Cyclocross - Brakes

I'm not very happy with the performance of my brakes on my cross bike compared to my road bike. I have Avid Shortys with Kool Stop Tectonic pads. They are much better than the pads that came with the brakes but still not great. With roads bikes the pads are more important than the calipers... I assume it's the same in cx? So what are good pads to use. Or are there better brakes to use also? Now, function aside, which brakes are "cool"?

http://www.trpbrakes.com/eurox-c.html

As for pads, Kool Stop salmon?

Strictly based on braking performance, Tektro CR720. Scott uses them on their top-of-line cross bike, even though they are budget priced.

For performance + fashion statement, there is no question: Paul Neo-retro. Touring canti in back if you're worried about heel clearance.

As for pads, Kool Stop salmon?

Tectonics have multiple compounds, including Salmon

http://www.mtbr.com/channels/mtbreview/Images/Products/product_414622.jpg

tektro cr720.
cheap, powerful, easily adjustable

I love my pauls but I know people who have had good luck with alot of other brakes out there as well

To make my shortys feel better I read this article

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

and then moved some spacers from the outside of the brakes, nut side, to the inside of the brakes, pad side. This really seemed to help both feel and performance, and once I bought some adjustable straddle cables from tektro I was really able to dial them in for some nice modulation.

magnesium euro x

To make my shortys feel better I read this article

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

and then moved some spacers from the outside of the brakes, nut side, to the inside of the brakes, pad side. This really seemed to help both feel and performance, and once I bought some adjustable straddle cables from tektro I was really able to dial them in for some nice modulation.
i couldn't agree more! i got my wife's oryx's (essentially idential to shorty's) working superbly by rearranging those spacers, and setting the adjustable straddle cable fairly low. certainly lower than where the stock avid y cable sits.

Shorty 4s SUCK, I hated the ones I had...couldn't get them to shut up! I put on CR720s and haven't looked back! For the price, you can't go wrong.

i couldn't agree more! i got my wife's oryx's (essentially idential to shorty's) working superbly by rearranging those spacers, and setting the adjustable straddle cable fairly low. certainly lower than where the stock avid y cable sits.

+ another one.

Once the flexy cross fork was swapped out with something stiffer, I got both the Shimanos on the cross bike and the Oryx's on the tour bike working far better than the road calipers with straddle cable and pad changes. That said, the Shorty 4's have about as bad a rep as there is. That's why I chose the Shimanos the LBS had in stock over the Avid's.

The fact of the matter is that all cyclocross breaks suck when compared to road brakes. I use SRP Mr. Grumpies (http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/product_detail.asp?RowID=16&CS=srp&All=) with Ritchey Logic red pads. They slow me down enough and more importantly don't squeal!

To make my shortys feel better I read this article

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

and then moved some spacers from the outside of the brakes, nut side, to the inside of the brakes, pad side. This really seemed to help both feel and performance, and once I bought some adjustable straddle cables from tektro I was really able to dial them in for some nice modulation.
+1

Getting the spacers and straddle cable properly adjusted makes a difference. I can do an endover on my CX bike with Avid Shorty 4 brakes if i'm not careful (almost did when commuting home and a car stopped suddenly in front of me, the back wheel was afew feet off the ground and my brake levers were touching the car trunk in front of me). :lol:

Also, another +1 for those Tektro CR720 being pretty sweet for their "budget" price.