Originally Posted by SkyDog75

A caliper in front paired with a cantilever brake in the rear will work just fine. You can use the same kind of lever for both as well since cantis and calipers generally have compatible cable pull ratios.

As John mentioned above, front and rear brakes typically feel a little different, even if they're the exact same kind of brake. The front generally has shorter, more direct cable routing with less housing, so it'll have a more 'precise' feel for lack of a better description.



Any particular reason? The pros may not outweigh the cons.

Pros:

• Slightly stiffer.
• Greater selection of stems that'll take a 31.8 mm handlebar (if you want one).

Cons:

• Requires a different headset.
• May require different brakes.
• Caliper brakes will reduce fender clearance, and fenders are typically used for touring.
• Threadless forks with 1" steerer tubes aren't common, thus selection is limited.
• Selection is limited for 1" threadless stems as well.
• This last point is just personal preference, but threadless stems on old steel bikes generally look clunky.