Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
04-03-13, 07:59 PM
#1476
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I just finished mounting the Panaracer Col de la Vie tires tonight.
The frame is a 1991 (I think) Trek 930 with 650B wheels.
The frame is a 1991 (I think) Trek 930 with 650B wheels.
Last edited by fettsvenska; 04-03-13 at 08:00 PM. Reason: additional info
04-03-13, 08:17 PM
#1478
GO BIG RED
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04-04-13, 05:30 AM
#1480
I'm usually cranky
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Stick with the cantis. Once you figure them out, you will come to like them.
I knew Sheldon had an article on them:
https://sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
I knew Sheldon had an article on them:
https://sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
cantis are harder to adjust but are worth it imo. if you swap to vbrakes your options for brake levers are also very limited
be sure to read all of this page https://sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
edit: i see thrifty bill edited his post in the meantime
be sure to read all of this page https://sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
edit: i see thrifty bill edited his post in the meantime
04-04-13, 06:02 AM
#1481
a77impala
04-04-13, 07:57 AM
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If those are the stock cantis on a Trek 820, I boggle at people prefering them over Vs. Cheap modern Vs are superior to a lower end Trek's cantis in pretty much every regard.
04-04-13, 08:52 AM
#1483
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04-04-13, 10:33 AM
#1485
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FWIW, this is also the thinking behind the 26" wheeled Surly long haul trucker touring bike.
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Shimano : Click :: Campy : Snap :: SRAM : Bang
04-04-13, 11:17 AM
#1486
I'm usually cranky
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They are the stock cantis. You sound like you speak from experience, Ish... in what way do you feel V's are better? Stopping power? Ease of use/maintenance?
04-04-13, 11:22 AM
#1487
Jack of all trades
^Here's an idea: get a canti brake pad recommendation. I'm sure there are fine pads out there that will come close to doubling the braking power of the stock ones.
04-04-13, 11:53 AM
#1488
Senior Member
Being a vintage bike snob, I tend to cringe when I see V's where canti's once hung.
04-04-13, 01:01 PM
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Great, Aemmer is going to turn his nose up at my Kona Hot because I put Avid Ultimates on it. Time to switch the build over to "classic" 1990s Altus instead. 
My experience comes from dealing with lower end older cantis with brittle plastic pieces and poor adjustability. Working on trouble-free modern Vs is refreshing by comparison.
My experience comes from dealing with lower end older cantis with brittle plastic pieces and poor adjustability. Working on trouble-free modern Vs is refreshing by comparison.
04-04-13, 01:19 PM
#1490
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04-04-13, 01:40 PM
#1491
I'm usually cranky
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Good point about the C&V angle... kinda lost sight of that, I guess. And although I wouldn't say I'm a vintage snob as well, I agree with you from an aesthetic standpoint - whether or not they work, V brakes are pretty unsightly.
04-04-13, 04:19 PM
#1492
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That trek came with Exage cantis.. i have some and they are fine and don't have brittle plastic or poor adjustability..?
04-04-13, 04:28 PM
#1493
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I hung an Avid V-brake on the fork of the bike I just finished and was very impressed with the stopping power. It was one of the lower priced ones, too.
04-04-13, 05:08 PM
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04-04-13, 05:14 PM
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Hmm. I thought the bike was 1994. I might be wrong.
Anyway, I do have a set of Exage brakes on a Rockhopper right here, and they are mostly plastic and one set will not center.
Anyway, I do have a set of Exage brakes on a Rockhopper right here, and they are mostly plastic and one set will not center.
04-04-13, 05:35 PM
#1497
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I think the exage term was applied to several levels of parts from bottom of the barrel (200gs) to pretty nice (500lx).
04-04-13, 06:38 PM
#1498
Senior Member
Great, Aemmer is going to turn his nose up at my Kona Hot because I put Avid Ultimates on it. Time to switch the build over to "classic" 1990s Altus instead.
My experience comes from dealing with lower end older cantis with brittle plastic pieces and poor adjustability. Working on trouble-free modern Vs is refreshing by comparison.
My experience comes from dealing with lower end older cantis with brittle plastic pieces and poor adjustability. Working on trouble-free modern Vs is refreshing by comparison.
Ok, I am not that innocent. Two years ago I justified this American pick up by giving it to my now 15 yo son. He was due for a bigger bike. Came with V brakes and I never have got around to changing them back. Still drives me batty when I see them on there though:
Edit, Bonus Tandem MTB converted to drops in the background.
Last edited by Aemmer; 04-04-13 at 06:46 PM.
04-05-13, 10:06 AM
#1499
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Well, I'm done! Sort of. For your viewing pleasure, a 1983? BCA classic mountain bike, modified with nashbar moustache bars. The build went pretty smooth considering the mish mash of original, parts bin, and acquired parts. The Accushift stem shifters aren't playing well with the later accushift plus rear derailleur, but it works fine in friction. The rear brake is not ideal in that there is not enough vertical pad adjustment to get them where I like. They are the original DiaCompe 980 brakes, and are perfect on the fork, but the posts seem lower on the rear. I will probably change the brake pads to cool stops, it stops o.k., but not great. The pedals are cheap plastic ones I threw on there to ride it, the original Shimano platforms need to be rebuilt and will be installed when I get around to it. Anyway, I hope you all like it.
Last edited by likebike23; 04-05-13 at 05:14 PM. Reason: better pics
04-05-13, 11:22 AM
#1500
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