CarLo

What is a good kit for V brakes? and upgrading to V brakes should be simple to replace canti?

ftwelder

You may get a better result in the mechanics forum. V-brakes and Canti require different levers but ya, it's an easy switch.

qualla

It's _almost_ always an easy switch. Some of the C & V Japanese bikes from the 80's, for example, use a slightly different spacing for the mounting posts (and usually have horizontal form Dia-Compe cantis). I'm not sure whether conversion to V-brake is even possible for these without changing the posts.

ColonelJLloyd 

What advantage will you be gaining by switching from cantilever to V-brakes?

onetwentyeight 

the cable pull required for cantilevers is different then that of vs. you either need v specific levers or a travel agent (which is a PITA to set up). V's do stop better than Cantis, but I think if you are using drop bars it may be more trouble and expense than it is worth.

KonAaron Snake 

Properly adjusted cantis stop pretty much the same as v-brakes, they're just hard to properly adjust. My undersatanding is that you can't run road levers with v-brakes unless you do this whole elaborate pulley system. If it's a MTB from the 80s-90s, you can probably do it fairly easily.

fietsbob

Long down hills on the trail can be fatiguing to your hands with a Cantilever brake setup of some types/combinations.

if you don't put your bike in that kind of service, it may not be much of a gain.

operator

It's not an elaborate pulley system. It's called a travel agent. Brake levers are cheap to replace with the correct kind for the correct brake.

mike_s

Properly setup, Vs and cantis stop the same, with the same amount of lever effort. The difference is the ratios at both ends, which only affects the movement and amount of tension on the cable in between the lever and the brakes. The move to V-brakes eliminated any problems with the straddle cable on cantis snagging a tire (which was also solved with the newer Shimano system), and allows more flexibility because the cable goes straight to the noodle, eliminating the need for a suitably positioned cable stop.

The only reason I can think of to change to Vs is to take advantage of the wider range of levers/brifters currently available for them. There's no advantage in braking ability.

badamsjr

I have to disagree with the idea that V brakes have no better stopping power than cantilevers. Properly set up with stabilizer (also known as Brake Booster), A V brake is like a 26" disc brake. As far as Travel Agent, it is not hard to set up, and makes a very smooth, easy to modulate braking effort possible.

My touring frame is not set up for disc brakes, so I used a V brake with Brake Booster and Travel Agent, and it works very well.

I did put a disc fork on it, with an Avid road BB7 and 203mm rotor.

mike_s

You're arguing with math and physics. The simple fact is, with proper setup, a similar pressure on the lever results in similar clamping force on the rim. You can get boosters for cantis, too, if you've got a bike with flex-y seatstays.

fuzz2050

Be careful about this, early mountain bikes used all sorts of different spacings for the brake posts. Touring bikes from that era are even worse. If you have a bike with narrow spacing, it's easier to just stick with your current brakes, even switching to new cantilevers can be iffy.

As far as V brakes vs Cantilevers; both can skid a wheel right? Then both stop the same...

531phile 

If you don't want to get Travel Agenets, Tektro, Cane Creek and Dia Compe sell V-brake specific drop handlebar levers.

531phile 

I've got a old Trek 620 that has Cantilever brakes with drop bar brakes and a modern Trek 520 with V-Brakes with drop bar brakes. Both were set up at a bike shop. The one with the V-brakes has definitely more stopping power. The cantilever bike even has kool stops too while the V-brake bike has OEM pads.

fuzz2050

I'd point to a set-up error there. Cantilevers are great because there are a thousand and one things you can adjust to get the brakes to exactly fit your need. They kinda suck because unless you get all thousand and one things set up right, they provide weak, anaemic braking.

pacificaslim

There are also "mini v-brakes" that work properly with typical road levers without using a travel agent adapter. I've ordered some for my cyclocross bike and will be trying them out next week (Tektro RX-5 which has 85mm arms).

CarLo

I actually have a MTB Specialized Rockhopper early 90's with the cantis. It should be an easy conversion yeah?

cs1

No, bikes set up for cantis have no place to anchor the cable. The brakes themselves will just bolt on.

pacificaslim

What do you mean no place to anchor the cable? If you're talking about the bike set up for cantis, then it'll already have the cable housing hanger and if you're talking about V-brakes or Mini-Vs then there is no need for one because the housing runs to the brake noodle itself (or travel agent adapter if that's what is being used).

CarLo

heres the setup

CarLo

my main concerns are the bosses. everything else I think i'll be good. Ofcourse change out brake levers and V brakes.

cyccommute 

No need to worry. Cantilever bosses are V-brake bosses. If the bike had U-brakes, you'd be hosed. But it doesn't. All you need are the brakes and levers.

CarLo

sweet! thanks! now which V brake kit should i get? Shimano? tektro? avid? etc? got any recommendations?

531phile 

I got the Avid Single Digit 5 on one of my bikes. I like.

fietsbob

They are all pretty decent , a Coke or Pepsi kind of thing ..

price points are often just polishing or paint.

Cane Creek Direct curve design makes the noodle un needed.