2003 Bianchi San Remo Tourer

[Dicky71]

What is this "cycle Europe sticker "of which you speak?

Bianchi is a brand that is a part of the Cycleurope group. The group is owned by the Grimaldi familly. I don't think it has any relevance to which type of bottom bracket thread that's used, but I could be wrong of course.

 

[Dicky71]

What's the braking power like. I think I read somewhere that Campag ergopower levers work very well with cantis without having to add gubbins to the cables. Or am I just fantisizing?

 

[winjohn]

It brakes very well, I think the Avid Shortys are excellent. Not sure what "gubbins" you are thinking of but I assume that the cantis require the same pull ratio as the more normal road bike calipers.

 

[Frankenorange]

Standard drop bar road levers from all manufacturers can be used with side pull, center pull, u brakes, and cantis without needing any ‘gubbins’ . Some combinations can work a little better than others due to very slight differences in cable pull and body/lever stiffness.

The gubbins being referred to is a Problem Solvers Travel Agent which is used for operating V Brakes with standard road levers. There does seem to be a few levers that might work ok-ish with some V brakes, but generally the ratios are all wrong and the lever hits the bar without doing much braking. Fit a Travel Agent and all is more or less good.

Mini V’s work with standard road levers but the pads have to be run really close to the rim and they limit maximum tyre size as the cable will foul the top of chubby tyres. I think there are 3 lengths of mini V arm, maybe 4, so you can have a go at getting the best combo of lever and brake.

There are non-standard drop bar levers that are specifically for V brakes. Perfect for single speed, or used with bar end shifters.

 

[Dicky71]

Standard drop bar road levers from all manufacturers can be used with side pull, center pull, u brakes, and cantis without needing any ‘gubbins’ . Some combinations can work a little better than others due to very slight differences in cable pull and body/lever stiffness.

The gubbins being referred to is a Problem Solvers Travel Agent which is used for operating V Brakes with standard road levers. There does seem to be a few levers that might work ok-ish with some V brakes, but generally the ratios are all wrong and the lever hits the bar without doing much braking. Fit a Travel Agent and all is more or less good.

Mini V’s work with standard road levers but the pads have to be run really close to the rim and they limit maximum tyre size as the cable will foul the top of chubby tyres. I think there are 3 lengths of mini V arm, maybe 4, so you can have a go at getting the best combo of lever and brake.

There are non-standard drop bar levers that are specifically for V brakes. Perfect for single speed, or used with bar end shifters.

Yes correct, the "gubbins" i was refering to, are to adjust the pull ratio. I have built a frankengravel with Ultegra 6500 levers and Deore LX cantis but the braking power hasn't been particularly good. I changed the rears to a brand new set up cantis and changed the straddle wire, suspecting that the springs may be weakened. Now the rear is much better. However i have yet to conquer a braking issue on another bike used by daughter. It's a Dawes Allroad with flatbars. The brake set up is now cantis and Deore XT levers. I previously had Deore LX V-brakes on it but the braking power was crap. I've been buggering about with it on and off for years. My daughter will not be happy or pay me untill it's sorted. Apologies offered for kiddnaping the thread.

 

[winjohn]

I have never experienced bad braking from a Deore v-brake set-up before, and usually it is easier to get decent braking with v-brakes rather than cantis since the v-brakes are a lot more straightforward to set up. What was the issue? Just lack of stopping power?