Warren Young wrote:
>I apologise in advance for asking somewhat simple questions. As a new member
>to the list I need to catch up on the "stuff" I've acquired in the last ten
>years.
>I have a CLB 2 brakeset that came off of a mangled low end Peugeot. They
>appear to be the self-energizing type, (re Sheldon Browns site) that toe in
>as the brakes are applied.
They don't "toe in" they move forward. This angled approach to the rim means that they are self-actuating, as the friction against the rim tends to pull them into firmer engagement.
I have mixed feelings about self-actuating brakes, because this can
make them difficult to modulate, but it certainly does provide extra
stopping power.
>They are as close to mint as they get, with their
>original levers and pads but one of the cables had been mashed in whatever
>collision the bike had entertained. I was wondering when they were made, did
>any bikes spec these brakes and are they considered to be good? They have a
>beautiful finish and look quite nice although I haven't mounted them to give
>them a test.
>
>Warren Young
These are probably the pinnacle of centerpull calipers. I've got a couple of sets N.I.B. that I hope to sell for some serious money one of these years.
To me the coolest thing is the way they use the titanium return spring as the transverse cable.
One of these days I plan to try one of these on my Raleigh International fixed gear.
Sheldon "Vive La France" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours |
| of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills |
| and coast down them. |
| Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a |
| motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have |
| no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven |
| through as you gain by riding a bicycle. |
| -- Ernest Hemingway, By-Line |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772, 617-244-1040, FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
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http://captainbike.com
Useful articles about bicycles and cycling
http://sheldonbrown.com