531colin wrote:But I think the light tourer is a fashion victim, and dead as a dodo. STI levers are a fashion imperative, which rules out full-size Vee brakes which are the most sensible brakes for a tourer. You can just bung on a bigger tyre for roughstuff, and get a raised bottom bracket. And all the fashionistas know that cantilevers don't work, so you absolutely need disc brakes to get clearance for more than 25mm tyres. What a crock!
May I take this opportunity to ask for advice...I have a nice to ride bike which is laid up following a couple of incidents due to inadequate braking. It is shod with 37mm tyres (though I would be happy to go down to 35mm or possibly 32mm) and has mini v brakes. Therein the problem, they require constant adjustment which I seem to be unable to get right. (Also wheel removal is a pain requiring deinflation of the tyres since even after unclipping the mini vees there is insufficient clearance.) The bike has Tiagra STIs.
I would like to bring the bike back into service but need to solve the brake issue...I need effective braking that does not require constant adjustment.
My LBS (part of a chain) suggests changing to cantilever brakes. Would this solve the problem? How do I figure out which size I need? Or is there another solution that would give even better braking? BTW the bike is a Spa titanuim tourer.
thanks
Andrew