Trek touring bike, needs more braking power
06-08-12, 01:01 PM
#1
enginerd
Thread Starter
Trek touring bike, needs more braking power
I've got an 83 Trek touring frame, built with Campy 9speed. Great bike, but the original single-pivot Dia Compe brakes aren't really cutting it for me. They are long reach, and I have 700x38s on it currently. Part of the problem is I have the pads scooted all the way down, reducing mech. advantage. I think it may have originally been a 27in bike? Hard to say.
Anyone used the long reach velo orange brakes (dual pivot)? Are they any more powerful than the tektros?
Anyone used the long reach velo orange brakes (dual pivot)? Are they any more powerful than the tektros?
06-08-12, 01:11 PM
#2
Carpe Velo
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I used to have one of those. Don't know why they decided to put dia comp sidepulls on a touring bike. I'd suggest some form of centerpull brake and maybe upgraded brake pads. That's what I did with mine.
Yes, it originally came with 27" wheels.
Yes, it originally came with 27" wheels.
06-08-12, 01:12 PM
#3
)) <> ((
Cheapest option: try new (good) pads and work on the adjustment.
Next cheapest: new Tektro aero levers.
Most expensive: new brakes. Those VO brakes should be some of the nicest ones made. They are probably better than the Tektros, but probably not a whole lot better.
Next cheapest: new Tektro aero levers.
Most expensive: new brakes. Those VO brakes should be some of the nicest ones made. They are probably better than the Tektros, but probably not a whole lot better.
06-08-12, 01:18 PM
#5
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Ditto, I used to have an '83 620 which I changed to the long reach Tektro dual pivots with Kool Stop pads. Worked great.
06-08-12, 01:23 PM
#6
自転車整備士
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I switched the D/C 500G's on my '83 Trek 620 to a pair of Shimano 600 Arabesque brake calipers. I also have 700's
on this bike, and the brakes have a little more pad adjustment than the D/C's did. I can lock up the rear wheel easily, and
the bike stops very quickly.
You might want to try pads 1st just to see if they alone will increase your braking performance.
on this bike, and the brakes have a little more pad adjustment than the D/C's did. I can lock up the rear wheel easily, and
the bike stops very quickly.
You might want to try pads 1st just to see if they alone will increase your braking performance.
06-08-12, 02:11 PM
#7
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Depending on intended use, you might also consider having cantilever braze-ons added to the frame so you can run cantilevers or V brakes instead of sidepull or centerpulls. Cantilevers can be particularly usefull to provide clearance for big tires + fenders.
06-08-12, 02:23 PM
#8
enginerd
Thread Starter
Thanks all. I think I'll try the tektros. The V-O brakes are so pretty but this isn't a wall-hanger, it's a grocery-getting, boardwalk-burning everday bike.
I'll be glad to no longer have to watch those front brake arms flex at stoplights. It also doesn't help that the campy xenon levers are flexy-flexy. Ah well, the price was right!
bike in question:
I'll be glad to no longer have to watch those front brake arms flex at stoplights. It also doesn't help that the campy xenon levers are flexy-flexy. Ah well, the price was right!
bike in question:
06-08-12, 04:03 PM
#9
curmudgineer
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Depending on how adverse you are to spending a significant amount of money, how much you care about keeping the bike original, and what measures you've already taken to optimize what you have, you might consider overhauling the calipers & levers with judicious application of fresh grease (after disassembly & cleaning), new high end cables (e.g. Jagwire), and high friction pads, e.g. KoolStop Salmon.
All of my vintage brakes work great after one or more of these measures.
All of my vintage brakes work great after one or more of these measures.
06-08-12, 04:19 PM
#10
incazzare.
The long reach Tektros are excellent. They have a lot of stopping power and don't feel flexy at all. I recommend them.
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06-08-12, 04:50 PM
#11
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I've got an 83 Trek touring frame, built with Campy 9speed. Great bike, but the original single-pivot Dia Compe brakes aren't really cutting it for me. They are long reach, and I have 700x38s on it currently. Part of the problem is I have the pads scooted all the way down, reducing mech. advantage. I think it may have originally been a 27in bike? Hard to say.
Anyone used the long reach velo orange brakes (dual pivot)? Are they any more powerful than the tektros?
Anyone used the long reach velo orange brakes (dual pivot)? Are they any more powerful than the tektros?
So, they did not design a frame for touring. They designed a great frame, then sold it as any one of a number of bikes.
So yes, great bikes, but they're not strictly for touring. Can you tour on it? Sure!
Have you tried some salmon Kool-Stops combined with new cables with properly finished housing ends? My 1984 610 had problems with braking effectiveness on her Shimano 600 sidepulls, and that shoe and cable replacement made a huge difference compared to the OEM shoes and cables. This is mostly handwork, so it's a lot cheaper than new brakes plus prepping a new set of cables.
But no, even great SP sidepulls will not have the same power for the same hand pressure as good DP's.
06-08-12, 07:06 PM
#13
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Agreed, but those are lousy brake calipers, so plan on replacing them.
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Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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