Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
Would this possibly be why those really out of place 600 cantilevers showed up? A need for off-road brakes, but not really the right group to put them in?
The 600 cantilevers brakes date back to the 1976 model year. At this time 600 was considered a mid-range road and touring group. To accommodate the tourers, the offerings included the cantilever brakeset, a long cage rear derailleur which could handle up to a 34T cog and a three bolt, double crankset with a 95mm BCD that could handle a 30T chainring. While the wide range gearing is certainly appropriate for off-road riding, this pre-dates the arrival of commercial ATBs. Shimano advertisements of the era clearly emphasize the group's touring suitability, though I don't have one showing the cantilever brake option.
