Cyclocross - centerpulls vs. v-brakes w/TravelAgent or new STI levers

this is actually for a folding bike, but I figured the canti experts are on this forum...

I want to use drop bars with 406 wheels. on the Xootr Swift frame, there are bosses that mount cantis at the right height for 406s. I am wondering whether I should use the stock v-brakes with the TravelAgent pull adapter vs. just mounting centerpull brakes on those bosses.

I love the performance of the V-Brakes, but I have heard mixed reviews of TravelAgent (some great, some lousy). Centerpulls seem to be all over the place, but if willing to shell out $ for, say, Shorty Avid Ultimates, performance should be good. I'm a Clyde & so need all the stopping power I can get.

Lastly, I heard a rumor that newer Shimano STI levers are compatible with V-Brakes. this folder happens to be using some brand-new Tiagra levers, so I suppose I could try that first and see what happens. Any insights there?

What you really want is the new TRP mini-V's.

They work great and are a piece of forged and machined art.

Absolutely love them. They killed all the fork chatter under braking I had, super easy to setup and just work great.

No reason to mess around with canti's or any adapter thingies.

- Z

If the v-brakes with travel agents come standard on the bike I'd try that before sinking money into it. Likely, if the revues have been so bipolar, it's a matter of adjustment or pads that are the problem. I haven't heard anything bad about the T-As. If you find that you don't like the stock setup, the TRP mini-V's are definitely the way to go. Since it sounds like you don't have to worry about mud, you don't need to think about the clearances that cantis have.

What you really want is the new TRP mini-V's.

They work great and are a piece of forged and machined art.

Absolutely love them. They killed all the fork chatter under braking I had, super easy to setup and just work great.

No reason to mess around with canti's or any adapter thingies.

- Z


If the v-brakes with travel agents come standard on the bike I'd try that before sinking money into it. Likely, if the revues have been so bipolar, it's a matter of adjustment or pads that are the problem. I haven't heard anything bad about the T-As. If you find that you don't like the stock setup, the TRP mini-V's are definitely the way to go. Since it sounds like you don't have to worry about mud, you don't need to think about the clearances that cantis have.

Are there the Mini V's you suggest? http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=55&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

The CX-9s were the ones that I was thinking of, but the RX-6s seem to be a less expensive version.

The CX-9s were the ones that I was thinking of, but the RX-6s seem to be a less expensive version.

Just looking at the site, I see they have a CX 8.4 now also, which is supposed to work better with SRAM and Campagnolo levers. The difference between the CX-9 and the CX-8.4, apart from appearance, seems to be arm length (90 vs 84 mm). This is interesting because the one complain I've read about the CX-9's is that they're too powerful (which I take to mean they lack modulation). The shorter arm should take care of that. Coming back around to the Tektro branded brakes, the RX-5 has an 85 mm arm while the RX-6 has a 90 mm arm. There's also a Tektro BMX mini-V which has an 80 mm arm.

So, for SRAM or Campagnolo (and possibly older Shimano), the CX-5 may be better than the CX-6. Curiously, the claimed weight is lower for the Tekro branded mini-V's than the TRP's. The TRP's definitely look nicer and have built-in barrel adjusters, but one would hope the extra money also gets you a stiffer brake.

Are there the Mini V's you suggest? http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=55&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

I have the TRP 8.4s, which (in theory) should allow a bit more pad clearance and less power than the 9s. In any event, they are great. And plenty of power to put the bike on its nose.

You'll love them.