Banzai

Just a thought as I was looking at some new bikes the other day; why spec cantilever brakes on anything anymore?

I think everyone will acknowledge the inferiority of cantis to every brake out there, save for old spoon brakes.

Given the ubiquity of discs, and their ever greater affordability, not to mention all the mini-v offerings, I just don't understand why a 2015 built bike has cantilever brakes.

Why do it? No good reason save for nostalgia.

dr_lha

Cantis for touring: They're mechanically simple, easy to fix (especially compared to discs), take standard brake pads.

Cantis for CX: Again, they're simple, lighter than disc brakes and have better rim clearance than mini-Vs (important if you're going through a lot of mud).

That said, I just bought a set of mini-Vs to go on my new CX/Gravel frame, because cantis can be such a pain in the ass to set up, and I plan to mainly use it for gravel/pavement riding.

Banzai

I might buy that for touring, I suppose, but only as a nod towards retro-grouchery. The number of zero - maintenance miles on my BB7s would have taken me on one truly epic tour, which would still be going. AND, the pads are so small and light that they would not be a burden to pack.

For CX, not even. Everyone has pit bikes, spares, etc. And the cantilever may clear more than the v, but not the disc.

There's just no reason for a NEW manufactured frame to be built with them. I think it's time for the slow extinction.

This, despite my ownership of a canti equipped Ritchey Breakaway cross.

Of course, that bike is now running mini-v brakes.

mstateglfr 

Cantis work really well and are simple. In my limited experience, good working cantis are cheaper than, work better than, and require less maintenance than entry disc.

...but I admittedly lean towards older frames and ride what I mix and match and build. I wont have a need for disc brakes until about 2035 at this rate.

Banzai

I once read on this forum a funny phrase about the order of brakes by stopping power. Listed from first to worst, they are:
Discs.
V- brakes
Prayer.
Cantilever.

dr_lha

Based on my experiences of fork judder and squealing brake pads, I'm inclined to agree with you. I'm too invested in wheelsets to go disc right now, so mini-Vs will do.

Banzai

I'd say back when the entry level offering was the Bb5, and the better the BB7, you would be right. But the options are multiplying now with UCI adoption across cx and road disciplines.

(In response to mstateglfr above. I should have quoted.)

fietsbob

Magura HS33 is the best brake I've put on V/Cantilever brake posts.

The Hydraulic MTB Rim Brake, Made in Germany..

NB >> "a bad mechanic blames his tools" <<

I'm Good at adjusting my brakes ,, Not all are.


but the gravel bike as a special niche is newly invented , so you can make up your mind on your own .

dr_lha

What are they though? They're not cantilever brakes in any traditional sense. V-brakes maybe?

bikemig 

That was written by someone who is clueless about setting up canti brakes.

fietsbob

Closest would be the badly received parallel push V that Shimano tried but had all those pivot pins loosen up over time.

My older tour rig has Scott-Peterson SE F&R, my self built Frame has Mafac cantilevers ,

My Cross bike has Spooky made cantilevers now and Modolo cross cantilevers before that ..

79pmooney

I rode down Alba Rd into Santa Cruz on Mafac cantis in a winter Pacific storm, pouring rain and rivers of water running across the road. First two miles I one fingered the brakes. (It drops 2000' in 4 miles and is very windy.) The last half was two fingers. I still ride that bike, often loaded from the farmers market and in the Portland rain. Every time I ride it, I am reminded that the brakes are really good.

I hear how bad cantis are regularly. The two I have used were designed in the 1950s (Mafac) and early '80s? (Shimano OEMs). Some of the better stoppers I have owned (and unlike dual pivots, a lot fewer unpleasant surprises like unintended lock-up).

Ben

Rollfast

Then again, I never liked cables (always breaking) and had a tendency to mess derailleurs up because I had no idea how to maintain one...hence I am the old single speed, vintage bike person with coaster brakes.

As you prefer, do.

mstateglfr 

Sure, and this could explain my opinion since its admittedly based on disc brakes Ive seen and ridden on entry level bikes. I havent found a desire to change since what Ive seen and tried has been on the low end of the spectrum.
But I just havent come across a time when I have felt unsure of braking with cantis. You wanna talk about unsure braking- thatd be an '80 Schwinn Voyageur fully loaded with panniers and pulling a WeeHoo while braking with single pull DiaCompe G calipers.
I may accept cantis since they brake better than some other offerings I use(d).


If I commuted daily in the PNW where wet conditions are a common occurrence, I would probably look into disc options. But I ride for fun, so its in decent-good weather and cantis stop me.

flargle

Lordt this again.

Maybe cantis will go away when people stop winning world championships with them.

corrado33

I love cantilever brakes. Especially when you use the y type link wires. V brakes sometimes mess up the flow of the bike since they aren't symmetrical. (That's my way of saying that I like the look of cantis better.)

I have cantis on a few of my bikes, they work great!

Not only that, but V brakes break much more easily than canties. I can't tell you how many of the v brake cradles I've seen that have been pulled through because the person squeezed the brakes too hard. (Meaning it won't "cradle" the noodle anymore therefore the brakes don't work.) Sure, it's an easy fix, but it'll just happen again. Not to mention the noodles SUCK. Every single used one is hard as heck to push a cable through. It's much better just to buy new ones.

And lastly, cantis use standard pull levers, therefore making it the go to upgrade from a sidepull brake to a better brake. If you went to V brakes you'd need new levers.

cs1

Agreed, I never had a problem setting up Canti's. While they do not stop as good as disc they're not bad. If you're not heavy or don't ride in rain, they work great. Even wet they still stop OK.

bikemig 

+ 1.

aggiegrads

I choose cantis over mini-Vs because cantis have plenty of clearance to clear light mounts, fenders, etc. I have two bikes with Cantis that work as well as I need them to (and I have have a bike with hydraulic discs), and I live and commute year round in the PNW.

My one bike with mini-Vs (my CX race rig) barely has sufficient clearance for thin mud; thick mud clogs the works pretty quickly.

BluesDawg

Nothing at all against disc brakes, but cantis work just fine. Some people have trouble setting them up correctly, but the same can be said for disc brakes. I suppose in extreme conditions, hydraulic discs have more total braking power and better modulation, but not that much in most situations I've experienced in gravel riding. I'm fine with cantis, calipers, mechanical discs or hydro discs on a gravel bike. Cantis sure are quieter than discs on a cold, rainy day or on a wet road with muddy water spraying up on the wheels and disc calipers as you ride.

gugie 

You've all got it wrong.

Centerpulls with brazed on posts uber alles.

handsthatcatch

I've had a few bikes with cantis and two with disc. The discs are way easier to adjust correctly, stop dead in PNW rain, and allow for full frame clearance of fenders. The only thing I dislike is the crazy squeal I can't seem to get rid of on the front of both bikes. Then again, I've had cantis that squeal as well, but not like howling banshees in a pack of javelina on a full moon.

Banzai

Didn't Lennard Zinn give up and go to mini-vs? That says a lot.

And, a poor mechanic blames his tools; true. However, the analogy is incomplete. I CAN set up cantilevers to work fine, but it takes a lot of time, and minute adjustments. (Which also shoots down the simplicity argument.) Anyhow, a good mechanic doesn't keep working with crappy tools on purpose, even if he can make them work. A good mechanic is willing to trade up for better tools.

In a fraction of the time, I can set up discs or Vs to achieve, at a minimum, equal results. Most days better.

I understand why folks with canti equipped bikes don't want to change their gear. I just don't get why they are still on a 2015 built bike.

Kopsis

Because some of us see value in being able to use one wheelset across several bikes. My Powertap wheelset can be used on my road bike (which I have zero intention of replacing with a disc version) or my two canti equipped CX bikes. The cantis work beautifully (modulate much better than any mini-Vs I've tried) and once set up (which doesn't take that much effort) don't need any maintenance until it's time to change pads.

Cptimagine

Hahahaha..... maybe then, but I doubt it .