Hi Bill, Just doing some research reading about brakes and came across your update.
You mention that the DC 610's work, even work well. Then you say the 1970's restoration with Dia Compes are really powerful. What do you think is the difference here? I would guess that both Dia Compe brake sets are pretty similar and should have a similar feel, but the description sounds like they are quite different. Is it the levers that are different? Just the way they are set up? I'm just curious what your thoughts are on this. Thanks, Aaron Young The Dalles, OR On Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 11:15 AM, Bill Lindsay <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for that reply Michael. As you can see, though, I made that switch > almost a year ago. The post of mine you replied to is dated 10/9/2013. :-) > > I guess coming in on a year does allow me to give an update. The > backstory is that this is my road bike. A Black Mountain Cycles, which is > functionally similar to a Roadeo. It takes 700c wheels 130mm rear spacing > and Tektro 539 brakes. I had it built with 539s and got the itch to try > centerpulls. Motivators included: > > 1. Jan Heine goes on and on how centerpulls are the best > 2. It looked like I could get a tiny bit more clearance for 35 or even > 38mm tires without fenders, and could run Jack Browns with fenders more > easily > 3. I wanted to run a front rack for a handlebar bag with no P-clamps > > So I bought the high end Dia Compe 610s. LINK > <http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/brakes/calipers/dia-compe-610-centerpull-brake.html>. > I also bought the really cute front rack that you can get. LINK2 > <http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/gran-compe-ene-mini-rack.html>. > I splurged and bought Paul Funky Monkey hangers for front and back. > > I'd give the experiment a "B" grade. The brakes work. They even work > well. The initial setup was a little bit goofy. They came with standard > road cartridge brakepads, and the geometry of the system expects a lot > wider rim than the Open Pros I was using. The initial setup looked > horrible for that reason, like everything was folded in on itself. I > couldn't stand the look, so I switched out to the metal holders you get > with CR720 cantilevers. Those allow you to run huge spacers on the inboard > side to square up the arms relative to my skinny rims. That looked a lot > better and functioned a lot better. That was my only significant setup > issue. I did completely disassemble both brake calipers and lube them up. > They were bone dry everywhere. > > I did seem to get some more clearance. I have run the bike with true 35mm > Paselas. > > The tiny little rack is quite wimpy. Supporting my handlebar bag (with a > Berthoud Decaleur) the rack started to noticeably sag after some bumpy > trail riding. The tab on the back is flimsy and bent. I gave the rack a > lift with one hand and it bent back. It's wimpy. I don't really use the > rack at all anymore, but it is still installed. I usually go without a > handlebar bag, but sometimes run my BOXY > <https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/bavbb.htm> bag, and might go all the > way back to my F15 setup. > > In the meanwhile, I also did a restoration on a 1970s bike with Dia Compe > centerpulls, and those brakes blow me away with how powerful they are. So, > I like the centerpull idea. > > > On Monday, September 1, 2014 2:44:30 PM UTC-7, Michael Hechmer wrote: >> >> Bill, a lot depends on what size tires you are using. I converted my >> Ram from Ultegra side pulls to Paul's Racer Ms and was very happy with the >> outcome. Setup and maintenance is a similar amount of effort, Paul's get a >> slight nod for power and modulation, but a big plus for fender clearance. >> I have studded Racers on the Tandem. They work well and seem to require >> little attention, but they are limited to about a 38 mm tire, unless it is >> deflated. And they have only 55 mm of internal space specced for a fender, >> although I have gotten them to work with 60 mm VO fenders. >> >> You'll get lots of subjective feedback but Paul's CPs have beefier arms >> which have to be more rigid than a side pull and the brakes will last for >> ever. Paul sells pivots and springs independently so it is easy to rebuild >> a brake. >> >> My favorite brake, hands down, is Paul's Neo Retros. They excel in every >> way. About the only negative I can think of is that like all cantis they >> get dirty. >> >> Michael >> >> >> >> On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 10:12:00 PM UTC-4, Bill Lindsay wrote: >>> >>> *THAT* was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for that. I'm about >>> to make a similar maneuver and I'm really interested to see what my results >>> are. Thank you thank you. >>> >>> On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 4:25:24 PM UTC-7, jinxed wrote: >>>> >>>> On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 2:55:29 PM UTC-6, Bill Lindsay wrote: >>>> >>>>> What I was curiously looking for was something more specific. For >>>>> example, I've seen many A Homer Hilsens using Silver Sidepulls, and I've >>>>> seen many A Homer Hilsens using Paul Racer centerpulls. I'd love to hear >>>>> somebody say "I took off the Silver Sidepulls and installed Paul Racers >>>>> and >>>>> the result was XXXX". >>>>> >>>>>> jim m >>>>>> wc ca >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> I respond to this portion. I made this exact swap from Silver side >>>> pulls to Pauls center pulls. When I built my Hilsen, I used the Silvers I >>>> already had from a Bleriot. They set up SUPER easy, look great and I used >>>> up to a 42 width knobbie (IRC XC Slick 700x42) that I could still squeeze >>>> past the pads with little effort. I only "upgraded" to the Pauls thinking >>>> that with all the hype and expense, they HAD to be more powerful and would >>>> open wider. I tinkered with those things more than any other brake I've >>>> ever used and never got them to feel as good as the Silvers, and if >>>> anything they opened up less as I had to wiggle the same tire set up pretty >>>> good to get it through. They certainly weren't horrible, look kind of >>>> industrially cool, and have the USA factor included in the price, but based >>>> purely on performance and set up I would choose the Silvers no question. >>>> >>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. 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