Bicycle Mechanics - Single pivot dura ace vs dual pivot

So I am in need of brakes and I found some early 90's single pivot dura ace brakes for about 50$.

Anyway I am concerned about stopping power, not so much the weight issue.

My budget for brakes is around 100$, any suggestions?

"Stopping Power" is the same for any decent brake, single or double pivot. All of them will lock both wheels of a bike and you can't get more than that. However, dual pivot brakes require less hand pressure for a given controlled stop or speed modulation and that can be very useful on long downhills where you have to apply the brakes frequently and for an extended time.

You should be able to find newer used double pivot Ultegra or 105 brakes, or even some earlier dual pivot Dura Ace brakes for well within your budget. One recommended upgrade is to fit what ever brake you get with Kool Stop Salmon pads.

Thanks!

Tektros are great dual pivot brakes in the $50-60 range. Available in 3 lengths. Velo Orange has the nutted version, if you need that.

I'm running single sivot brakes on one of my nicer road bikes. 105's from the early 1990's. They stop fine. The slight difference in mechanical advantage has two effects:
1. takes more hand pressure to lock up the wheel
2. the pads can sit a bit wider apart and thus give more space for an out-of-true wheel or for riding home if you break a spoke.

According to the book Bicycle Science the shimano DA brake pad material is the best in wet or dry condidtions.

but it's not clear that your book is talking about DA brake pads from the single-pivot era (probably 20-year-old pads)

According to the book Bicycle Science the shimano DA brake pad material is the best in wet or dry condidtions.
What is the copywrite date on your reference? I agree Shimano's pads work well but the Kool Stop Salmon pads do also and, in my experience, somewhat better. I wonder if the book predates the Kool Stops.

I'm running single sivot brakes on one of my nicer road bikes. 105's from the early 1990's. They stop fine. The slight difference in mechanical advantage has two effects:
1. takes more hand pressure to lock up the wheel
2. the pads can sit a bit wider apart and thus give more space for an out-of-true wheel or for riding home if you break a spoke.

I had a beautiful set of Chorus Monoplaner brakes on one of my bikes. I'm 150lbs on a good day. They worked fine for me. My 230lb brother could get the bike to stop. That's when I became a firm believer in dual pivot brakes. They really are better.

What is the copywrite date on your reference? I agree Shimano's pads work well but the Kool Stop Salmon pads do also and, in my experience, somewhat better. I wonder if the book predates the Kool Stops.

If you think the koolstops stop well, especially in wet weather you really should try the green swissstops. I really have it against shimano "dura" compatible pads with the performance degrading "plow tip" feature.

I really have it against shimano "dura" compatible pads with the performance degrading "plow tip" feature.

Kool stop is coming out with "Dura Type II" pads soon, it's a thicker insert with no plow tip.

No more razorblades. To say I am looking forward to them is an understatement.

I found some nice cond used shimano ultegra sl calipers for 60$

I found some nice cond used shimano ultegra sl calipers for 60$
You are golden. Those should be very good calipers and the price is fair.