On my way to work on the commuter (Trek Lane with Tektro Oryz 992A cantilever brakes), I came millimeters away from hitting a deer that darted in front of me. The stopping power on the cantilever brakes just isn’t adequate. Going down some hills it can feel like I’m not going to be able to stop at all. I’ve tried everything with these brakes: shorter pads, lots of toe-in… nothing seems to work. I’m thinking of switching to V-brakes with Travel Agents so I can keep my STI brifters. Has anyone here used Travel Agents? If so, what’s your experience with them been? I like this bike a great deal and don't want to give it up. I know I could use direct pull levers, but want to keep brifters on it instead.

Oh, yeah. I'm going to post this on the mechanic's forum too.

I've put Tektro CR720 on three bikes, and I use Kool Stop pads. I can lift the rear wheel on all bikes and wet stopping is super.

I would try new pads first. do you have threaded or un-threaded posts?

Uthreaded posts. I've tried three different sets of pads, two set upon recommendation of the LBS.

FWIW, here's my simple, easy answer (copied below from a post I made on another board): TRP CX8.4 or CX9. They are designed to work with brifters -- no Travel Agents or any of that stuff. I use v-brake (flat bar) levers, but others I know -- including LBS wrench, who races 'cross -- have put them on 'cross bikes (brifters) with excellent results.

I use the CX9s (replaced the generic Tektro mini-vs on my bike). They are, quite simply, superb. Provided you use good cables, they go into -- and stay in -- adjustment like no other v-brake I've had (junk Promax, generic Tektro, various Avids). They've been on my bike (only bike; 3-season daily commuting, weekend distance rides) for a year and a bit -- not a single adjustment needed other than a bit of cable tension to take up pad wear. Stopping power/modulation as good as it gets, in my view. They are sold in boxed sets (f/r) with extra differently-angled noodles to allow for different cable runs. I was horrified by the price, but wanted 'em ... worth every dollar if you like powerful, easily-modulated, reliable brakes.
I think Germanicus is right about CX8.4>SRAM, CX9>Shimano road brifters, though you might want to check.

Tektro CR720 are very well reviewed, and a great value;

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...s.php?id=19516

The brakes aren't too good on my Trek 7.5FX. Not near as good as my old Navigator 2.0. Wish I had gotten the disc brake model.

Having had v-brakes with Travel Agents (linked to Campag Ergopower 8 sp) on my tandem, my conclusion has been that v-brakes are total crap (too much looseness in the system, and this is with Shimano v-brakes and Tektro mini-v-brakes), the Travel Agents remove any mechanical advantage v-brakes might give you, and brake adjustment with brifters/no Travel Agents has an extremely narrow/limited scope. I would stick with the cantis and try different pads. V-brakes were designed for mtb's in off-road conditions. They are completely inappropriate on road bikes with road levers.

btw: the tandem is currently running dual-pivot sidepulls, the best rim-brake technology so far.

Luis

Have no experience on road bikes With V's or Side pull brakes. However my Giant OCR had brakes that I was never happy with from new. I tried changing pads to no effect and they always had me worried. Changed the brakes over to Shimano 105's and I finally had brakes that worked.


I presume it would be the same with any brakes- some work and some don't.

Respectfully disagree.

My wife's bike mated with Shimano STI shifters and travel agents. No trouble in over 5000 miles on this set up. They even work well with her short reach levers! While I built up her bike from a bare frame, a complete bike can be ordered from the builder with exactly the same set up. They would not risk their reputation putting together "total crap." They have more power than the canti's on my cyclocrosss bike. I am seriously thinking of putting a pair on my Surly LHT touring bike.

Having said that, my cantilever brakes (Cane Creek w/ Kool Stop combination pads, and same brakes as on my LHT below) worked exceptionally well for the "panic stop" station, leaving a nice skid mark when I was going through the bike safety instructor's training exercises in June.

Do your fork and rear brake bridge have mounting holes for road-style brakes?

If so, Tektro makes wide, long-reach brakes. Photo lifted from Rivendell site



https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/brsbm57.htm