Originally Posted by
Flog00
I wish I could see a close up of the brakes. What is the front cable hanger? It is really nice.
The brake cable hanger is made by
Problem Solvers.
I don't have other pics of the brakes, except for this one from the back:
They are Paul Components' Touring Canti Brakes. This is what they look like from the front. I don't think you can find better canti brakes aesthetically/functionally speaking.
still deciding between canti or disc.
I have another touring bike. On that one I went with Avid BB7. The stopping power and modulation are just amazing on those brakes. Having said that, I feel that one loses a lot of nice ride qualities by going with a disc-braked fork. The fork crown and blades need to be made of much stiffer, beefier and often of heavier materials. This translates into a ride that is not so lively (i.e., springy) compared to a fork made for rim brakes. If aesthetics and ride quality is big in your priority list (when not touring), I think you'll be happier with rim brakes while still maintaining very good function. If you want the absolute best stopping power while giving up significantly on aesthetics and ride quality, then disc brakes is the way to go. Speak to your builder, though, as he might have some interesting ideas.
My disc-braked Touring Bike:
