Any question answered...

whats your analysis of grip on babyshoe pass kind of tread (gravel king too)? I am running 35-40 and they are not grippy. Had a crash (kind of my fault but have been in that corner with that speed on Vittoria G+ without any issues or even Kojaks for that matter) and avoided one narrowly.

I first tried these ties with lower pressure (round 60psi) but I didn't like it (London commute only), felt it was dragging / sticky... Then I've been inflating them to round 80/85, max recommendation being 90. All good, rides like I expect my bike to ride, except the near miss yesterday and a little tendency to have the rear skidding a bit when braking abruptly on a non perfectly dry surface... Other than that, I don't consider the bike behave unpredictably, I just wanted to know if people had used these tires with comparable impressions... I'll probably revert to Paselas in all black after these... (I've decided gum walls aren't that good on that bike, aesthetically)

So. I am not liking the vbrakes on my commuto-dad Cross Check. They feel spongy as a certain Mr Squarepants and I hate the Tektro drop bar lever option. I have an old pair of Cane Creek SCR-5s collecting dust and I am considering cantis. Mini Vs are not an option due to 40mm tyres, mudguards and front rack. The forum approved solution of "new biek obvs" is not an option.

Am I on a hiding to nothing?

A well set up pair of cantis would be perfect, but there's an art to setting them up. What's your budget?

Compressionless housing sharpen up the v brakes on mine noticeably (SCR-5 and Avid v brakes).

Would help further with the problem solver travel agent to reduced the amount of throw, but TBH, if you don't mind the levers to have a bit of a throw, merely fitting compressionless housing will sufficient (and give you more room between the pads and rims).

No.. just get good cantis, avid ultimate or trp revox.
The whole canti hate is classic lfgss groupthink. They just require a bit of a fiddle when setting up.
Fork mounted hanger is a good idea if you have the hole for it too.

What v-brakes are you using? Is it worth upgrading the arms first. Cantis look cool, but I've never found them as good as v brakes. You could use a travel agent to stick with the SCR-5s

Don't get cantis.

Buy @andyp 's cantis.

Don't get cantis.

Your choice.

@andyp - thanks, I found this old link you posted on another Canti related thread. Still valid? I have been looking at the alloy TRP Revox and that's eminently sensible price wise. Can go up a bit too.

@edscoble - sorry forgot to mention that I am running Jagwire already. It's not Yokozuna but it's not from the bargain bin either.

@ffm - I have the Shimano BRT-780 brakes so not the cheap ones. I have seen too much mixed feedback on the travel agents. Seems like additional faff, although cantis strongly divide opinion too.

Fork mounted hanger is a good shout, the logic behind it seems sound. I'm still not convinced by cantis though, I used them when I was a mere whippersnapper out on the trails. Now that I'm 3 stone heavier and riding in traffic I'm not convinced they would give me the grip I wanted.

@Aroogah are you using standard (caliper/canti) levers with your v-brakes? That would explain the sponginess. I've got a travel agent you could try if you want, although you'd need to buy a second if you decide that it does work.

I've been inflating them to round 80/85

What do you weigh? I'd start at 60 (4 bar) and work down with a 35C tyre, and I doubt that you're heavier than me. I have a feeling I might end up at 3 bar front and 3.5 bar rear.

buy my paul mini motos! ;)

I've used both the matching touring levers and the Tektro drop bar levers for linear pull brakes. Neither make me happy.

I'm not convinced that they will fit around the the big tyres and mudguards, and not be blocked by mid fork mounted Surly rack up front.

they have very long arms .. quite powerful too. Koolstop salmon by default.

mid fork mounted Surly rack up front

Yah. Would need to check clearances

Are your pads hitting the rims nice and square and at the same time?

Throw current bike in the shed, purchase new bike with disc brakes, never speak of old bike again.

Any idea why my new front wheel is juddering under braking load? Brand new wheel that's straight as an arrow. Pads are aligned and toed in. Could it be old pads not playing nice with new rims? They have plenty of life left.

headset loose?

Headset tight enough?

ahem...

The forum approved solution of "new biek obvs" is not an option.

Makes custom "tablot biek" out of the question

Are your pads hitting the rims nice and square and at the same time?

Pretty much, although the pads are gently toed-in with rubber band trick.

Try without toe in, it can help with squeal but make them feel squishy.