Bicycle Mechanics - better stopping power?

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ed202d
07-28-04, 10:58 PM
hi,
just to say ahead of time, my brakes suck.
i was riding down my hill and i notice my brakes did not provide the stopping distance i needed. i use brakes of a cantilever design (it basically pulls on one of them and the other is linked so that that one follows) i read online that, that design is suppose to give me plenty of stopping power (compared to v-brakes?) is there something wrong? or is there some way of improving my stopping distance? like new brakes pads? (they're not yet worn though, but i have noticed them to be small compared to my friend's shimano v-brakes)

thx in advance

jeff williams
07-28-04, 11:05 PM
I find pads with lower carbon, like the red Koolstops help.
Did you get the correct levers? If you installed side pull catilever brakes with your old center pull levers, they will not pull enough.

>jef.
Juha
07-29-04, 04:55 AM
Cantilevers have smaller pads than V-brakes, so don't worry about the difference compared to your friend's brakes. Cantis should provide enough stopping power for normal use. Are yours properly adjusted? There should be very little play before pads touch the rim. If you need to pull levers halfway to even start braking, you need to tighten the brake cable(s).

--J

jove
07-29-04, 08:56 AM
hi,
just to say ahead of time, my brakes suck.
i was riding down my hill and i notice my brakes did not provide the stopping distance i needed. i use brakes of a cantilever design (it basically pulls on one of them and the other is linked so that that one follows) i read online that, that design is suppose to give me plenty of stopping power (compared to v-brakes?) is there something wrong? or is there some way of improving my stopping distance? like new brakes pads? (they're not yet worn though, but i have noticed them to be small compared to my friend's shimano v-brakes)

thx in advance

Are you sure they are cantilever brakes? It sounds like you may be describing side-pull callipers. Canty arms are linked by a cable; callipers by the brake itself.

In any case, assuming they are what you say, go here for information:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-adjustment.html

Center pull cantilever brakes are the standard for fully-loaded touring bikes and tandems. They have all the stopping power you need if correctly installed and adjusted. Also, I'm not sure why your canty pads would be smaller than V-brake cartridges but you can usually replace the cartidges with BMX or Mountain Coolstop pads which have a larger surface that contacts the rim.
Guest
07-29-04, 02:03 PM
If you ever decide to change your brakes, you may just want to consider hydraulic brakes instead.

Koffee