Re: [CR] Side pull brakes

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

In-Reply-To: <349749.8007.qm@web53503.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
References: <349749.8007.qm@web53503.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:33:28 -0800
To: Harry Schwartzman <harryschwartzman@yahoo.com>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Side pull brakes


At 10:03 AM -0800 1/19/09, Harry Schwartzman wrote:
>Listers,
>
>OK, I'll step up to the plate here...
>
>What's wrong with sidepulls? They're the best brakes out there for a
>racing road bike. Your're not going to get a better braking
>lightweight option.
>I thought that the discontinuation of the use of centerpull brakes
>was as a result of the needlessly heavy and complicated design.

From the latest Bicycle Quarterly, the weights of a few brake models (per pair):

Cantilever: Alex Singer cam-actuated 100 g Rene Herse cantilever 210 g Mafac long-arm cantilever 220 g

Centerpull: Mafac "2000" braze-on 234 g Mafac "Competition" bolt-on 350 g

Dual pivot (front)/sidepull (rear): Campagnolo "Record 2006" 312 g

Sidepull: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 395 g

The weights are with straddle cables and hangers and all mounting bolts, but without braze-ons. Consider that cantilevers and centerpulls use shorter brake cable housings, reducing their weight. Note that recent brakes use very thin pads and lightweight holders, which saves further weight.

So the Campy sidepull brakes, for all their beauty and ability to modulate speed, are among the heaviest brakes made in recent decades for performance bikes.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com