My pertinent experience (including, for completeness, cantilevers):
- V-brakes: Tektro 834A around 40 mm tires and fenders did indeed have
good stopping power, except in winter before the rims and pads warmed up
and dried off a little. A significant number of times when I disconnected
the noodle in order to remove the wheel, I had trouble getting the brake
centered after installing the wheel and reconnecting the noodle. This was
no doubt due to my own ignorance, but nevertheless it was annoying.
- Centerpull, bolt-on: Paul Racer around 38 mm tires and fenders stopped
fine and, just as some users have claimed, seemed to have better modulation
than any other brakes I've used. I should note that I never rode the bike
with these brakes in really bad weather, so I have no idea how the brakes
would have done in winter. Always easy to center after having disconnected
the straddle cable to facilitate wheel removal, or even after removing the
brake, installing a fender, and reinstalling the brake. It was so easy I
thought I was doing something wrong.
- Centerpull, direct mount: Compass/René Herse around 42 mm tires and
fender stop fine with excellent modulation, and have always been easy to
center after disconnecting the straddle cable.
- Cantilever: Paul Neo-Retro/Touring Canti around 54 mm tires and
fenders stop brilliantly with good modulation, though maybe not with as
good modulation as centerpulls. Stop well even in crappy winter weather. I
don't find cantilevers difficult to adjust to my taste, but they're not as
easy as centerpulls. Again, all impressions may be due to ignorance.
In short, v-brakes felt more "grabby" to me, but occasionally were harder
to adjust; while centerpulls, though maybe not *quite* as good at stopping
quickly, have better modulation and are easier to adjust. Could be that my
experience with v-brakes would be better with a different v-brake, like a
Shimano or Paul Motolite; and that my experience with centerpulls would be
less pleasant in a wider variety of conditions.
--
Bob
On Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 10:13:58 AM UTC-6 nca...@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm curious what the differences are between these two types of brakes
> with regards to their respective maintenance and general use. Is one easier
> to adjust and keep in good riding order than the other? Does one feel
> fundamentally different than the other during the ride?
>
> I've read that "stopping power" is greater on v-brakes, but is it really
> *that* much better to hold out for a frame that supports v-brakes? Are
> there other factors I'm overlooking other than stopping power? I wouldn't
> run more than 43mm tires and fenders.
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