cantilever or dual pivot caliper for Mercian Audax

[garygkn]

The choice is between cantilever or caliper for a Mercian Audax 700c 28c with full mudguards.

I am also thinking of utilising a front mini rack. The Nitto M12 Front Rack canti fit would work with cantilevers.

Would long reach calipers hinder the fitting of a front rack? This rack Nitto M18 Mini Front Rack looks like it may work.


Any feedback most welcome.

[Tako]

Gary, still working out your dream bike eh?
My audax runs on 23 or 28mm (light touring) tyres with campag calipers and guards. Possibly fit 32mm with guards and 35mm w/o. The Nitto M-18 is a lovely rack, no probs with fit.

[PW]

Up to 28C plus guards we run Shimano long reach DPs. They're great in most conditions travelling light or with moderate loads. For camping trips with 32C tyres the serious tourer uses wide profile cantis. They don't feel much different running light, but with a camping load the cantis have more grunt, and they'll fit around a wider tyre profile.

[garygkn]

Hi all, liked the look of the Paul tourer cantis but also like DPs.

[glueman]

You'll save yourself a whole heap of trouble by opting for deep-drop dual pivots. A Gilles Berthoud handlebar bag on a front rack would look a treat but you could always have fork braze-ons and use them for lights as well.

[garygkn]

Thanks that's made up my mind. I would prefer to avoid a heap of trouble.
What is the trouble? Complications?

[glueman]

Thanks that's made up my mind. I would prefer to avoid a heap of trouble.
What is the trouble? Complications?

Cantilevers are fickle things and their power much over-estimated, in my experience anyway. Paul's are as pretty as a picture but whether their performance matches their price I couldn't say.

[rgc_911]

I have cantis on my Cyclocross bike and long drop dual pivot calipers on my Audax.

I spend forever messing around with the cantis and the braking is average (no loaded bike remember)
And they cause awful fork judder when I do get the braking power up.

The DP calipers hardly ever need adjusting and stop really well - I've run 38 tyres with no problems (they have a cam to open them,
so it actually easier to remove the wheel than popping the straddle wire off the cantis)

Up until the dual pivot design there probably wasn't much in it but if you really need to stop you will pray less with DP calipers:-)

well that is my experience of them anyway

cheers

Cookie

http://www.fordcc.org.uk

[garygkn]

Thanks it looks like DPs for me.

[robwa10]

I've got Shimano R650 long reach on my MK3 and they're really good. Just make sure you go for the higher end ones and I don't think you can go wrong.

[garygkn]

Cheers Rog. Another vote for DPs!

[Tako]

brake pads make a huge difference too! high end calipers + good pads (l recommend koolstops dual compound) gives me excellent stopping power and modulation when loaded. Oh... the M18 rack is more adjustable than the canti one.

[garygkn]

Good to hear and I can have braze ons added to accomodate the fitting!

[Tonyf33]

I've got Shimano R650 long reach on my MK3 and they're really good. Just make sure you go for the higher end ones and I don't think you can go wrong.

You may as well stick to Tiagra level Dual Pivots, I've ridden them for years, with 20kg in the bags plus my 98kg they have more than adequate stopping power even compared to my D/Aces on the race bike(unloaded of course)
Cantis can be excellent or just average, I had some old Shimano Deer Head & MT-60's both were excellent on a loaded tourer, however I always find lining up the blocks, adjusting cables to be more hassle than dual pivots.
Agree too on choice of pads, I use koolstop Ceramics on the back & Clarks on the front though the bog standard ones with the Tiagras should be fine. If using Cantis I'd go for koolstop everytime.

[scottg]

Google Tektro R-556 upto 73mm brake reach with a long throw q/r for wide tires.
Much more room for mudguards vs. the Shimano.

Or Tektro R-538 a 57mm reach brake with the same q/r as the R-556, a wider brake
than the Shimano, fits around stock narrow SKS mudguards better.

Or the money no object solution of Paul Centre Pulls using brazed on mounts, I have
those on a custom bike, excellent braking.