http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Specialized Tricross and their awful Brakes en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:30:02 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22059 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:10:43 +0000 Smudge 22059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Disc brakes - lousy mechanical advantage on the size of discs bicycles use (esp given the size of their wheels) overcome by using immense force to push the small expensive pads against the disc, generating significant amount of heat which a small disc is not that great at dissipating. They're great on MTB's where rim/pad wear is a problem due to grit / dirt etc, they're a(n expensive) solution for a problem that doesn't exist for road bikes imho.<br /> Great marketing though! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22051 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:07:19 +0000 druidh 22051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Disc brakes.</p> <p>That's all. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22040 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:31:29 +0000 Dave 22040@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I originally switched my brake levers because I often had to turn right at a busy mini-roundabout heading downhill... much better!</p> <p>I suppose the argument is that the dominant hand should use the main brake, but to me it makes sense to be able to give the more important signal while also being able to control your speed... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22039 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:42:19 +0000 kaputnik 22039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>STIs and cantilevers seem to work fine on the tourer, with an inline frogleg lever also. It's brake blocks themselves I've had most problems with. The stock Shimano ones and "Atzec" ones from TBW were eaten alive by the rim-filth accumulated from our roads when they are wet. The 3 compound Koolstop ones have lasted well through the winter and have offered great braking performance and - best of all - minimal squeal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22025 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:04:43 +0000 Smudge 22025@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dia compe V brake suitable levers on my drop bar-ed commuter and V brakes inherited from a mountain bike (despite the frame originally having cantilevers.<br /> Great brakes now :-)<br /> Never understood manufacturers fitting borderline brakes when powerful ones are so easy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22021 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:27:37 +0000 gembo 22021@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am hopefully going for cyclo-cross style cantilevers on my tricross in the near future [the old v-brakes are quite old and need replaced]. Will need a hanger/cablestop on the headset. This is being looked into by Mr Freewheelin - I have not abandoned my very good friends at The Bike Chain it is just that my work moved across town. I cannot possibly bore you with more tales of spongy tricross brakes, I did have this discussion with RuggTomCat in the pub... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22011 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:25:21 +0000 ruggtomcat 22011@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes there are at least two on the forum who post, god knows how many lurkers ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22010 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:17:55 +0000 Min 22010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think Gembo has spoken about rubbish brakes on the Tricross before. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2091#post-22007 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:21:02 +0000 ruggtomcat 22007@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spongy at best, and totally ineffectual at worst.</p> <p>For this reason Ive replaced them with <a href="http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=bcge-miniv">shorty V-brakes</a> in an attempt to make something that stops. Good thing too as when I took it to the shop they pointed out my old blocks were totally shot!</p> <p><strong>So, face hurt yet?</strong></p> <p>Nope, but be warned this is an experimental and very on-the-edge-of-maybe-being-dangerous. What I mean is that you really have to remember that your brakes are interacting keenly with the amount of traction/mass and it is possible to cross the line into forward flight with the application of unthinking or untrained force. </p> <p>On my Tricross I have little dog leg levers on the bars and STI's. I suspect that these little levers are direct pull brakes (they hadda warning sticker I threw away a while ago). The problem is that STI's were never ment for V's and DP levers need full size V's. Clear?</p> <p>Actually they work pretty well, and that standard levers are great to the point of really secure on-the-hoods braking. On the drops you only need one or two fingers. The Dog levers are totally fine.</p> <p>With the old brakes, even when new, I did not feel comfortable using just the rear brake with one hand while signaling to go right. Especially when going down hill. When coasting up to grab pedestrian/cycle crossing buttons I would actually have to stop myself on the facility instead of coming to a smooth halt then grabbing it. Now one handed control of the bike is effortless and safe. Total cost to 'upgrade' £36.</p> <p>Oh and this has eliminated the braking shudder from the carbon forks too. :D</p> <p>Its a risk to ride this bike, but personally Im happy with my choice. </p>