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Newb Question about Canti's and Swapping Wheels

Old 02-09-12, 09:54 PM
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Newb Question about Canti's and Swapping Wheels

Hi all. I just got my first cross bike with canti's. I also have a second wheelset to use for road duties. The second wheelset is more narrow than what is currently on the bike.

Am I going to have to adjust the canti's for the smaller width wheels? If so, is it just a matter adjusting the pads in a bit?

Sorry for the dumb qustion, I am more used to disc's and v-brakes.

Thanks for any input!!!
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Old 02-09-12, 09:56 PM
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how much more narrow are we talking? .5"? .005"?
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Old 02-09-12, 10:01 PM
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The current rims measure 22mm and the thinner rims are 18mm at the brake surface
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Old 02-09-12, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by EatWorkRide
The current rims measure 22mm and the thinner rims are 18mm at the brake surface
the barrel adjuster should be able to remove that much difference.
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Old 02-09-12, 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth_Firebolt
the barrel adjuster should be able to remove that much difference.

Thanks for the help! I didn't even think of that.
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Old 02-09-12, 11:52 PM
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Cantilevers are very senstive to adjustment. You will likely end up with braking power differences per wheelset; which a single barrel adjuster will not be able to compensate - gap between pad and rim is only one of several factors in cantilever adjustment. The others will end up being less than ideal if not adjusted for the different wheels.

Some nicer cantilever brakes use dual barrel adjusters, one up on the brake lever as traditional, a second one down on the straddle wire itself (horizontally). One of these would allow better compensation for your 2nd wheelset without needing to pull out a wrench.
examples off top of my head; TRP Eurox, Avid Ultimate Canti, Tektro CR710 (not 720)
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Old 02-09-12, 11:55 PM
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You can try adjusting the brakes so they're really tight on the wider wheels, so hopefully you can take out the slack on the narrow wheels with the barrel adjuster.

Good luck, adjusting brakes when swapping wheels is a PITA and always feels like a waste of time.
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Old 02-10-12, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Darth_Firebolt
the barrel adjuster should be able to remove that much difference.
The barrel adjust can take up the cable slack, but it doesn't account for the change in how the pads will contact the rim.

the pads will hit lower on the narrower rim or hit higher on the wider rim, depending on which the brakes were tuned with.

the pads don't have to be adjusted, but do keep in mind they will wear at an angle that will not match with the other rim.
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Old 02-10-12, 12:57 AM
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you talking rim width or tire width?
if the pad hits the rim square on. then its OK,
if not, you need to change the pad post adjustment
in the brake caliper, to make it so.

Last edited by fietsbob; 02-10-12 at 01:01 AM.
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