The wrong Shimano brakes/shifters and cantilever brakes

[Aston]

Firstly, I'm new to this, so please bear with me.

I bought a bike, an old Thorn Club Tour, it needed lots more work than I anticipated, including stripping/powder coating and putting back together.

I asked the LBS (I've worked out the acronym) to put it back together. All good, but they did call to ask whether all the bits I gave them were on the bike when I bought it - they were, except for two new sets of brake pads. As they were having trouble setting up the brakes, apparently the wrong levers are on it.

I've the bike back, see elsewhere, very happy it looks lovely, but I'd not ridden it since getting home... the weather elderly mother, family stuff etc

A short spin yesterday showed the front brake to be very poor, and the back just fine - what to do?

Is this likely to be partly to do with the combined brake/gear levers (Shimano ST-EF35-L/ST-EF35-8) on flat (butterfly) bars and the cantilever brakes, I understand that this is what the LBS meant were the wrong ones. The LBS replaced the front straddle wire, but not the rear. Previously, before taking everything apart the front brake worked just fine.

Help! Do I get new levers/brake pads/ask LBS to try harder, not sure what to do, so some thoughts would be helpful

Thanks in advance and apologies for the ramble, I should have bought a new bike in the first place!

Photos...

Rear - works fine

Front - really poor

Front combined gear/brake

 

[Jameshow]

I think your brake levers are V brake compatible and you have older canti brakes.
Easiest thing is to get v brakes.

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^^ wot e sed

 

[mickle]

^^^^^^ wot e sed

 

[DCLane]

+1 to @Jameshow 's suggestion.

 

[mickle]

I'm surprised that the IBS didn't suggest the obvs remedy.

 

[All uphill]

Hi Aston,

Wot thems said.

Ime you'd be better buying some good used v-brakes than new unbranded ones. Apart from safety considerations I've found cheap v-brakes give much less good braking than Shimano ones.

 

[Aston]

Hi Aston,

Wot thems said.

Ime you'd be better buying some good used v-brakes than new unbranded ones. Apart from safety considerations I've found cheap v-brakes give much less good braking than Shimano ones.

Thank you, looks like a trip up to On Your Bike!

 

[Big John]

I appreciate there'll be cantilever fans on here so please look the other way now. I've just got rid of the cantilever brakes on a Raleigh Randonneur for fear of losing my life. I've spent more than a reasonable amount of time 'adjusting' them to no great effect. I've now got dual pivot long reach calipers, no endless messing. Once fitted everything can be adjusted easily and the braking simply works. That said, I've got an endless supply of 'bits' so I've not had to buy anything. The recommendation to go down the v brake route is a good one though. Dual pivot just gives you another option.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Dual pivot just gives you another option.

Pretty sure that with the guards there isn't the clearance for 'normal' (single or dual pivot) calipers.
Leaving aside their compatibility with the Shimano ST-EF35-L/ST-EF35-8 combo brake levers (leverage ratio and thus less modulation/ on/off feel).
I wonder if, earlier in its life, this bike has had its drops swapped out for the current flat bar.
https://bike.bikegremlin.com/1402/mechanical-bicycle-brake-compatibility/

 

[Gunk]

You may be able to fit some long drop calipers, Tektro do them and they’re not that expensive

 

[Aston]

Pretty sure that with the guards there isn't the clearance for 'normal' (single or dual pivot) calipers.
Leaving aside their compatibility with the Shimano ST-EF35-L/ST-EF35-8 combo brake levers (leverage ratio and thus less modulation/ on/off feel).

I'm not having much luck in checking compatibility with the combo brake levers, Shimano's guide does not list the ST-EF35

https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-466

 

[si_c]

I'm not having much luck in checking compatibility with the combo brake levers, Shimano's guide does not list the ST-EF35

https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-466

It does list the EF-41 though, I'd be happy to accept that as interchangeable, the difference is the shifting not braking as I understand it.

 

[mickle]

STI combination brake levers and shifters. Comrade just wants to buy new brake levers. Must replace shifters too. This bullsh!t is high on the list of reasons i despise Shi**no?

See also SRAM Bassworm, Compact Drive vs MicroDrive et al

 

[Aston]

I wonder if, earlier in its life, this bike has had its drops swapped out for the current flat bar.
https://bike.bikegremlin.com/1402/mechanical-bicycle-brake-compatibility/

Yes, I think the original owner changed from drops to flat bars about 15 years ago