Aztec cantilever blocks

[Mickeyluv]

I've just worn out the last of my old Aztec Control Block supply. These had 'Aztec' moulded in and 'Made in the UK'. I ordered a set of replacements and there's no marking at all to indicate they're Aztec - could be any generic part. The only reference is on the instruction sheet and the box label says made in Taiwan. Is this how they are nowadays?

[AndyK]

Aztec is a brand name used by bike parts distributor Madison for its own-brand brake parts and spares, and yes, at the budget end that is how they come these days. If you want UK-made and higher quality you could try Fibrax - so long as your canti brakes will accept v-brake style pads, as Fibrax don't seem to do canti-specific pads any more. https://fibrax.org/shop.html#!/MTB/c/22292089

[Mickeyluv]

Mine use an unthreaded post, so it looks like I'm out of luck. I wish I'd known before ordering that they're no longer made in the UK. I may be wrong, but these now seem to be the kind of parts I see in discount shops alongside clothes pegs and mouse traps, or fitted to a £75 full suspension MTB.

Update: just scrolled through and they do have some post mount blocks and possibly the Alpine ones may be OK.

[AndyK]

Afraid so, yes. You're on a burning platform, as they say in the tech industry.

One of those Fibrax pads has an unthreaded post but it's designed for V-brakes so it may or may not work for your cantis - depends on the design.

There is still a premium option: the excellent KoolStop (made in the USA) - for instance these dual-compound canti pads. A lot more expensive but probably worth it.

[Brucey]

Clarks make 'XTR' type brake blocks. The holders have smooth posts and will accept 'v' brake inserts. They don't work perfectly with every brake, but for the others they open up a wealth of possibilities.

[roubaixtuesday]

Clarks make 'XTR' type brake blocks. The holders have smooth posts and will accept 'v' brake inserts. They don't work perfectly with every brake, but for the others they open up a wealth of possibilities.

You can also by canti fitting post holders which accept roadie brake blocks, which I discovered by accident in a French bike shop which didn't have any other canti brake blocks.

[scottg]

Kool Stop, made in the colonies, where expensive, posh, poor vfm, cantilevers are popular.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-block ... d/?geoc=US

[hamster]

Got a pair of post mount V brake holders you can have for postage if stuck.

[rjb]

?

[rjb]

Here's a photo of some road caliper Aztec brake shoes. Madison branding with Aztec in small print on the side of the shoe itself. I've removed the nut from the one on the left and replaced it with a post mount adapter commonly fitted to post mount brake shoes. These may have even been fitted to Aztec post mount brake shoes. I've hung on to the adapters when the blocks have worn away for future use. They would even fit V brake blocks providing they have enough thread.

[Bmblbzzz]

In what way have you found the new Aztec blocks to be unsatisfactory? Stopping power, wear, ... ?

[Brucey]

Clarks make 'XTR' type brake blocks. The holders have smooth posts and will accept 'v' brake inserts. They don't work perfectly with every brake, but for the others they open up a wealth of possibilities.

You can also by canti fitting post holders which accept roadie brake blocks, which I discovered by accident in a French bike shop which didn't have any other canti brake blocks.

they tend to be quite pricey in the UK for some reason; still, no worries it is easy enough to make your own eg. using rjb's approach (to which I am no stranger).

[Mickeyluv]

In what way have you found the new Aztec blocks to be unsatisfactory? Stopping power, wear, ... ?

There's no branding or any other identifying marks like the original Aztec blocks, so could be from any supplier. They're narrower, so don't distribute wear as much across the rim. Friction material depth is considerably less. More secure grip on old type due to groove pattern on post being more effective. Sadly, no longer made in the UK.

[AndyK]

Another quality option: Elvedes 6833 Cross brake pads - "Cross" being a reference to that last bastion of cantilever brakes, the cyclocross bike. Quite hard to find in the UK, but any local bike shop that has an account with the UK distributor, The Cycle Division, should be able to order them in. Better still it's a cartridge design with replaceable pads (Elvedes 6834 for the replacement). I haven't used those particular pads but I use Elvedes pads on my road bikes' calliper brakes and they're excellent. Elvedes is based in the Netherlands but I don't know where the pads are manufactured.

[gaz]

Kool Stop, made in the colonies, where expensive, posh, poor vfm, cantilevers are popular.

Cheaper at Spa, be sure to order "unthreaded".