Johno59

And you thought things were simpler back in the 1920s?

The LBS didn't stock any spares!

Except the pads of course....... gee thanks.

Steel Charlie

I have always thought that they were nothing less than laughably ugly. Giant glob of a brake ! HAHAHAHA

Johno59

I genuinely believe the 1928 Sunbeam center pivot brake was more aero than the Delta barn door on my Holdsworth. Neither were much good for stopping.

bikingshearer 

Yeah, go figure. Campy also spec'd a 7mm allen bolt on something or other that once passed through my hands but is now long forgotten. If you need a 3.5mm allen wrench, Bondhus is your answer.

I had a set of Deltas. Note the past tense. They came on a bike I bought. I rode them for two or three flatish rides for the heck of it (I always planned to sell them, and I did). As stoppers, they were . . . okay. I mean, they stopped me and I didn't die. I did not take them down any serious hills, but they did what I asked them to do. They are beautiful by themselves sitting in my hand, but they are huge on a bike, disproportionally so to my eye. I did not want to sort through figuring out how to set them up and I wanted the power of dual pivots (I'm a big boy and I go down significant hills almost every ride), so I moved them along to someone who appreciated them. Went a long toward paying for the bike, too.

repechage

Early Cinelli and 3ttt stems used a 7 mm Allen draw bolt.

the 3.5 mm Campagnolo Delta fastener just went with the corporate attitude of the time.
because we want to be different.
and have that overpriced Brev camp stamped key.

Johno59

Wow! You mean to say you don't carry a 9/64 Whitworth allen key in your tool-kit? How do you survive?

smd4

Agreed!. What was Campy thinking??

georges1

Robvolz 

side note: does anybody have a black rubber baffle? not the light grey one?

Or a hack where I might find something that will fit?

seagrade 

Comparing Delta brakes with dual pivots was not a comparison that was possible when Deltas were released. I was and would still be quite happy with Deltas but I’d hope dual pivots would be an improvement, as I would monoplanars for that matter, which both followed Deltas.

I find it a little weird how Delta brakes seem so polarising. It’s not like C&V riders don’t accommodate numerous other safety and performance shortcomings in their parts choices with little or no concern from anyone…!

Johno59

I have six 1920-30s Sunbeams, all with Westwood rims. In 1918 they cost a normal worker 6 months salary to buy.You pull the brake lever at the end of WW1 (1918) and the bike stops at the beginning of WW2 (1939). They are literally insane if you have to stop suddenly.
If it's raining you don't bother pulling the lever. You just say a brief prayer and hope you die a quick death.

easyupbug 

Other than avoiding disc brakes and the very few who hold onto clip pedals what would you see as numerous safety short comings?

Wildwood 

Spaghetti Legs 

This thread reminded me that’s it’s been a while since I’ve ridden mine. Took the De Rosa out this morning. The Deltas (5 pivot) worked fine as always. In fact I was on a short (about 1/2 mile) steep fast descent that ends in a 90 degree right hand bend, going about 30 mph and as I neared escape velocity on a gentle curve when I come onto a lane closure, narrow road, on my side. Part of the University of Virginia ongoing program to kill and maim all cyclists that venture onto Grounds. Brakes and bike handled the sudden deceleration and line change just fine.

Pic in my kitchen post ride as it was too hot to linger outside.I will add that I have a squeal in the front brake which I think is more a function of the Kool Stop pads

jet sanchEz

I was re-watching the 1989 TdF and loved seeing them in use on Fignon's Raleigh

Here's an old pic of my Rossin with them, they worked just fine

canklecat

A few years ago I saw a 70-something y/o fellow who had Delta brakes on his Italian bike with all Campagnolo components. I don't recall the frame/maker now but it was an impressive ride. He said the brake worked well enough for our mostly flattish terrain with rollers.

bikingshearer 

Pre-CPSC Campy brakes, QR wheel skewers, front and rear derailleurs. To hear the CPSC tell it, they were/are blades of death ready to pounce and kill or maim poor unsuspecting cyclists, and maybe even normal people, too.

Oh, and forks without lawyer lips. Can't forget those.

Robvolz 

he said "Lawyer Lips"!!!!

repechage

I prefer the pre CPSC days, where one could have toys such as the Mattel vac-u-former, creepy crawlers and other interesting toys.
‘the only time I scratched myself was on a post CPSC Campagnolo derailleur where the molding spru from one of the spring “bells” was oriented in a way to catch my skin.

did you know the UCI requires “lawyer lips” on QR axle forks today?! I guess they cannot trust those team mechanics. No wonder why almost all are thru axles where even team mechanics cannot muscle off an axle without a power ratchet. Progress… is not always advancement. ‘Give ‘em a replacement bike

repechage

that poor LH brake hood.

abdon 

They are no more expensive than current super record Campagnolo brakes. I don't think people are buying those not to use them.

El Chaba

I will add my general thoughts on the subject of using Delta brakes. First, the various models cover quite a range. There is a big difference from first generation to fourth and then the Croce versions are an entirely different brake as well. I have always found it interesting that many of the Delta brakes most vocal detractors have never owned or ridden a set….perhaps never seen a set in person. It does not stop them from offering opinions, presumably from things they have read or heard. I know nothing about the operation of the Croce versions , so I will leave commenting for those with experience. For the Record versions, it is safe to say as time and models progressed, the brakes gained mechanical advantage or “power”. They brake differently than a Super Record sidepull, and by that I mean that Campagnolo engineered them to optimize modulation. On that front, they have never been equaled. To fully appreciate Deltas, you have to race them in a large, crowded, nervous pack. Having said that, I can lock up a wheel with any version of the Deltas, so at that point there is nothing more that the calipers can give with respect to mechanical advantage. A lot of people don’t know that you can “tune” the brakes a bit as the reach can be adjusted via both the body and the pads. Many people adjust the body for maximum clearance and adjust the pads accordingly, but it is worth experimenting by not giving up any more clearance than necessary. By this point in time, all of the original pads on the Deltas are 30 some years old. I don’t know if the material was different, but the Delta pads *seem* to get harder with age than many other versions. Koolstop makes nice replacements, but to accommodate the stickiness you should add a little toe in. I have a set of second generation Deltas with original pads. I plan on replacing them this winter as they have gotten ridiculously hard. I filed the surface a bit which helped some, but those pads seem to get hard from surface to center. My final version set has new pads and I would be glad to have any detractors take test ride with them and then offer up any comments or complaints. There is no question that Deltas have to be one of the most polarizing bicycle components of all time, right after Simplex Delrin derailleurs. I have no defense for the 3.5 mm Allen bolt….

Robvolz 

What he said!!


I was going to quote every person offering an opinion on looks/weight without actually answering the question with "But how well do they brake."

Instead…….

I think I'll break out that 3.5 wrench and mount a pair. Report soon.

For those who chimed in with honest riding assessments, I thank you.

jamesdak 

We need more pics!

Steel Charlie

They could cost $1million and if I was given a pair and had to keep them they would never be on a bike. The pix in posts above are worth a few thousand words.

Just say'n