Velo-Orange Pass Hunter

Reading more into cantilever brakes, it does sound like I've gone for a terrible set?

• Wide profile > less braking power,
  
  

Wide profile -> significantly easier to set up effectively with drop bar levers ...

As usual, Sheldon has plenty to say - http://sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html - follow his link about mechanical advantage as well.

Reading more into cantilever brakes, it does sound like I've gone for a terrible set?

• Wide profile > less braking power, and I don't need the mud clearance of the wide calipers. Worst of both worlds.
  
• Inability to adjust toe in of the brakes
  
• No up/down adjustment.
  
  

Does that sound right? If so they do sound shit...

Don't forget straddle cable length, shorter straddle cable = take less pull to get the braking power, so keep them short if possible.

Also this should help;

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQCantiSetup.pdf

As for the rack, get the rack first before the bag.

Cheers for the info fellas,
I would just go ahead and set my current cantis up but it seems that to "adjust" the pads would involve a lot of sandpaper and hassle... So I'm considering getting a different set.

Also, anyone know where I can get one of these? To mount a normal upright edelux light on a decaleur, so the beam isn't upside down.

I'm just brainstorming around the idea, I'm not going to fork out a lot of £££ just yet.

I've recommended before on another thread, what I did, which is to use a centre pull brake arm, chopped and filled down, and mounted to the rack with canti conical washers to allow lateral adjustment. Does that make sense?

I still have the other brake arm if you can cover postage.

Ah! Just had a google and I see what you mean!
Genius idea.

Thanks fella, if I do have to go down this route and I can't find one in the parts bin I'll drop you a PM :)

Don't forget straddle cable length, shorter straddle cable = take less pull to get the braking power, so keep them short if possible.

Also this should help;

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQCantiSetup.pdf

As for the rack, get the rack first before the bag.

That's a good article. After getting very confused recently, I realised I should really get some medium profile cantis to replace my wide ones on my commuter/tourer. These look good for the dollar (not entirely sure whether they are medium, but they look it): http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-105-cantilever-brake-cx50/rp-prod70117

Or the blingy Ultegra versions: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ultegra-cantilever-brake-cx70/rp-prod70116

I have those cantis, and on the way home from work today my front brake cable snapped. It made very little difference to my braking ability, which goes to show how poorly they perform.

(I'm riding fixed with two brakes, and have no ability to set up cantis, to be fair)

Least the chain didn't snap, otherwise you'll be telling a completely different story.

That happened to me once too. Sumo cycled out and rescued me with a spare chain.

Further to the discussion about the decaleur+edelux dynamo light mount situation, I accidently stumbled across an interesting bob jackson build thread on retrobike,

check out how the owner has used an old chainring to make a light bracket!

Hmm, I'm going to look in my part bin for something resemblance that.

okay did not realise VO made them as well, and freshtripe have them in stock...

Look like something you can make with a rack stay, piler and a dremel.

What do you guys think of these brakes? VO gran cru zeste

Lovely, but are they good? ;-)

Review look promising, but I'm sure you can get something similar for less.

They do look very functional, with lots of room for adjustment in all directions, and should offer lots of power in theory given their shape.

But for £90 a pair yeah I wasn't immediately sold.

Not sold on these shimano ones bussynova posted upthread as the pads look quite awkward to replace and I'm not sure you'd be able to adjust toe in etc, and the next shimano ones up from that cost near enough what the zeste do.

The zeste seem to have a good review in this CX magazine,

warning article difficult to read without subscribing

The best canti I've tried* is the Avid Shorty Ultimate, and the Paul component Neo-retro (touring on rear for clearance).

But on a budget, the Tektro is probably the best to go for, ridiculously easy to set up too.

*only on road/touring

Sweeet,

on a side note, the paul canti brakes have some compatibility issues with decaleurs right?

No problem with rack.

After getting an adapter i see :p

The paul brakes look delish, but I couldn't justify the price right now. CR720s seem to be the choice

CR720s exist in a polished version, so delicious but a little difficult to find it seems

I've still got some of the old wide profile XT cantis - like this but in silver.

Got hold of them NOS a while ago, so they're still boxed and waiting for something to be done.

I like the idea of the Campag CX ones, though I'm not convinced about the looks or the price - http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groupsetdetail/item_cxfrenisilver_catid_16.jsp

But on a budget, the Tektro is probably the best to go for, ridiculously easy to set up too.

Wife's All-City Space Horse came with these. The amount of play in the arms is quite amazing. You could blow a good bit of cash upgrading the hardware and pads and still be left with a fairly shit set of cantis. I have done this, but declined to fork out for the t-shirt.