Road Cycling - Long vs. Short Reach Brake Caliper?

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jakuman
08-17-04, 09:48 PM
I just bought a nice used aluminum frame road bike with 105 components all around--my first real road bike and I'm thrilled to have it. The only thing about it is that it came with some crap old-school brakes that just don't do the job. On the listings for 105 calipers, I see listings with "short reach" and "long reach"--I can guess what that means, but how do I know which I will need for what I have?

bmph8ter
08-17-04, 10:04 PM
They should also list the reach in mm. You would just need to measure you current ones and order the reach you need. Reach is measured from the center of the caliper mounting hole to the center of the braking surface on the rim.
August Spies
08-17-04, 10:45 PM
On a related note, I've got an old ten-speed (20-30 years old) which could REALLY use a break upgrade...is there any possibility of getting modern breaks with enough reach?

Gonzo Bob
08-18-04, 05:33 AM
Maybe. It depends on how much reach you need. Shimano makes "long" reach dual pivot calipers. I put "long" in quotes because I believe they are really "standard" reach (47-57mm). If you need true long reach calipers (>55mm), you are probably SOL.
sydney
08-18-04, 07:15 AM
If you need true long reach calipers (>55mm), you are probably SOL.They are available.Check the QBP.