Originally Posted by
seeker333
Canti brakes are unlikely to disappear. They can work pretty good for their weight, they are compatible with standard drop bar levers and brifters, they have good fender clearance and are one of the least expensive brakes to manufacture.
Tourers have been using cantis for a long time & discs are still sort of new for touring. But I think more & more casual cyclists will see discs as a 'cool' feature & it might become de rigeur like 21-24 speed derailleur systems. Increasing production for casual cyclists will make discs cheaper for tourers who will start to think discs should be included on a $1,000+ bike. QBP Surly & Salsa making disc tourers & since they're huge seems like smaller companies will eventually go along.
BB7s are simple to install, setup and maintain - it's as easy as any brake, and for many owners easier than rim brakes. The Torx wrench required for install is included in the retail package, or you could buy a size T25 torx wrench/driver/bit set at any Lowes/Home Depot/hardware store (everyone needs a set of Torx wrenches nowadays). A torque wrench is not required for installation, and I've never needed a vice for disc brakes. Here's all you need to know about BB7 brakes:
Thanks for those links. Have Torx bits...a lot of bike component installation manuals include torque specs...IMHO that's helpful but usually a torque wrench not necessary per se.
Straight steel forks transmit more road shock to the bicyclist than more traditional steel forks with a bend. You'll notice this if you swap bikes back and forth, even with large tires.
Even for bikes with straight forks that "rake" forward? Comparing straight vs curved is dicey since it usually involves different frames. Lots of MTB & road racing frames with straight forks. Straight-fork MTB's usually have suspension though & road racing frames not of course optimized for comfort anyway. But apples vs apples, ie a curved-fork steel frame vs a steel straight-fork frame with same overall fork rake (or trail?), wheelbase etc? Not that I'm disputing you but I never quite accepted that the fork curve was what provided the flex. In the "old days" it was simply easier for frame builders/tube makers to bend forks than to use fork crowns with special angles.