jdefran

Any other thoughts on u-brakes from the group? Considering a frame with them in the rear and not sure if its a deal breaker. Surely it if ends up fitting perfectly I'll definitely consider canti posts being added and a respray as the paint isn't very good anyway.

likebike23

They can get clogged up if you are planning on riding in mud, and are a pain to set up. I've got some dia tech hombre's on my maruishi, and they stop really well and feel great.

norwood

I had much the same thought process with my Scott re-do. I started out with a Tektro U-brake which really didn't work at all, I think the studs had too much spread. I then found this roller cam brake and fitted it with newer brake shoes. It works quite well, not overly powerfull, but adequate. Just make sure you use some proper levers. I probably won't bother with the canti posts now.

neo_pop_71

Hey jdefran, don't let a u-brake be the deal breaker, I've had a couple bikes over the years with chainstay brake bosses... you have options and are not locked in to running a u-brake. You can run a roller cam brake like norwood did on his Scott (pictured above) or an Odyssey Pitbull brake. My 1987 Panasonic Mountain Cat 7500 (MC-7500) came with full XT, the XT u-brake with the "shark fin" was pretty weak and needed to be replaced. I swapped out the u-brake with an Odyssey Pitbull brake and it worked much better with good stopping power. The Pitbull brake is similar to the original WTB/Suntour roller cam brake and has always been popular with the BMX crowd. If you choose to upgrade to the Odyssey Pitbull brake, just make sure you buy the original Pitbull brake and now the newer Pitbull 2. The Pitbull 2 is garbage! The PB2 brake uses adjustable post mounted brake pads, the original uses a nutted brake pad (I'll include some pics). I highly recommend finding a used Pitbull brake and getting some new pads, I think you'll be really pleased with the action and stopping power.

wrk101

I like rear U brakes. Its kind of a vintage touch, only out there a couple of years. Terrible for off road use, fine for road use.

Smokinapankake

I've got a sweet Dia-Tech U-brake on the rear of one of my keeper MTBs. Don't know what model it is but I got a good deal at Niagara Cycles on it:

andyfloyd

I just rode my 87 Panasonic mc-6500 with suntour roller-cam u brake last week on some trails. No mud out that day, but it was stopping extremely well...no issues with it being "weak" in any way so far.

Sixty Fiver

Chainstay brakes are great for road use and off road use if you are riding in dry conditions... why anyone rides in the mud and messes up the trails is a big peeve of mine.

The stopping power is great and not having any cables or brake behind the saddle keeps that area clear which is especially good if you are loading up a bike.

They do take a little higher level of care in that you have to service them regularly and make sure the pads are not worn and are properly adjusted... worn pads will allow the brake to close farther and as it does can bring those pads closer to or have them touch the sidewall of the tyre which is a very quick way to destroy a perfectly good tyre.

Have been rocking chain stay brakes for many many years and have never had an issue with them.

frantik

chainstay brakes FOR LIFE!!! definitely nice for road use, though as 65er says you gotta check em often but their placement encourages you to forget about them

andyfloyd

haha, for real though the chainstays work really well and I love the look of them because it keeps a real clean look on the rear of the bike. Chainstay brakes are just too cool to look at. I never even knew they existed until just recently and now I have a bike with them and they can lock up the tire on command.... road or trail.

likebike23

Are chainstay mounted u-brakes mounted there because kids would flip their bikes upside down to work on them? All I know is that they can be a pain to work on.

Sixty Fiver

It provides maximum braking power when you mount the brake to the stiffest part of the frame... remember that these pre-date linear pull and disc brakes.

frantik

there is also less chance of heel strike with chainstay mounted ubrakes

Bikedued

Oh forget it.. I was being very undued. ,,,BD

striknein

It can cause problems with big chainrings though.

Bikedued

My buddy's mid 2000's Trek 4500 would flex the seat stays outward enough to notice without looking closely for it. I didn't think aluminum would be that flexible, but I was proven wrong, lol. I just checked my Super Sport single speed with "epicenter" seat stays. No such issue, at all. My late 90's Haro Escape? Only enough to notice, no more.,,,,BD

Creme Brulee

i find the modulation with a roller cam is unnnnparalleled!

frantik

at one point I had a 52t ring on my univega with chainstay ubrakes and had no issues..

Sixty Fiver

Another exception, and perhaps this has to do with the era some bicycles were built... my '87 Cascade is running a 52 tooth ring and has abundant clearance and was originally fitted with a 48 tooth ring so there is not a lot of difference.

anixi

Sorry to change the subject to mtb conversions: I recently converted a Giant Rincon, 23.5" frame, to an 8/6 speed. The shifters are old 8-speed Campy, for a Shimergo combo. The rear is a 6-speed freewheel. V-brakes with Travel Agents (don't work all that well).

Is it worth taking pics and posting here? Or is it too frankenbike for you snobs?

WNG

I guess you haven't seen my Frankenbike.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post15372644

neo_pop_71

C'mon WNG, your bike definitely points to the cleaner side on the Frankenmeter, compared to some builds we've seen, your Specialized is a solid goodie!

Hey anixi, do it man... let's see some pics of your Rincon conversion, any bike sportin' some Campy instantly has some cred with me! I'm always game to check out a custom build, whether it's been massaged or strong-armed, I love seeing how other people get creative!

SeanBonham

Getting there...

wrk101

Part of my objective on doing a conversion was doing it while keeping the $$ down. So frankenbike is the norm. I like Shimano derailleurs and calipers (as long as they are higher end), but I also like Suntour barcons. And my brake levers are usually generic aero style. And so it goes.

cobrabyte

That's looking fantastic!