Brake upgrade Dawes Super Galaxy

[531colin]

Shimano CX50 cantilevers on my Galaxy are fantastic.

But not with Vee brake levers?

[531colin]

Mini Vs, I use TRP CX9s, they are amazing brakes, you will not regret buying them and worth the money, great clearance for wide tyres and guards.

But not with Vee brake levers?

[MIB2020]

Thanks Colin, it’s not expensive to do both now I have looked in to it so will do as you say.

[Bowedw]

Unless someone can confirm that V brakes will be ok on your year of galaxy with regard to post spacing then its all supposition. Spa Cycles bike with V brakes has the correct spacing for them so not a true comparison. Flat bar levers to suit Cantilevers are cheap enough and you have a proven combination. No guarantee that all Cantilevers will work with the post spacing on your year of Galaxy either. Information on exact post spacing is pretty non existent from the manufacturer as well. on my Galaxy the mini V would not clear the mudguard as well as the angle due to the post spacing prevented them from working efficiently.
My choice of CX50's was a bit of a shot in the dark but with a choice of three spaces then I thought it was worth a go. They are not cheap so bought one set first. If I remember correctly the front has different spacer. The post spacing is different on the rear to the front coupled with my galaxy having a different width of rim on each wheel. Perhaps if post spacing was offered with each recommendation that would help. I would have to measure mine again. I would also consider that Spa cycles bikes might have the posts higher with the blocks bolting low in the slots.

[MIB2020]

Fingers crossed, ordered Deore v brakes from Spa, let’s hope they fit .

[Brucey]

FWIW I think you will probably get the V brakes to fit that frame. However this wouldn't be my choice; the frame is meant for cantis and it will look something of a lash-up with Vs on it. It is also a fair bit easier to fit new levers than new brakes with new cables etc and make a decent job of it.

Also you may well find the noodles foul on the rack stays at the back and with the gear cables at the front. If the handlebars swing CW more than normal when V brakes are fitted, the noodle hits the frame and this damages the front brake in such a way that the noodle can pull through the yoke unexpectedly (i.e. it is potentially extremely dangerous).

cheers

[The utility cyclist]

Great info , thanks all.

the important thing is that the brakes are matched to the levers. This is much more important than what type of brake you have.
If you presently have deore levers with cantilever brakes this is a bad mismatch and feeble braking will be the result, every time.
The two easy options are to

a) fit full V brakes (not mini-Vs) or
b) fit levers which better match the brakes you have eg

IME if the cables are in good shape, fitting brake levers is a lot easier and cheaper than new brakes.

I presume you have actually tried the CX9s with V brake levers? they are long enough to work just fine, for many people CX9s are possibly too grabby for canti/road levers as they have tiny rim clearances.
Either way for sake of cost, a set of brake levers that can be adjusted for Vs or canti/road is going to give more flexibility, the Tiagra 4700 for example are able to be set for whichever brake type you chose options, there are also a few others that can be used with cantilevers/road and Vs

[Brucey]

mini Vs will work with full V levers but they will be a bit down on power. If the bosses happen to be an odd height on the frame too then that could be worse than normal; you have already used your 'wriggle room' if you like. Also the clearance isn't as great with mini-Vs as with full Vs so on some touring bikes mini-Vs require stuff like notching the mudguard to fit properly.

Anyway I'd keep the cantis and swap the levers as first choice, second choice use full-Vs with the present levers, third choice is 'something else'.

IMHO where mini-Vs really work well is on bikes with tyres no fatter than about 35mm (with reasonably close-fitting mudguards) and where you want to use current shimano dropped bar STIs; the 'NSSLR' brake cable pull is a pretty good match for mini-Vs, but is less easy to make work really well with cantis.

cheers

[PH]

mini Vs will work with full V levers but they will be a bit down on power.
cheers

The TRP CX9 are a bit of an oddity, the arm length is 95mm according to TRP and 90mm reported by several users, it's smack between the usual full and mini V sizes. TRP described them as suitable for all levers(Past tense as they're discontinued), which probably meant ideal for none. I haven't tried them, they were under consideration when looking for a shorter V brake to avoid conflict with a light fitting, I rejected them when I read the reports of them being shorter than advertised.
As for the OP, they didn't like the cantis when they had matching levers, hard to see why they'd like them now. And I could be wrong, but the current setup looks to me like combined brake/gear levers, which would make changing the brakes the easiest option.

[Brucey]

As for the OP, they didn't like the cantis when they had matching levers, hard to see why they'd like them now.

they also said that fitting the present levers made no difference, for which there are several different possible explanations...?

...And I could be wrong, but the current setup looks to me like combined brake/gear levers, which would make changing the brakes the easiest option.

I agree they do look like ST-M510, rather than separate levers and shifters



in which case different brakes may be the path of least resistance.

STIs, be they for dropped bars or flat bars, end up dictating your choices on touring bike, not always in a good way. Separate shifters and brake levers tend to leave you with more options.

cheers

[The utility cyclist]

mini Vs will work with full V levers but they will be a bit down on power. If the bosses happen to be an odd height on the frame too then that could be worse than normal; you have already used your 'wriggle room' if you like. Also the clearance isn't as great with mini-Vs as with full Vs so on some touring bikes mini-Vs require stuff like notching the mudguard to fit properly.

Anyway I'd keep the cantis and swap the levers as first choice, second choice use full-Vs with the present levers, third choice is 'something else'.

IMHO where mini-Vs really work well is on bikes with tyres no fatter than about 35mm (with reasonably close-fitting mudguards) and where you want to use current shimano dropped bar STIs; the 'NSSLR' brake cable pull is a pretty good match for mini-Vs, but is less easy to make work really well with cantis.

cheers

The CX9 are 90mm, you lose nothing in 'power', your ability to read the conditions and tyre traction is ultimately the defining factors in stopping/braking capability , even some average brakes can lock a wheel up

[Brucey]

so 10-20% is 'nothing'? (and at the same time enough of a 'something' to help with brake modulation...? ) As I mentioned this is your wriggle room gone; if the bosses are a couple of mm low on the frame too, you can soon be 30-40% down on power and that you will feel.

In case you hadn't noticed the OP's bike appears to have bosses that certainly aren't 'high' so the brakes (any brakes on those bosses) are likely to be a bit down on power anyway. Plus he seems to be running ~38mm tyres with heavy tread and mudguards which have plenty of clearance. So mini-Vs probably won't even fit the bike without you having to cut slots in the mudguard.

Finally even if mini-Vs fit this bike, is there any upside vs full V's? I would have said not, especially not if you are carrying a load for example.

[MIB2020]

Standard Deore brakes arrived, Spa supplied 2x rear instead of 1 of each! But not a major hassle to swap blocks around. Front was very simple and does not unduly affect other cables, rear involved extending the last outer cable from around 6” to 12” to give the correct bend in cable and now does not interfere with rack. Both original centre pull hollow bolt things no longer required so removed. Looks ok and braking is very good, not up hydraulic disc but at least she stops now.
Thanks all for the help.

[MIB2020]

Oh I had to fit 2 x noodles but my mate a field away had them for the cost of a snickers.
Thanks all for the help.

[Brucey]

any photos of the finished result? How much clearance is there above the mudguards?

cheers