Spongy at best, and totally ineffectual at worst.
For this reason Ive replaced them with shorty V-brakes 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!
So, face hurt yet?
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.
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?
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.
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.
Oh and this has eliminated the braking shudder from the carbon forks too. :D
Its a risk to ride this bike, but personally Im happy with my choice.
posts
