Classic & Vintage - Brake Shoe replacements for C&V Bikes?

I want to switch out the brake shoes on my wife's Trek Elance and my Motobecane with Kool Stops. The Motobecane - no problem: Weinmann centerpulls, tons of fork & stay clearance, I can throw anything in there (but I'd like to keep the C&V character if at all possible). The Elance has Shimano sidepulls and a bit racier geometry where I don't think I can get a shoe between the fork and rim. So, is there a Kool Stop pad that will fit the old school, rectangular holders on both my wife's Shimano and my Weinmann brakes? Lacking that, are the newer styled, Dura-Ace type holders much longer than the old rectangular holders (put otherwise, are they short enough that they won't encroach on my wife's fork)? Hope that isn't too confusing of a request. thanks.

Kool Stop Continentals fit my DiaCompe 500G sidepulls perfectly. Just made the switch last week and WOW, I can actually stop now. Makes a huge difference.

I saw those Continentals, but was hoping there was and answer that involved a holder for easier switch-outs further on down the road.

It's not an easy decision when one tries to decide whether to update brake pads/holders on C&V brakesets as a lot of them have design that look and sometimes function proprietary to the calipers. The braking improvement from more modern brake pad cpompounds will certainly be appreciated, but it's disheartening when one pays hundreds of dollars for a "grail" brakeset for a special C&V bike and then cannot use the pads and holders (sometimes with distinct wheel guide designs) it came with originally because they are either worn out or age hardened or the pads never worked very well from day 1 (Hello Modolo sintered pads). It also does not help when the most recommended replacement pads are usually a lurid orange color too......blechh..
JMOs

Chombi

I pick these up whenever they're on ebay for a fair price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260764983013?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1016wt_907

I was tempted by those too, but, fair price it aint.

50 bucks for brake shoes? does that come with a free massage or something

50 bucks for brake shoes? does that come with a free massage or something


$40. with free shipping for 4, the usual price. I like to stop.

I saw those Continentals, but was hoping there was and answer that involved a holder for easier switch-outs further on down the road.

Not sure I follow this line of reasoning. I use Kool Stop Continentals on several of my vintage bikes. When brake pads get worn and I need to switch them out, I unbolt the old pads and bolt in new pads. It's fast and not difficult to accomplish

Not sure I follow this line of reasoning. I use Kool Stop Continentals on several of my vintage bikes. When brake pads get worn and I need to switch them out, I unbolt the old pads and bolt in new pads. It's fast and not difficult to accomplish

I guess I'm just lazy. With a holder I can switch out a pad and not have to worry about readjusting the position, toe-in, etc.

I pick these up whenever they're on ebay for a fair price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260764983013?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1016wt_907

Did you know that Kool Stop now makes replacement pads for almost all Campagnolo holders and that they cost about $8.00 a set ?

I value stopping more than I do aesthetics so if it comes down to a choice between the two you will find my bikes using Kool Stops... nice that I can now refill the pile of Campag holders I have with salmon pads and that I can also do the same with Mafac centre pulls.

Did you know that Kool Stop now makes replacement pads for almost all Campagnolo holders and that they cost about $8.00 a set ?

I plan on installing the campy or dura holders on my Moto - no clearance issues. The Elance on the other hand is a bit sportier, and there is maybe a centimeter behind the front (blocky) brake pad before you hit fork (which doesn't have that much tire clearance) - are the Campy or Dura holders that much longer than the big rectangular blocks that I may run into clearance issues?

Edit: I just saw what old Campy brake holders go for on e-bay. Yow!

I value stopping more than I do aesthetics ....

Why Kool Stop cannot manufacture shoes that satisfy both requirements eludes me.
If they made Mathauser/Weinmann type shoes they probably could not make enough of them.

Why Kool Stop cannot manufacture shoes that satisfy both requirements eludes me.
If they made Mathauser/Weinmann type shoes they probably could not make enough of them.

Those might be next on their list of replacements for vintage brake shoes... they are a very forward thinking company.

Send them an email and ask if they will consider this.

On a similar note, does anyone know of a modern source for Dia-Comp 981 cantilever replacement pads? For example, the ones found on Schwinn Voyageurs. The stock assembly has a smooth post mounted dead center to the pad holder. All the replacements I've come across have been offset mounts. I've adapted but it would be nice to get back to the more classic look.

I do note that Koolstop also makes Campy-style replacement pads in black, don't they? I wrote that guy selling the shoes with salmon pads on ebay to ask if the shoes will accept slide-in replacement pads. Nope. Not unless you bend/break out one end of the shoe.

Why Kool Stop cannot manufacture shoes that satisfy both requirements eludes me.
If they made Mathauser/Weinmann type shoes they probably could not make enough of them.

Go to the ebay ad linked above. It states that they ARE made by Kool Stop, under contract to Mathauser/Weinmann. Or perhaps MADE and no longer are. In any event, they seem to work very well and have a huge following.

I pick these up whenever they're on ebay for a fair price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260764983013?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1016wt_907

I put a set of Scott-Mathauser on my '74 Alex SiNGER in 1983 and still have them on the bike. Plenty of life left in them.

Did you know that Kool Stop now makes replacement pads for almost all Campagnolo holders and that they cost about $8.00 a set ?


Yeah, but these come in a holder and I can use them on my Universals, Weinmanns, Ballias...

It appears that Yokozuna is now making the Matthauser-styled pads.

Did you know that Kool Stop now makes replacement pads for almost all Campagnolo holders and that they cost about $8.00 a set ?

$8??

I just paid $23 for 4 pads. Bummer.

I plan on installing the campy or dura holders on my Moto - no clearance issues. The Elance on the other hand is a bit sportier, and there is maybe a centimeter behind the front (blocky) brake pad before you hit fork (which doesn't have that much tire clearance) - ...
.

I assume you meant millimeter? If so, have you tried adding another brake washer between the brake and fork crown?

Yeah, but these come in a holder and I can use them on my Universals, Weinmanns, Ballias...

I know. I want these for my Uni 61's. They're hard to find so I guess that's why he asks so much for them.

Where can one get Kool Stop inserts for 8 bucks Sixty Fiver ?????