Swapping brakes on Cross Bike

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2011-02-01 6:38 AM

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Subject: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike

I just purchased a new to me cyclocross bike.  I am not a big fan of the cantilever brakes that are on it (mainly because I don't know how to fix them) and wanted to swap them for regular road bike brakes.  Is this possible?

It looks like there are holes in the frame and fork to attach them so I would assume it is possible.  I do not plan on racing cross or really going on any heavy duty trails.  I will mainly ride it on a crushed limestone MUT.

2011-02-01 6:56 AM
in reply to: #3332487

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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
I could be wrong but regular road bike brakes use a single center pivot and cross/cantilever brakes use a double pivot. One on each side of the brake. Unless you have both I doubt they're compatible. Cantilever brakes are super easy to adjust. Click here for a nice how to. http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/cantilever-brake-service
2011-02-01 7:08 AM
in reply to: #3332487

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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
What frame is it?  My opinion is that you should stick with the cantilevers as you will be safer with wide tires in gravel/hill conditions.  I built up a Ridley cyclocross with Ultegra and Avid Shorty brakes last year to ride on crushed limestone paths and it is a blast!  Have fun.
2011-02-01 7:58 AM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike

If the frame is able to accept road calipers (which I know of no cross bike that does) your chances of fitting a knobby tire in there is pretty slim unless you go extremely narrow, like 28c.  Canti's do take a little more effort to set up, but are easy to work on once you do it a couple times.  IMHO I would highly discourage you from trying to put road calipers on a cross bike.

2011-02-01 8:42 AM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
Long reach road calipers may fit, but as some one already suggested, your tire choices become limited.

A cross bike is made to take cantilevers. As an alternative, you could do V-brakes (Performance has some pretty inexpensive ones), but the cable pull is different, so you may need to swap the brake levers as well (and if you're using "brifters", that won't be a possibility).

My suggestion is to buck up and learn how to adjust the equipment you have. It's not that difficult.
2011-02-01 11:10 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
Why are you not a fan of the cantelevers? Is it the reduced stopping power? I felt the same way about the brakes on my Scott Team CX until I put in a new set break pads (Kool-Stop) and had a mechanica a the LBS adjust the tension so that they grip better.



2011-02-01 11:14 AM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
What kind of cantilever brakes did you get on your cross bike?

I got Avid Shortys which suck. I just replaced them this year and they work so much better. I think I spent about $115 on the brakes.

You may not need road brakes just better cross type brakes. Also if you have 32 or 34 tires they may be hard to get on with regular brakes.

2011-02-01 8:14 PM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike

I have Tektro Oryx Cantilever's.  I just need to suck it up and figure out how they work.  I am just used to flipping the little switch on my tri bike and popping the wheel off.  I am having a hard time opening the brakes to get the wheel off.

2011-02-01 8:29 PM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike
kproudfoot - 2011-02-01 9:14 PM

I have Tektro Oryx Cantilever's.  I just need to suck it up and figure out how they work.  I am just used to flipping the little switch on my tri bike and popping the wheel off.  I am having a hard time opening the brakes to get the wheel off.



I have those as well on my cross bike, I think they are pretty much the cheapest things out there, but that said I raced all last year with them, without any stopping issues and I was just running some cheap pads I picked up at performance.

As far as opening them, you just press them together to allow some slack in the brake cable and one side should have a cable stop on it and the cable should slide right out.

If that doesn't make sense let me know and I'll take a picture tomorrow.
2011-02-02 6:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Swapping brakes on Cross Bike

dalessit - 2011-02-01 8:29 PM
kproudfoot - 2011-02-01 9:14 PM

I have Tektro Oryx Cantilever's.  I just need to suck it up and figure out how they work.  I am just used to flipping the little switch on my tri bike and popping the wheel off.  I am having a hard time opening the brakes to get the wheel off.



I have those as well on my cross bike, I think they are pretty much the cheapest things out there, but that said I raced all last year with them, without any stopping issues and I was just running some cheap pads I picked up at performance.

As far as opening them, you just press them together to allow some slack in the brake cable and one side should have a cable stop on it and the cable should slide right out.

If that doesn't make sense let me know and I'll take a picture tomorrow.
Thanks, I can get them open it is just hard.  I think the brakes need adjusted slightly to allow more slack.

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