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Date: 04 Jun 2007 05:59:26
From: landotter
Subject: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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Warning: low brow parts!
I just did a utility run in flip flops on the Sprite and have come to
love the feel of the brakes on it. They're not the highest of
mechanical advantage in feel, but the modulation is the best of any
bike I've had. Which is pretty amusing considering the low brow mix of
parts. So what do ya think makes these brakes feel so nice? It's those
cheapie Tektro levers with adjustable pull, original Raleigh cables
(cleaned and lubed, had to keep the waffley housings), circa '78
Shimano 600 front, and original chrome steel calipers rear, both with
Koolstop Contis in grey. The rims are aluminum with no machining.
Front and rear both have a very linear and wonderful feel, so I'm
guessing that the crude Raleigh rear caliper isn't a problem. I'm
venturing that it's those cheap Continental pads combined with the non
machined rims. Seriously the best feeling caliper brakes I've used on
a bike, they almost feel like drum brakes on a good day or cable
disks.
I replaced the carts on the dual pivot brake on the front of my fixie
with black Kool Stops--but they don't feel nearly as nice. Braking
engages faster, but you don't get a positive feel when you apply
harder lever pressures. Is this a dual pivot vs. single pivot deal, or
is there LSD in the local water supply. :-P
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Date: 05 Jun 2007 05:25:27
From: Michael Press
Subject: Re: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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In article
<1180936766.438662.302030@p47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com >
,
landotter <landotter@gmail.com > wrote:
> Warning: low brow parts!
>
> I just did a utility run in flip flops on the Sprite and have come to
> love the feel of the brakes on it. They're not the highest of
> mechanical advantage in feel, but the modulation is the best of any
> bike I've had. Which is pretty amusing considering the low brow mix of
> parts. So what do ya think makes these brakes feel so nice? It's those
> cheapie Tektro levers with adjustable pull, original Raleigh cables
> (cleaned and lubed, had to keep the waffley housings), circa '78
> Shimano 600 front, and original chrome steel calipers rear, both with
> Koolstop Contis in grey. The rims are aluminum with no machining.
>
> Front and rear both have a very linear and wonderful feel, so I'm
> guessing that the crude Raleigh rear caliper isn't a problem. I'm
> venturing that it's those cheap Continental pads combined with the non
> machined rims. Seriously the best feeling caliper brakes I've used on
> a bike, they almost feel like drum brakes on a good day or cable
> disks.
>
> I replaced the carts on the dual pivot brake on the front of my fixie
> with black Kool Stops--but they don't feel nearly as nice. Braking
> engages faster, but you don't get a positive feel when you apply
> harder lever pressures. Is this a dual pivot vs. single pivot deal, or
> is there LSD in the local water supply. :-P
It is the single pivot caliper design.
Less brake engagement per unit lever pull.
I like the squishy feel, and a full pull on
the levers gives full stopping power on the brakes.
--
Michael Press
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Date: 04 Jun 2007 21:32:51
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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landotter wrote:
> Warning: low brow parts!
> I just did a utility run in flip flops on the Sprite and have come to
> love the feel of the brakes on it. They're not the highest of
> mechanical advantage in feel, but the modulation is the best of any
> bike I've had. Which is pretty amusing considering the low brow mix of
> parts. So what do ya think makes these brakes feel so nice? It's those
> cheapie Tektro levers with adjustable pull, original Raleigh cables
> (cleaned and lubed, had to keep the waffley housings), circa '78
> Shimano 600 front, and original chrome steel calipers rear, both with
> Koolstop Contis in grey. The rims are aluminum with no machining.
>
> Front and rear both have a very linear and wonderful feel, so I'm
> guessing that the crude Raleigh rear caliper isn't a problem. I'm
> venturing that it's those cheap Continental pads combined with the non
> machined rims. Seriously the best feeling caliper brakes I've used on
> a bike, they almost feel like drum brakes on a good day or cable
> disks.
>
> I replaced the carts on the dual pivot brake on the front of my fixie
> with black Kool Stops--but they don't feel nearly as nice. Braking
> engages faster, but you don't get a positive feel when you apply
> harder lever pressures. Is this a dual pivot vs. single pivot deal, or
> is there LSD in the local water supply. :-P
Raleigh's steel brake was a good design, very stiff and generally
misunderstood I think. Later models have Weinmann sidepulls which have
both nice braking action and good looks, too!
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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Date: 04 Jun 2007 17:55:12
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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Carl Fogel wrote:
>
> Chalo wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >I think I'd find my wife's brakes somewhat lacking in power if they
> >were on my own bike, but she doesn't pack the same sort of runaway-
> >train momentum that I do. For her, they seem to do the trick nicely--
> >with good looks, simplicity, and low maintenance as a bonus.
>
> >Chalo
>
> DearChalo,
>
> Normally your writing is perfectly clear, but I assume that "good
> looks, simplicity, and low maintenance as a bonus" apply to the
> feminine pronoun, not to her brakes.
>
> (In other words, belated congratulations on what appears to be
> matrimony.)
As it so happens, today is my first wedding anniversary. My darling
wife and I lived happily together for over eight years before she
decided that she might believe in getting married after all.
And though "simplicity" might be a good descriptor for my wife's
preferred lifestyle, I would be quick to describe her as a charmingly
complex individual.
The curious may refer to www.datribean.com for a taste of her music
and her web design. There are a few photos under "press kit".
Chalo
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Date: 04 Jun 2007 06:43:30
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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landotter wrote:
>
> I just did a utility run in flip flops on the Sprite and have come to
> love the feel of the brakes on it.
...
> Front and rear both have a very linear and wonderful feel, so I'm
> guessing that the crude Raleigh rear caliper isn't a problem. I'm
> venturing that it's those cheap Continental pads combined with the non
> machined rims. Seriously the best feeling caliper brakes I've used on
> a bike, they almost feel like drum brakes on a good day or cable
> disks.
I used grey Kool Stop Continental pads in old normal reach Shimano 600
calipers on my wife's bike. The levers are no-name BMX units, the
rims are Mavic MA2. She loves them. I love them. They feel great
and work great, better than any single pivot calipers have ever worked
on one of my own bikes. My guess is that the Kool Stop pads are the
key to success here.
I think I'd find my wife's brakes somewhat lacking in power if they
were on my own bike, but she doesn't pack the same sort of runaway-
train momentum that I do. For her, they seem to do the trick nicely--
with good looks, simplicity, and low maintenance as a bonus.
Chalo
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Date: 04 Jun 2007 01:22:39
From:
Subject: Re: What part in this brake equation makes them feel so nice?
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On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 06:43:30 -0000, Chalo <chalo.colina@gmail.com >
wrote:
[snip]
>I think I'd find my wife's brakes somewhat lacking in power if they
>were on my own bike, but she doesn't pack the same sort of runaway-
>train momentum that I do. For her, they seem to do the trick nicely--
>with good looks, simplicity, and low maintenance as a bonus.
>
>Chalo
Dear Chalo,
Normally your writing is perfectly clear, but I assume that "good
looks, simplicity, and low maintenance as a bonus" apply to the
feminine pronoun, not to her brakes.
(In other words, belated congratulations on what appears to be
matrimony.)
Cheers,
Carl Fogel
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