about frame, fork, wheels, and tires.

Well, if that's true that a good website to get data from.

Still, this obsession with labeling everyone a 'weight-weenie' when they bring it up in conversation still makes me chuckle.

What stands out though is that the 720's seem to have a problem with people hitting them when dismounting.

Sounds to me like you want the TRPs. You should get them.

I did get the TRPs (posted that a few posts ago). I didn't hear or could find anything negative about them.

Then again, people were too fixated on my bringing up weight to tell me if they were good or bad. That completely destroyed the point of this thread, ironically.

The new avid 09's rip.