cudak888 

I'm surprised someone hasn't thrown a Delta plate on an AX for April Fools.

-Kurt

BFisher

Not a fan of the Delta's appearance.

To me, they stick out like a broken nose on most bikes. Just odd design choices.

RobbieTunes

Perhaps to do that AND actually stop the bike might have been too much to take on...

ryansu

"Speed Modulators"

robbyville

Yep, pretty much true!

I remember working in a shop with a few delta equipped bikes. Back then although they were finished nicely, we used to curse how long it took to properly adjust. In fact, because the cable had to be cut and trimmed to literally less than a centimeter we would cut them and then solder the ends to keep it clean.

Very few racers ever used them, but it is pretty incredible and wonderful what a collectors item they've become for working so poorly even in comparison with other brakes of the time.

Gary Fountain

Love'm and they do stop. I do admit to not being able to adjust the Croc d'Aune Delta's that I once had although I didn't put that much time into adjusting them as I did with my Record examples.

nomadmax 

I raced Deltas for a season or two; they didn't seem any better or worse than the Super Record side pulls. One of the sources in the article was Mark Reidy, a former teammate of mine and incredibly fast.

canklecat

A local guy I see often at club rides has a Colnago with Delta brakes. Great looking bike and the brakes look classy. I doubt braking is a big deal on our modest roller coaster terrain when we're averaging 15-17 mph. I'll ask him about his bike next time I see him. He appears to be in his 70s, in great shape. I hope I'm doing that well 10-15 years from now when I'm his age. I think he's Italian or Sicilian, so he may have some firsthand knowledge about the components.

noglider 

Does someone want to explain why Deltas are hard to get going right? I've never used them.

KonAaron Snake 

Setting them up, and the toe in, are a pain...some models, and I forget which years are which, use a wonky sized allen in an unusual size. They're great brakes as far as function when properly set up, and offer some really neat vertical adjustments. Many of the comments you hear about deltas are from those that never used them. They weren't popular because of weight, cost and PITA factor for shops - who rec'd easier to work on brakes.

Getting pads for them now is a challenge, and if you lose the plates - have fun. They're also a bit hard on cables.

They're a really cool, interesting part, and they amply strong...it's always fun to use them on rides. As far as aesthetics...they're undeniably sexy and unique.

Lemond1985

Actually, that IS quite a different mechanism than Shimano used, looks like a real Rube Goldberg contraption. Form over function. I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but the whole New Age "pyramid" phenomenon was in full swing during the early 80's. Were the Campy designers burning a bit too much incense back then?

With my luck, I would be terrified riding around with brakes that could be trashed with one nail stuck in the back tire.

SJX426 

The one on the right looks like it has experienced tire wear!

I too, don't find them attractive. The look bulbous to me, compared to others. my favorite are the monoplanar's. Still stylish and functional with a hint of being functionally symmetric.

repechage

Note in Gary's image, at least two versions of caliper, and three versions of lever.
(I think that is the bulk of them)
Note the variation in clearance.
He has set them up correctly where the side upper arms are flush with the main body, not sunk, not proud. Good work.
Where these get tricky is that the optimal mechanical advantage is in a narrow range of the mechanism, go outside that and curious results.
Wear the pads too much, less power.
not toe them in properly, noise.
(easier with the later holders that have an allen key set screw to assist in toe in.

A brake for the watchmaker capable mechanic.

Soldier the end of the fresh wire before cutting down to length just at and beyond the pinch bolt really helps, use flux!
Stainless cables? Silver soldier.

Gary Fountain

I must say that your observation skills are pretty damn good! I don't always solder the ends but that is due to laziness - soldering is pretty much mandatory. And.... the 3.5mm Allen Key was a nasty thing for Campagnolo to do.

mackgoo

P!N20

Passed a dude on a recent retro ride that featured some pretty hairy gravel descents. I asked him, "how are those Deltas going?" He replied, "they don't stop!"

Gary Fountain

Hahaha, if they're not adjusted properly pulling on the lever can only be a suggestion to the calliper to slow things down.

mackgoo

I use one finger, the same as with my Record side pulls on another bike.

Choke 

I love Deltas, I have them on 5 bikes. They are a PITA to set up but when done properly they work fine IME. I have taken to replacing the pads/holders with modern Campy ones, I think that really helps.

Record Deltas don't have much clearance, but Croce d'Aune Deltas do. They mount differently than the Records and that makes all the difference in the world....so I prefer the CdA version over the Record.

This tire measured 31.8mm. It helped that Sig. Losa was wise enough to make the brake mount so that the pads would be all the way down in the slot.

uncle uncle

I'm with you Salamandrine.... aesthetically, I always viewed them as bloated in appearance. So, coupled with the struggles to get them adequately adjusted, and no improved performance (even adequately adjusted), I never really understood the lusting and the drooling. To each his own though.

Lascauxcaveman 

I managed to tune mine to a very mediocre performance level. That is, they performed as well as a junker 1990's Walmart bike with petrified pads.

So, they were usable, anyway. I've never been a big fan of powerful brakes. Seems all they do is make you go slower, amirite?

cudak888 

-Kurt

martl

They tend to thrown onto contemporary lugged steel frames which are delicate in appearance, and they just crush them, visually. They don't look all that wrong on something more beefy. True for most of the C-Rec group parts.
Can't say they work any worse than other stuff of that period. I hate the fiddly adjustment more than their braking performance, but then i have a soft spot for parts that achieve a simple task sort of half-assed by doing it very complicated (*cough* Cambio Corsa *cough*)...

Paletti

I have a pair of the last generation .. five pivot points and they stop really well. I think better than the super record of the era. But yeah .. they are hard to work on and a pain in the ass.

Road Fan

Bill, what did you want out of this thread? You're not known for starting trolling threads, and perhaps have sworn a duty to fight trolls wherever they are.