How risky are old skool canti brakes?

[ultrazenith]

I'm in the process of reverting one of my Dynatechs back to period correct high profile cantilever brakes, and I'm not feeling as immortal as I was back in the 90s, so the thought crossed my mind about what would happen if my front brake cable snapped and the straddle cable and triangle hanger thingy fell onto the front tyre. The fact that brake cables are a it thinner than they were back in the day is a bit of worry too. Are we talking instant over the bars faceplant + some expensive dentist bills? I've never heard of this happening to anybody I know, but it must've happened to someone out there.

Is it just a case of never using the front brake in anger at speed unless it's to avert flying over a raging 100-foot vertical cliff?

 

[Stressed]

You could put a reflector bracket on to stop it happening?! (Although it might ruin any look you're going for- what next? Wheel reflectors? Dork disc?!)

 

[mattbrown]

Its never happened to me. The alloy ones with the little allen bolts are more difficult to tighten compared to the single nut and bolt ones. But then you could use the shimao ones instead.

 

[NorthOfHere]

For reassuringly thicker old style cables - I've bought some recently.

https://ebay.us/m/QwEKOd

There's also this:

https://blackmtncycles.com/get-the-most-out-of-your-canti-brake/

And closer to home but not quite as detailed:

Thread 'Cantilever Brake Masterclass'

Aug 5, 2024

I’m in need of one! I went mountain biking yesterday. It was an eventful ride. I had some issues, all of them cantilever related. I remember them being quite good back in the day. They could bring me and my bike to a skidding halt with minimum input. I would adjust them and they worked.
That is a long time ago. I’m fully aware that I weigh a “little” more these days but that can’t be the only reason. Yesterday they rubbed from the off on the rims retarding even further my feeble forward motion, only one side would move much despite much wielding of a 2mm Allen key and, when applied...

• Iwasgoodonce
• Replies: 39
• Forum: Retro MTB Chat

 

[ishaw]

You could use the straddles that have one cable going through to one canti an LD a half straddle to the other. If either snap, no face plant.

 

[93hero]

I wonder how often this actually happened? You’ve said yourself that you’ve never heard of it actually happening.

How risky are they? Not very.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

See the little doohickey screwed into the fender bolt hole on the fork? Will catch the straddle if the cable breaks.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Origin8 makes a cable stop with the straddle catcher integrated. Pretty tidy

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Worth noting that cable catchers are not required for the Z link style straddles, if the cable breaks, the straddle simply disassembles itself, shouldn't stick in the tread

 

[wiredfool]

Run Fenders?