Help me pimp my brakes - brake upgrade (calipers / pads)

My 3400 Sora brake felt a little flexy, which is the only complaint (apart from the 3400 shifter) I have about the groupset.

Get the Tiagra which is £1 more (if it indeed a pair).

My 3400 Sora brake felt a little flexy, which is the only complaint (apart from the 3400 shifter) I have about the groupset.

Get the Tiagra which is £1 more (if it indeed a pair).

But grey...

I'd like to make my tandem brakes ,
currently Mafac canti+ drum brake,
newbies friendly.
Some Magura rim brakes and flat bars would be ideal.
Would shimming the brakes to fit the bars be a problem ?

Would advise v brakes instead.

Thanks,
I'd like the extra power available without effort,
my daughter doesn't have a gorilla's handshake.
I would use them as well,braking loaded takes some effort.

Hi All,

Given the recent weather, it's been very slippery cycling into work on my commuter bike - (late 70's early 80's Koga Miyata Road Speed)

I need more stopping power - wondering if anyone can advise if I need new brake calipers or just a better pair of brake pads? I've got standard shimano replacement brakepads which are fairly new. Would it be better if I got something like Swisstops? (Keep hearing the Green ones are best type of outdoor pads)

Or do I need a new brake caliper/lever? Here are photos of the brake caliper - an unknown shimano - and the leaver. They're quite old, however, cable tension is good and works well when dry.

Thanks in advance

double pivot brake in the front will give you more stopping power. new pads will help as well, i also like the swisstop green.

If your brakes are a little soft and you don't want to replace them you can also carry a large stick and just jam it in your front wheel any time you want to stop. Both cheap and effective.

double pivot brake in the front will give you more stopping power. new pads will help as well, i also like the swisstop green.

Agree totally with this, in order .
Softer pads and or dual pivot calipers. You need the hex nutted versions.

Something like the tektro 559.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tektro-tektro-r559-caliper-brake-55-73-mm-very-deep-drop-nut-fitting-prod24459/

Thanks all - I'm debating on just putting a new groupset (maybe Shimano 600?) on the bike anyway so will look into dual pivot calipers.

You can also attach the drum brake to a friction levers on the stoker, while having two v brakes.

I guess it's going to stay period correct (intimidating) then.
I can't see V's beeing that much superiors to cantis.
And a newby pilot would be further burdened with communication to the stoker
about the drum brake use.
I was looking forward to a bit of extra security and control for myself as well.

.

couple questions:

1) how do I know if I need deep fitting or standard?
2) do I need to change my brake levers or can I keep them the same?

With MTB brake levers (if that's what you intend to use), it'll be a lots more superior and easier to set up than cantis, thus more security and control, replace pads with better one and you'll have a noticeable improvement again.

You can always mount the bar-end friction shift on the captain's bar.

couple questions:

1) how do I know if I need deep fitting or standard?
2) do I need to change my brake levers or can I keep them the same?

1, Measure

1. The "pull" is the same therefore you can use the same brake levers.
   
   

Useful link here for info by the incomparable Sheldon Brown.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html

Found 2 threads about this,
it seems doeable with a Midge or a Nitto North Road.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bodging-hydros-onto-drops/page/2
http://forums.mtbr.com/29er-bikes/bigshot-revised-150997.html

http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/cane-creek-el-chulo-edition-eebrakes

#POC
#Rezerectshun