Cyclocross - Which Brakes to Use?

have a Cross-Check frame that I am rebuilding. The frame was checked to see if it was straight, then it was stripped, primed, painted with a custom paint, cleared and new decals applied.

I want decent cantis on the bike but do not have a lot to spend. I have seen the Tektro 720's for $40 for the set and Origin8 Wide Profile cantis (BRC439) for $50 a set. Is one set better than the other, or is it just personal preference?

These are the components I am using for now.

Dura-Ace 10 Spd brifters (I believe they are 7800's)
Tektro RL721 Cyclocross brake levers
FSA Wing Pro Road Bars
FSA Stem
Ultegra 6603 front triple
Ultegra 6600 10 speed rear
Ultegra 6500 52/39 crank W/M.E.C Chainrings
9 Speed SRAM cassette and chain
Shimano Cantis (Older)
Kool-Stop pads
Shimano 600 Hubs w/ aluminum QR
Alexrims R390 semi-aero rims
Specialized Infinity 32c x 700 directional tires
Jagwire brake and derailleur cables and housings

I know this is a bit of a mash-up, but I got the best I could afford.

I also have these other components...
FSA Gossamer triple crank
LX Mega 9 rear - RD-M571
LX Mega 9 Triple front - FD-M570
LX 9 speed Brifters - ST-M580
Specialized riser bar
Carbon stem
Avid Single Digit 7 brakes

Now I see the Cross-Check as a commuter and as a cyclocross bike, but has anyone ever built one as a hybrid?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly/Picture006.jpg

Ian

I have both sets of brakes and they both work very well. For ease of setup I would chose the tektro's. I got the Origin8's so I could use the barrel adjuster (purchased separately) for wheel changes on the race bike.

The Tektro's are good when finely tuned, but like all cantis take a good while to set up for their best performance. Expect a good half hour or more if you are not used to working with them.

wait, how are you using 10spd DA shifters with a 9 speed cassette? isn't spacing off?

I have both sets of brakes and they both work very well. For ease of setup I would chose the tektro's. I got the Origin8's so I could use the barrel adjuster (purchased separately) for wheel changes on the race bike.
do the brakes have a barrel adjuster on them or did you add one somewhere else? I have one adjuster on my cross levers but if I could add a second, it might make it easier for me to adjust the brakes when switching wheels (which are 2-3mm difference in width).

I added one to the straddle cable for wheel changes. Jagwire was a set for about $15.

wait, how are you using 10spd DA shifters with a 9 speed cassette? isn't spacing off?
I thought it would be, but it shifts fine. I am looking for a 10 speed cassette and chain.

Sweet! Another blue Cross Check!

Here's mine:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4495732404_1cc4a8e0c3_z.jpg

I had the Tektro CR720 brake on the front when I took this picture. I've since replaced it with an Avid Single Digit 7 with Travel Agent. I highly recommend this setup for non-racing applications. Without even thinking about setup you can get braking power equal to what you'd have after many hours of fiddling with cantis.

If your 9/10 speed mismatch is working but you didn't expect it to, you probably inadvertly stumbled on the alternate cable routing (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#alternate). If you get a 10-speed cassette, you'll need to fix that.

I am running the fsa slk cantis, got them new off ebay for 60.00. They are incredible for stopping power. I have run the tecktro orynx, euro x and origin8 pro force. None of them even compared. Plus they even come with a adjuster built in, so switching different wheelsets is a breeze.

Sweet! Another blue Cross Check!

Here's mine:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4495732404_1cc4a8e0c3_z.jpg

I had the Tektro CR720 brake on the front when I took this picture. I've since replaced it with an Avid Single Digit 7 with Travel Agent. I highly recommend this setup for non-racing applications. Without even thinking about setup you can get braking power equal to what you'd have after many hours of fiddling with cantis.

If your 9/10 speed mismatch is working but you didn't expect it to, you probably inadvertly stumbled on the alternate cable routing (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#alternate). If you get a 10-speed cassette, you'll need to fix that.

Nice blue CC. I have a set of Avid Single Digit 7's on another bike that I am not using. I wanted to use the 7's but couldn't find travel agents here in Montreal, I also didn't know if they would work well.

I did try the alternate cable routing, but I can't remember if it worked or not. I looked at the bike now and the routing is normal, I have no idea why i switched it back.

I wouldn't bother messing with TAs until you have tried a fork mounted hanger for your cantis...