Why cantilever brakes on cyclocross

The main source of danger is the rotor. Furthermore, the rotor gets really hot during long descents and can easily burn the leg of a cyclist. The superior braking power of disc brakes allows cyclists to brake further down a corner and over a shorter distance. The minimized braking time results in greater average speed and more aggression. Nonetheless, it would be inaccurate to conclude that amazing cyclocross performance cannot be achieved with cantilever brakes.

Jonathan Page , one of the most popular American cyclo-cross riders, has competed on cantilever brakes and holds a multitude of high-level achievements. He is a great example that peak CX performance can become a reality without disc brakes. Disc brakes offer an undeniable advantage once you get used to them. That said, cantilevers are unlikely to hold back recreational and amateur cyclists.

The quality of the bicycle and its features are important, but past a certain basis, they cannot compensate for non-developed skills. New riders have some growing to do before concluding that cantilever brakes are preventing them from reaching the throne. The cantilevers that you see on up-to-date cyclo-cross bikes offer the following improvements over the year-old models found on retro touring and mountain bikes:. Old cantilever brakes use a link wire as a connection to the brake arms whereas the newer models come with a straddle cable and a carrier.

Modern models provide the option of moving the pads up and down. This makes the brakes compatible with a greater number of frames and forks because not all brake bosses are at the exact same position. Some modern cantilevers come with a barrel adjuster that pulls or releases the straddle wire. This feature alone is considered a significant improvement over primitive cantilever models. They go back a long time. This is a clear sign that the sport is slowly but surely moving away from cantilever brakes for good.

Loosen the brake straddle cable and move it a few millimetres to determine if the amount of lever travel suits your needs. If one brake arm is moving more than the other, double-check the brake-spring tension and make the necessary adjustments to re-centre the setup. Canadian Cycling Magazine January 27, Cyclocross Bike Maintenance — How to adjust your cantilever brakes and stop with confidence in the mucky stuff.

Step 1: Preparation Disconnect the brake cable from the brake arm. Load More. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Newsletter Signup. Cables and Housing: Cables are the best bang for the buck as far as components to upgrade for better performance.

Brake Levers: Sometimes better brake power is simply in the set-up. The further away for the pivot point that they are, the less effort your braking will be. Clean and Lube: It goes without saying that after a muddy race or season, sometimes all the pivot points get gunked up which prevents your brake from springing back and clearing the rim, or staying centered.

Plus, all that extra friction just saps some of the power from your hand that would normally go towards braking. So clean and lube the pivot points bushings, brake posts, and internal springs to keep everything running smoothly.

Most of the aftermarket cantilever and mini-V brakes for sale these days are great. When choosing a new set to upgrade with, go with a set that has a lot of adjustability so that you can experiment and troubleshoot. Figure out what exactly about your brake system you are hoping to resolve and make your upgrades based on those, but many issues can be resolved by set up and attention to where the problem is coming from.

Want some numbers to back up braking power? Some of the best cantilever brakes for bicycles include:. Cantilever brakes squeal due to vibrations on the pivot and flexing of the arms when you apply the brakes. Actually, the leading cause of the vibrations and squealing is the rear edge of the brake pads touching the rim before the front part does. To solve the problem, set the front brake pad edges to strike the rim first,.

Since cyclocross biking competitions take place on wet and muddy terrains, the best braking system for cyclocross bikes happens to be the cantilever brakes. Cantilevers are simple to install and maintain, and they have the widest wheel clearance of all the rim brakes. In addition, the system allows for extra adjustments to suit different riding and braking styles.

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Reasons Why Cyclocross Bikes Have Cantilever Brakes Like we mentioned in the opening paragraphs, there are reasons that make cyclocross bikes continue using cantilever brakes despite the coming of advanced braking systems for bicycles.

Tire Clearance Specifically, the availability of more tire clearance when using cantilever brakes overshadows most of the other reasons. Allows Extra Adjustments The other reason why cantilever is popular with cyclocross bikes is that the brake system comes with a lot of room for adjustment. There are several advantages of using cantilever brakes that include: They are inexpensive compared to other braking systems Cantilever brakes are light in weight Performs well in wet and muddy conditions Have a wide tire clearance that allows the use of wide tires.

They feature long lever arms The cantilever brake system is easy to install and maintain In addition, the cantilever bike brakes are also in different profiles such as low, medium, and wide direct-pull What Is The Difference Between Cantilever And Caliper Brakes? Different Assembly The two types of rim brakes mount differently on the bike. Wheel Clearance One notable difference between cantilever and caliper brakes is the size of their wheel clearance. Cable Pull The other difference between the cantilever and caliper brakes is the length of cable they pull while engaging the brakes.