cal_gundert05

I thought I'd post this here, since the brakes came on my IRO Rob Roy:

I've been having some issues with the Tektro V-Brakes that came on the IRO Rob Roy I purchased used a few months ago; they tend to not re-open completely after braking. This has been a problem with the rear brake since I bought it. I took the bike to a shop because I thought my wheel was out of true, but the mechanic told me that the Tektro levers put a kink in the cable that hinders the re-opening of the brake arms. I guess the rear brake was more of an issue than the front because there's more cable involved. I started using the front brake almost exclusively (as I should), but now my front brake is starting to have issues, too. I've tried a couple things, like adjusting the spring tension and even increasing the amount of cable between the rear brake arms, but they're still rubbing the rims when they shouldn't be. Now I usually have to pop the arms open with my fingers, or nudge the arms over a bit, or tug on the exposed part of the rear brake cable to keep them from rubbing the rims (I do this at stop lights, of course).

So, has anyone else had this problem (with the Rob Roy or any bike with Tektro V-Brake levers)? Did the problem go away with new brake levers?

If I'm going to be replacing the levers, I might replace the brakes with some cantis. There aren't many choices for V-brake levers, and cantis would give me more freedom in terms of brake levers and bar setups (I'm thinking of getting bullhorns with reverse levers). Opinions? Recommendations?

Thanks

Cynikal 

If you go cantis get the tektro cr720's in the front and the IRD cafams in the rear. Great combo.

fuzz2050

with those tektro's in the front, any rear brake will work.

operator

100% bull****.

It is entirely possible to route the cable through pictured lever to the v-brake without a "kink". If the brakes aren't opening properly then it's one of two things -

1) Cable and housing problem
2) Brake problem

Disconnecting one from the other will quickly reveal, which one it is.

https://iro.srcurran.com/complete/robroy.php

tFUnK

did you try new cables/housing? make sure the housing is lubed. or maybe the stock levers and brakes just have really weak spring tension.

Tom M

I was working on my RR brakes last night and noticed the same problem. I'm running Cane Creek Drop-V levers up front. I was thinking about pulling the mini-Vs off and re-lubing their mounting points. I've been riding a lot in the rain, and even with fenders, the brakes get mucked up. Good luck.

cal_gundert05

I don't follow--you think I should disconnect what? I followed that link (and I've been to that page before), but I don't see how it's relevant to my problem. Am I missing something?

I haven't tried new cables or housing. The previous owner said he didn't ride it much, and I haven't put a ton of miles on it, either, so I'm inclined to think that the cables and housing are okay. I've adjusted the spring tension in the rear brake, but that hasn't helped, and I don't think the levers are spring-assisted.

The mechanic I talked to recommended the Cane Creek levers to me, so it's interesting that you have this problem. The bike has only been in the rain a few times since I bought it, and had problems before that, but the mounting points might still need some lube.

AndyT

I am having the same issue with my tektro levers and vbrakes as well. I installed them with all new cables and housing. I did notice that when i cut the housing i deformed the inner metal tube with the cutters. I would typically have used a file or dremel to fix that but didn't this time. so it appears that my cable is rubbing too much on the housing. once i get my inline levers i'm going to take it apart, cut the housing with a dremel and make sure the ends are square. that should fix the problem.