Cantilever VS. V Brakes

[Zippy]

I want to replace my original cantilever brakes as the plastic tension collars have broken on them and finding it difficult to find replacements.

My lbs tells me to bring the bike in to them as they are sure they could replace with V-brakes on the original braze-ons. Is that correct? If it is I would prefer V-brakes as I understand they are far more positive in braking.

 

[gbb]

I've replaced canti's with v's before, but i replaced the brake levers as well.
IIRC, the levers are specific and not compatible...but someone may know better.

 

[Zippy]

I'm also picking up worrying internet info that suggests that V-brakes do not have the stopping power of the old cantilevers and bike shops are only promoting the swap out because it is harder to get cantis now without importing?

 

[PpPete]

My recomendation would be to fit the wide type of cantis that are marketed as cyclocross brakes. They seem to me to have a lot more stopping power than the narrow cantis, and you won't have any issues with compatibility with the existing levers.
Some people think cyclocross brakes are ugly, but IMO not half as ugly as V-brakes.
Look for Frogglegs, Tektro CR520 or CR720, or Kore Cyclocross brakes.

 

[TheDoctor]

V-brakes are IMHO easier to set up and better in operation. They do need V-brake specific levers, but they're only £30-ish for a complete set of brakes, levers and cables.
Unlesss you're running drops I'd always go for Vs if you can.

 

[Cranky]

I've replaced cantis with V brakes (and levers) on two bikes, as well as fitting Vs to a new cyclocross frame, and would recommend them.

 

[NickM]

I'm guessing that you have drop bars, because if you have MTB bars it's no contest - V-brakes are preferable for the reasons TheDoctor gives.

If you have drop bars and STI/Ergopower I'd stick with cantilevers - wide-profile ones, as porkypete says.

If you have drop bars and bar-end or down tube gear levers, I'd go for V-brakes and these brake levers - accept no substitutes!

 

[jimboalee]

What you have to look for is the 'mechanical advantage' of the lever system.
That is the multiple of the distance pivot-to-pad vs pivot-to-cable hitch.

The pad face moves by 1mm. A 3x MA makes the cable move 3mm.
On V brakes, the cable moves by 6mm when set-up properly.
Any wear and the cable moves more.
Levers for V brakes need a 12mm movement MINIMUM. Preferably an 18mm movement.

Canti main cable moves as a function of the angle of the straddle cable and the main cable. Could be 1.5 x the movement of the canti arm cable hitch.
Therefore narrow Cantis will operate with a lever of less movement.

 

[Zippy]

No - this is a MTB; Specialised HardRock, originally fitted with cantis.

Over time the plastic collars which maintained return spring tension have given up and now the blocks don't spring off the rim properly. Job is to either replace the collars (nigh impossible to find), replace with new cantis which do not have these cheap and nasty plastic collars or look at the alternatives; V-brakes.

As I have to swap the origianls out anyway I am looking at the alternatives.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

A set of Oryx cantis will set you back about £20 per end, or a set of Acera cantis are £9 per end. Bolt on, fiddle with the adjustment (for an indeterminate period of time) and go. There's on trouble getting hold of them

A set of Vs will cost you between £8 and £20 per end, but you'll need to change the levers to V specific ones (£10 - 20 for the pair-ish).

Vs are simpler to adjust and work with, and cheap Vs work better than cheap Cantis. But a good canti (like the Oryx) is a good brake.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

FWIW, I swapped from cheap cantis to reasonable Vs (Deore brake and S/H XT levers) on my converted MTB commuter - a massive difference.

But - that was changing from plastic brake levers, pressed steel cantis, 10 year old brake blocks and old cables, so it's a bit of an unfair comparison.

The Oryx cantis I have on my tourer are as good as the V's on my commuter.

 

[Zippy]

Thanks for that. I have ordered a couple of Oryx cantis from Wiggle - £40.