Cyclocross - Good Low-Profile Cantilever?

I have a 2012 Specialized Crux Elite. I love it, but one thing is annoying me. The bike, on both the front and rear, has Tektro CR-720 canti brakes. These, from the two weeks I've used them, seem like good brakes. Good stopping power, well-made, etc. I have one qualm. I find that, when dismounting the Crux, the rear cantilever jabs into me. I know that this is normal, but it is very annoying and distracting. What would you recommend I get, in the low-profile genre of cantilever brakes, for around 20-30 dollars each? Is there a low-profile version of the CR-720? I would also like it if the brakes took v-brake pads or caliper pads. I have had trouble with traditional cantilever post pads in the past.

For a rear brake you can use just about anything. I've got Avid Shorty 4's on two bikes and Shimano BR550's on another. The spring tension on the Shimanos is either absurdly low or way too high (depending on whether I use the top or middle mounting hole), but I suspect this isn't normal for these brakes -- I got them on a used bike. The Shorty's are very basic -- not inspiring but powerful enough for a rear brake. I have the old ones that were L-shaped rather than triangular. Tektro Oryx and Cane Creek SCR-whaatever are very similar. I've never hit my leg on any of these.

These are my favorite rear brake to pair with the 720's in front.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyG49gxcU6-gbAljmniWPGE0NrbH8sxIlXvYTH_q7gJAx1s3VxTw

Tektro 710 looks like a good narrow angle match to your 720;
http://tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=156&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

That is a new one. Looks good.

Tektro 710 looks like a good narrow angle match to your 720;
http://tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=156&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

Those look nice... probably meant as a companion to the 720. As they're new, I can't find them online. I might be able to go through my shop, and/or wait a couple weeks, which I'd probably end up doing anyway... funds and time and stuff. Thanks! :thumb:

Is there a low-profile version of the CR-720?
720 is a specific product number ..
in addition to the aforementioned there is the 992A, too ..
several other brands , as well like BR550 Shimano, but sticking to Tektro

http://tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=51&sortname=Cyclocross&sort=2&fid=3

lots more :
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/cyclocross-brakes

720 is a specific product number ..
I know that... I think that the 710 is basically what I meant. Like a companion piece to the 720. Very similar in design, except it has a slightly different shape.

Tektro 710 looks like a good narrow angle match to your 720;
http://tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=156&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

I'm not convinced they exist. Someone posted a link like that here about six months ago. I still haven't seen one for sale.

I'm not convinced they exist. Someone posted a link like that here about six months ago. I still haven't seen one for sale.
That's odd. They look promising. Why would they do that?

That's odd. They look promising. Why would they do that?

Actually, I did find that they are stock items on at least one bike (Masi SS CX). It could be that they just haven't ramped up production enough to sell them by after market yet.

I wish they would add a barrel adjuster to the 720's like the 710's.

I would suggest the Avid Shorty Ultimates, I have them (both in the narrow configuration) on my GF Presidio... by far the best cantilever I have ever used... worth every penny. BUT, your $20-30 limit rules those completely out.

The Avid Shorty 6's that I had on the bike worked pretty good and were low-pro too... I can sell you mine??

That's odd. They look promising. Why would they do that?

The computer industry calls it "vaporware". Mmmm, vaporware...

It's meant to draw attention to them so investors will get excited about pumping money into the business. This, however is likely a matter of OEMs depleting their stock since the 2012s are just coming out. I'd bet that they'll be available within the month once their stocks rise. Ask your LBS if QBP is stocking them. That'll be the easiest way to get them.

There's always the Avid Shorty 4, which is apparently somehow different from the Shorty 6 but I can't figure out how. Got 'em on my 2003 Jake the Snake; they do the job asked.

I have some old cantilever ST brakes. They're super low profile but they do take the old school post pads (not even the screw on ones). You could look for those on Ebay and they're really not that much of a pain to set up with Kool Stop's salmon mountain pads and have good stopping power, but the major flaw is the spring retaining thing on the back is plastic and the hole expands easily meaning it's difficult to change which hole the spring is in without complete disassembly (which is why I'm probably going to get rid of mine before too much longer).

IRD cafams have been pretty good to me on my SSCX, they are a bit more expensive and only come in polished silver which may be a deal breaker. I like to think of CR720 front/cafam rear as the poor man's Paul :)

I noticed that the Crux models that we had at our lbs had 720's in the front and a different pair on the rear, not sure of the model as they were a house brand, but they're simliar to the Onyx brakes. Not a great brake, but they have the extra clearance.

one advantage the ones like TRP Euro X offer , as a short arm but higher profile type 1,
is rim clearance
low profile are need ing tighther clearance to the rim for crisp braking. like V brakes,
another type 2 lever [fulcrum on the end]

now those offer the adjuster,on one end of the link cable.
Velo Orange even has one they got made, where they ovalized the arm,
so shoe-post clamping bolt moves up and down a bit , allowing
for brazing error on sighting the post fitting on the frames.