Cross-Check build - brakes compatible with both flat bars and drops?
02-08-24, 02:34 PM
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Cross-Check build - brakes compatible with both flat bars and drops?
Looking at building up a Cross-Check. V-brake recommendations that I can use with both flats and drops? (I know I'll need different levers.)
02-08-24, 02:55 PM
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Standard v-brakes require a long pull lever to get enough cable travel to operate the brakes correctly. This rules out road levers. The answer is a short pull v-brake, which can be used with both road levers and short pull flat bar levers. The TRP CX8.4 is an example of a short pull v-brake.
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02-08-24, 03:16 PM
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Another vote for cantilever brakes. I run Velo Orange Grand Cru Zeste brakes on my Cross-Check and they work/look great. My first setup had drops with Campy 9-speed, then I recently converted to flat/riser bar with Grand Cru levers and it was a flawless switchover.
02-08-24, 04:17 PM
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02-08-24, 05:02 PM
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Tektro does, or did until recently, make road-type levers for drop bars. I have on a couple of bikes and they work as well as anything else.
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02-08-24, 06:43 PM
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The only V-Brakes on the market are made by Shimano and those are all long pull brakes. If you want a different linear pull brake that is not a Shimano trademark I would suggest Paul Mini Motos for a short pull experience or Moto Lites for a long pull experience. TRP also makes a short pull mini linear pull brake.
I would however suggest something like either the Corner bar to go to "road" bars or stick with something like the Velo Orange Crazy Bar or Moloko Bar and then you don't have to convert and you can stick with long pull stuff and enjoy life. I am not saying that drop bars are bad but if I know I want to convert and might want to do it more often and don't want to a fiddly system the Corner bar is a perfect conversion and the VO Crazy Bar is perfect for a one bar solution.
I would however suggest something like either the Corner bar to go to "road" bars or stick with something like the Velo Orange Crazy Bar or Moloko Bar and then you don't have to convert and you can stick with long pull stuff and enjoy life. I am not saying that drop bars are bad but if I know I want to convert and might want to do it more often and don't want to a fiddly system the Corner bar is a perfect conversion and the VO Crazy Bar is perfect for a one bar solution.
02-08-24, 07:27 PM
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Are you using brifters? If not, V-brake road levers are easy to get. Tektros. I don't know offhand what the V-brake models are but they are not hard to find. Pretty sure the Tektro website will spell out the model numbers and any shop can get them.
Edit: you can also use regular levers/brifters with "Travel Agents", a simple device that converts high force/low travel cable pulls from the regular levers to low force/high travel cable pulls for V-brakes. Never done it but have known of many who swear by them.
Edit: you can also use regular levers/brifters with "Travel Agents", a simple device that converts high force/low travel cable pulls from the regular levers to low force/high travel cable pulls for V-brakes. Never done it but have known of many who swear by them.
Last edited by 79pmooney; 02-08-24 at 07:32 PM.
02-08-24, 09:45 PM
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Dia-Compe 287-V brake levers:
https://www.rivbike.com/products/bra...near-long-pull
They pull the right amount of cable for V-brakes. I’ve used them and they’re dandy.
https://www.rivbike.com/products/bra...near-long-pull
They pull the right amount of cable for V-brakes. I’ve used them and they’re dandy.
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02-08-24, 09:48 PM
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I found the shape of the hoods to be rather uncomfortable with the Tektro long pull drop bar levers. Otherwise they do their job fine. If smaller hoods with a more old-school feel sound appealing, the Dia-Compe 287v are worth checking out.
Travel Agents are a great solution, they let you use a v-brake/linear pull brake with any short pull lever. One of the best feeling brake setups I've had on a bike had a Travel Agent as part of the equation, though the Dia-Compe SS-5 levers deserve most of the credit.
Edit: If the plan is to regularly swap between drops and flat bars, and you pick the Travel Agents, you might want to grab a pair for each set of bars, otherwise you will likely wear out your brake cables quicker by feeding them through the Travel Agent multiple times.
Travel Agents are a great solution, they let you use a v-brake/linear pull brake with any short pull lever. One of the best feeling brake setups I've had on a bike had a Travel Agent as part of the equation, though the Dia-Compe SS-5 levers deserve most of the credit.
Edit: If the plan is to regularly swap between drops and flat bars, and you pick the Travel Agents, you might want to grab a pair for each set of bars, otherwise you will likely wear out your brake cables quicker by feeding them through the Travel Agent multiple times.
Last edited by Arrowana; 02-08-24 at 09:54 PM.
