Cantilever brakes have been used for a very long time. The main impediment to their use was the fact that they required the bosses being brazed on the frame. This requires slightly higher quality tubing, most definitely better brazing skills and additional costs. René Herse and many other French makers used them back in the 50's if I am not mistaken (Jan will correct me about this if I am wrong) Most of the time, the additional braking power offered by cantilevers is not overly important, therefore there was no terrible 'need' for them except on loaded touring and tandems. Their use on cyclo-cross bikes was linked to the fact that they didn't get 'mucked' up as quickly as traditional brakes. This is also one of the reasons for them being used on mountain bikes.
I have them on 3 of my bikes: 2 tandems and a cyclo-cross bike. Personally, unless you have better quality tubing, I would stay clear of them. My 80's Trek tandem's rear triangle spreads visibly when the rear brakes are applied, whihc was very disconcerting. I therefore added a mountain bike 'U' brace. My other 70's tandem has Mafac cantilevers that are better functioning and much more beautiful. The 'modern' double fulcrum brakes are just as powerful as either of these.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ
> Were there bikes set up for cantilever brakes previous to the current
(late
> 70's? to present) usage? If there were bikes made with cantilever brakes,
> when were they made, which manufacturers used them, were they for a
> specific purpose type of bike (like the cyclo-cross and mountain bike type
> of current use) and why did they fall out of favor, and what brought them
> back into favor?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Cheers.
>
> tom
>
> Tom Hayes
> 18585 Munn Road
> Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023
> hayesbikes@nls.net
> hayes@jcu.edu
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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