I vote for the Weinmans. In '71 I was a shop rat working for not so much and trying to spec my bike as nice as could be. My PX-10 had Mafac Competition's and back then everyone touted "centerpulls" as the best brakes around. I still wasn't happy with them. The racing guys working in the shop swore that sidepulls were quicker, stiffer. I had to have a pair!
A guy walked in the shop with a 60's department store bike with Weinman 500's on them and he wanted better brakes. I arranged a swap with him for a nice clean pair of Racers, not sure I was such a nice guy then, and he got self centering brakes and I got the 500's. (I did tell him that the 500's might be better brakes but not as easy to set up).
The shop had a great set of parts bins and I found a few of the thin
brass washers for Weinman's, pretty rare even then, got Mathauser pads,
filed & polished 'em, combined them with some modern quick release and
adjusters and I had some really great brakes. I'm still using them.
First I was using them with Mafac levers, works well with them, then
Campy's since I really am a C'phile. Just a really nice combination.
http://image10.webshots.com/
Happy trails, especially with all the nice weather we've been having in the east.
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland
> So it's 1971 and you have a really nice racing bike you want to
\r?\n> spec for
\r?\n> fast time trial stuff. You don't want Campagnolo Record brakes because
\r?\n> everyone has them and you think one of the two would be better and
\r?\n> lighter:
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Universal 68s
\r?\n>
\r?\n> or
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Weinmann 500s
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Which would you pick? Neither might be an answer if a good period
\r?\n> correct
\r?\n> alternate were suggested.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Peter Kohler
\r?\n> Washington DC USA