Better brakes

[dirttorpedo]

Re:

Yes try a good/new set of cables, and also brake blocks. If the brake calipers themselves are in good condition then braking should be fine.

To be honest, in my 25+ years of cycling, having tried all manner of brakes, from basic Miche, to cheap and expensive Shimano 105 to Dura-Ace and Campagnolo Mirage to Record dual pivots, I have found that in terms of braking performance, all of them are virtually exactly the same!
Of course, people 'in the know' will tell me, yes well you haven't tried the new Dura-Ace/Record whatever, they are amazing and better than any previous brake system; but then I do, and I find it is exactly the same as anything else.
I suppose when you see the basic construction of a brake caliper, there is nothing much to go wrong, or indeed anything in the more expensive calipers that might help braking; yes, Dura-Ace has nice ball bearings in the pivots, but overall the basic design is one that works, end of really.
It is funny because when you read the magazine reviews of brake calipers, say for example, a test of Campagnolo Record they compare them to the previous years they always say they give much better braking. It seems the marketing nonsense has always been there

Interesting observation. I've definitely noticed an improvement in braking between old school single pivot brakes and modern dual pivot side pulls, but that could be in part due to the change in the design of the levers. I have noticed that some low end brakes from the 80's have a lot of flexibility in them. I upgraded my wife's low end diacompe for some Weinnman 605 and the braking was much better.

I too do not miss suicide levers and chrome rims.