Liquidspacehead

Hello everyone! I recently was very fortunate to find a very affordable surly crosscheck in very good shape, and I got it! I love everything about this bike all around and do not plan on making any changes in the next few months. However, there are a few modifications that I would like to make at some point. One being V-brakes. Right now it has the stock Tektro Cantilever brakes from what I am assuming is an older model. So my question is SINCE it does have drop bar shifters and they are brake only levers, would it be possible? I would gladly replace all the cables and housing for the brakes when that time comes, IF I am able to do this. I like V-brakes a lot more and they're predictable skids are what I dream of when riding (even if I replace mr brake pads 2x as fast).

Mr. 66

You may need new levers if you change out to V-brake.

What's a matter with the cantis?

dsbrantjr

If you keep the cantis (which I have on all of my bikes BTW) I would recommend that you put a reflector bracket or similar under the straddle wire to catch it in case the main wire parts; the straddle wire will get caught in the tire knobs and lock the tire..

showlow

You just need to get brake levers that have the appropriate pull. Tektro RL520 drop bar levers are made for v-brakes. I use them on my CC. They work great. V-brakes are much better than cantis for just about everything.

tFUnK

Mini-v brakes work with road-pull brake levers.

freeranger

Or you could use a travel agent with your current levers: https://problemsolversbike.com/produ..._agents_-_6416

aggiegrads

Or you can get travel agents that will convert the pull ratio from the levers that you have to be appropriate for long-arm v brakes.

Mini-V brakes also work with short pull levers, and they are cheap too. I have the Tektro 926 on my Kona Jake the Snake and they stop like nobody’s business.

You want something shorter than about 85mm.

Liquidspacehead

Is this what you mean? My rear bag covers it in the picture but I think I have what you mean.

Liquidspacehead

so I could essentially make it work with mini V's and my current levers? I can't really explain to anyone who doesn't understand why I love them more than canti's but you seem to get why!

dsbrantjr

No something under the straddle cable to catch it if the main brake cable parts or comes loose, to stop it from fouling the tire.

aggiegrads

Yes, you can. The downside is that you get slightly less pad clearance and much less clearance between the tire and the exposed section of the brake cable.

aggiegrads

I also recommend getting adjustable noodles or in-line adjusters:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=3154
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...s.php?id=35773
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=1613

the road levers don’t have the ability to adjust cable tension, nor do v-brakes, so you need some way to adjust as pads wear.

That’s a great color, by the way. What does Surly call it?

Rogerogeroge

So you lock up the front wheel and send yourself over the handlebars? Why don't you just use your rear brake to stop? I've never heard that argument for using a reflector.

BTW, I can tell that those canti's aren't set up correctly at all. Those pads aren't set up symmetrically and the straddle cable is about two inches two long, which would probably necessitate a new brake cable.

dabac

Last time I checked, it was still possible to buy Travel Agents.
These are pulleys that replace the noodle on V-brakes and allow you to use canti/caliper levers by increasing the cable pull.

showlow

Forgot about this part. I split my cables and installed an inline barrel adjuster.

Liquidspacehead

I am not sure what they call it, I am pretty sure it's an older model by a couple years.

DiabloScott

This issue with cantilevers was one of the main reasons they invented V-brakes, and why canti's are so rare on newer bikes.