RH Clark

Does a Surly LHT have the proper frame mount to change from Canti to V brakes? I realize the proper levers will be necessary, just wondering what if anything I need to mount them to the frame.

shelbyfv

Should be a straight forward easy swap if you have the right levers.

cyccommute 

V-brakes and cantilever brakes are interchangeable with regards to the brake bosses. I’m rather surprised that Shimano didn’t require completely different brake bosses back in the 90s when linear brakes were first introduced but even Shimano can’t screw everything up all the time…they try but sometimes they make small mistakes that we can be thankful for.

hokiefyd 

If your frame has a rear cable stop to transition exposed brake cable into cable housing, or if it runs full cable housing all the way back, then you shouldn't have any problems.

If it doesn't have a rear cable stop and it doesn't run full cable housing, then you can either run full cable housing yourself with zip ties or other clamps or you can install a clamp-on cable stop. Some frames designed for cantilever brakes don't have a rear cable stop, and use a steel "noodle" or some other conveyance to pass exposed brake cable around the seat tube and back to the cantilever straddle wire. Linear pull/V-brakes require cable housing to the brake arm noodle so you'll have to figure out what to do there if your frame lacks a rear cable stop. If you need a clamp-on cable stop, you can get one from Problem Solvers, Origin8, and likely other outfits as well.

soyabean

Instead of swapping to V-brakes, have you considered upgrading to Avid Shortys?

You'll have the ease of installing road pads and not mess with aligning canti pads.

veganbikes

You can mount Shimano's V-Brakes to anything with canti mounts you could also do another brand of linear pull brakes with the proper mounting or with Problem Solvers Travel Agents. Though it is possible maybe a different cantilever brake might be something to look at if you don't want to change levers or don't want to be stuck with the less than comfortable Tektro or Cane Creek levers for long pull stuff.

dedhed

While not the case for a LHT, some early years canti brake bosses are too narrow for using V-brakes (Linear pull for the pedantic) and even some newer cantis (55mm-65mm)

RH Clark

My reason for asking is that I am going to try some beach cruiser type bars on my LHT and I already have a parts bike with V brakes, levers, and Deore 9 speed shifters and wheels to swap. I have always preferred the braking on V brakes to any Canti brakes I've owned.

soyabean

Why?

For commuting and light trails, rim brakes are rim brakes.

There is no substantial advantage for one over the other, other than "how they feel".

For me, when wheelsets are true and I mean TRUE, I love setting my canti levers so they only have to be touched for it to brake. That means my pads hover 1mm from the rim.

cyccommute 

Perhaps in rare cases but I’ve never run across one and I’ve swapped hundreds of v-brakes across all kinds of model years and have yet to run across one that is too narrow.

dedhed

Consider yourself lucky.
​​​​​​https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/201...izing-psa.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...-v-brakes.html

grumpus

Cantilever setup is very flexible, with most types you can tune the brake response if you understand the geometry.

cyccommute 

As someone in the comments in that post noted, rearranging the order of the orbital washers on the brake pads is all that is really needed to make the swap. I haven’t run across too many bikes from the 70s but 80s bikes come in quite commonly to my co-ops. I don’t measure the brake post spacing but I’ve never had a problem on a referb if the cantilevers need changing. If the arms seem to splayed out, I just swap the washers around.

It’s really not that much of an issue.

douis

I have a LHT with v brakes, it's fine.

RH Clark

I don't hate canti brakes. I have just always had better brakes with V brakes. Maybe they did need adjustment. My reason for switching though is that the drop bar levers won't work with the upright bars I was thinking of mounting. I have V brakes and levers on a parts bike handy as soon as I pick new handlebars.

shelbyfv

Sounds like a good plan.

mr,grumpy 

Absolutely not. I had Cantilevers on my Tricross and they were abysmal, no matter how much I messed wiht them. Not simply “no as good” but “wicked dangerous”. Swapped them out got the trio v-brakes (no travel agent) and it’s 100 times better. Perfectly functional and safe bicycle now. As long as the fork doesn’t implode. Looks Bodge tho. Anyway…

zacster

I always found cantis a bit spongy, and switching to V-brakes made a big difference for NYC riding.

bboy314

Cantis can be great, or not so great. I think they get a bad rap more than V/linear pulls because there are a lot more variables involved in proper setup of cantis, whereas v brake setup is generally pretty simple.

bboy314

Cantis can be great, or not so great. I think they get a bad rap more than V/linear pulls because there are a lot more variables involved in proper setup of cantis, whereas v brake setup is generally pretty simple.

I say this as someone who’s done thousands of miles of loaded touring in the mountains with cantilever brakes.