I'm getting very frustrated with my C&V rides at the moment and much of it is related to the sidepull brakes.

All of my bikes have them and they will.not.stay.centred no matter what I do. What happens is they end up rubbing after I use them once. Grr. My Superbe is the worst offender - those brakes have to be the worst design ever. I tighten the nut a LOT, but I seems as though the system is rather imperfect (fitted metal washer-thing against head tube) as it allows for some degree of working. I am dreaming up solutions such as some sort of non-slip washer (shelf liner? ) between the frame and the brake. Is this hare-brained?

Right now, all I can do is have the cable adjusted very loose, which is pretty awful. I actually dreamed of canti brakes the other night and am seriously thinking that I should get some sort of everyday bike that has them.

Halp!