Cantis, Vs, and Discs, Oh My (Updated for 2012)

Yes Dorothy, the woods (or at least cyclocross races) are filled with a plethora of excellent cyclocross brake choices.  This article provides a brief overview and pros/cons of the three typical brake systems that are currently available for cyclocross bicycles.

Cantilever Brakes

For now, cantilever brakes are the standard and most popular brake system in cyclocross.  Since many amateur racers and riders have already made a significant investment in wheelsets specific to rim brakes, there is a major cost involved in buying all new disc brake wheels and brakes.  While we are seeing more pros going to disc (financed by their sponsors of course), cantilevers still make sense for most of us.

Pros:

  • Compatible with short travel road brake levers
  • ‘Open’ design for excellent mud clearance (high pad to rim clearance)
  • Light weight
  • Ease of maintenance
  • Relative ease of set up
  • The majority of CX bikes being sold still come with canti posts
  • The majority of used bikes on the market have canti posts only and no disc brake bosses

Cons:

  • Less powerful than other brake types (highly dependent on brand and model)
  • Less feel or modulation than other brake types
  • Set up can be difficult (depending on brand and model)
  • More difficult for quick wheel exchanges
  • Wide profile can interfere with mounts/dismounts

V-Brakes

Originally developed as a more powerful replacement for caliper brakes on BMX bikes, V-brakes were incredibly popular as a replacement for cantilevers on mountain bikes until disc brakes ultimately dominated the industry.  V-brakes are typically considered less than ideal for ‘cross, but cyclocross specific designs like TRP’s CX9 have some benefits over cantis.

Pros:

  • Very powerful
  • Excellent modulation
  • Mount on standard cantilever posts
  • Relatively light weight
  • Ease of set up
  • Ease of maintenance
  • Narrow profile

Cons:

  • Typically not compatible with short travel road levers (cyclocross specific v-brakes like TRP CX9 is an exception)
  • Poor mud clearance (low pad to rim clearance)

Disc Brakes

The UCI ruled in the fall of 2010 to allow disc brakes in UCI sanctioned cyclocross races.  Clearly disc brakes will become the new standard in cyclocross as we see more and more manfacturers coming out with disc-only ‘cross bikes every year.  For now, discs will share the market with cantilevers, but clearly the changeover to discs is happening just as it did with mountain bikes several years ago.

It is suspected that Shimano was the lobbying force that persuaded the UCI to repeal the disc brake ban.  If this is the case, and Shimano is making this push, it’s pretty clear that the future will be all about disc brakes.  Currently, the industry is adapting mountain bike disc brakes to cyclocross, but dedicated ‘cross systems are around the corner.

Pros:

  • Mud clearance issues are non-existent
  • Will allow for cyclocross specific rim designs in the future
  • Relative ease of set up
  • Relative ease of maintenance
  • Allows quick wheel changes
  • Could completely change how cx bikes are designed

Cons:

  • Compatibility with road brake levers (currently must use an adapter)
  • Compatibility with 130mm wide dropouts (currently)
  • Frame must have disc mounts
  • Can be difficult to set up and maintain
  • Hydraulic systems require different routing guides
  • Added weight of longer cables/hydraulic lines/master cylinders/etc.

Introduction

Cyclocross Brakes

Welcome to CyclocrossBrakes.co. I’ve created this site to provide readers with a comprehensive collection of reviews, technical info, set up advice, maintenance tips, and the best prices/best places to buy cyclocross (CX or cross) brakes and brake accessories.  This is a place where anyone from complete novices to seasoned racers will find useful information and increase their knowledge-base on the intricacies of cyclocross brakes.

Maybe I’ve Bitten Off More Than I Can Chew

Anyone familiar with cyclocross already knows that it is a very old sport with a very recent explosion in popularity.  That increase in interest has resulted in a parallel boom in local, regional, and national cyclocross competition.  And this has certainly gotten the attention of the component manufacturers.

It seems that almost daily, there are new and better brake products becoming available.  Now that the giants like Sram, Shimano, and Campagnolo are all making cross-specific (or at least CX-marketed road products) component groups, there are even more options.  That’s not even to mention the UCI making disc brakes legal for competition in late 2010.  There is a sea of products to sift through and more become available all the time.

Brakes, Brakes, Brakes

Again, the variety of cyclocross brakes available is myriad.  I’ll be sorting though the differences, advantages, disadvantages, and intricacies of every cyclocross brake system I can find.  I’ll cover topics such as finding the ideal lever and brake combinations for the various styles (cantilevers, V-brakes, discs) and the break down the design interpretations within each style.  Yes, it will be quite a task, but I hope that I can provide you some useful information in an entertaining and enlightening format.

-Chris