Tektro R556/Rivendell Silver Sidepulls
04-21-08 | 09:17 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 852
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From: Illinois (near St. Louis)
Bikes: Specialized Expedition Sport, Surly LHT
Tektro R556/Rivendell Silver Sidepulls
Anyone have any exeperience with these brakes? Thinking they'd be pretty nice on an LHT- sidepulls, with quick release, that'll fit fenders and 32-40 wide tires.
04-22-08 | 12:34 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 689
Likes: 1
From: Spencer, IN
Bikes: Trek 5200
I have these on my Salsa Casseroll. They're pretty good.
Fit and finish are excellent, just below Shimano. I found some machining marks on one of the calipers and the polish isn't quite on par with Shimano (but then again, neither is the price).
Braking power is excellent - but these brakes are a touch mushy compared to other brakes I've used (Paul Touring, Shimano BR-R550, Shimano Ultegra).
My front R556 had a sticky mechanism out-of-the-box. I cleaned and oiled the pivot and that fixed the problem.
Overall - I would buy them again. But if I had the cash, would go for the Shimano large-capacity sidepull.
On an LHT, I would skip sidepulls and go for Paul Neo-Retros or Touring cantis. These make all the other brakes I've ever used seem inferior by comparison.
Fit and finish are excellent, just below Shimano. I found some machining marks on one of the calipers and the polish isn't quite on par with Shimano (but then again, neither is the price).
Braking power is excellent - but these brakes are a touch mushy compared to other brakes I've used (Paul Touring, Shimano BR-R550, Shimano Ultegra).
My front R556 had a sticky mechanism out-of-the-box. I cleaned and oiled the pivot and that fixed the problem.
Overall - I would buy them again. But if I had the cash, would go for the Shimano large-capacity sidepull.
On an LHT, I would skip sidepulls and go for Paul Neo-Retros or Touring cantis. These make all the other brakes I've ever used seem inferior by comparison.
04-22-08 | 01:09 PM
#3
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
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04-23-08 | 07:51 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 852
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From: Illinois (near St. Louis)
Bikes: Specialized Expedition Sport, Surly LHT
Vice cantis- hard to adjust (again, so I'm told, no experience), and have to use long travel levers.
Maybe bad gouge?
04-24-08 | 01:48 AM
#7
Tinkerer since 1980
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 922
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From: London
Bikes: Coppi racer, Old school BMX, some random a fixed wheel convertion
You only need to use long pull levers if you use direct pull v-brake style brakes. Normal cants have the same pull as a caliper.
Setup and adjustment on a modern cant is easy. Check out Sheldon's site and have a play for an hour or two one afternoon with some cantilevers then you will be familiar. If you are not confident get someone to show you. There are short mechanics courses. The myth that cants are difficult to set up is self propergating and stops people from trying. Much like the myth that you can't ride a bike 1000 miles
.
These super deep drop calipers are a solution to a problem for some old bikes without cant bosses or running 700cc wheels in a frame made for 27" wheels.
Setup and adjustment on a modern cant is easy. Check out Sheldon's site and have a play for an hour or two one afternoon with some cantilevers then you will be familiar. If you are not confident get someone to show you. There are short mechanics courses. The myth that cants are difficult to set up is self propergating and stops people from trying. Much like the myth that you can't ride a bike 1000 miles
.These super deep drop calipers are a solution to a problem for some old bikes without cant bosses or running 700cc wheels in a frame made for 27" wheels.
