Paul brakes, redux - Motolite clearance?

[Jay Lonner]

I have Neo-Retros on my Hunq, and after much fiddling and consulting of Sheldon Brown's canti articles I have concluded that I can't get the straddle cable low enough to overcome the brakes' inherent low mechanical advantage. I live on top of a steep hill, in a wet climate, so this situation will not stand, man.

Now that I'm all educated about cantilever theory and practice, I'm thinking of ditching them entirely and switching to linear pull brakes, specifically Motolites. My concern is fender clearance. I'm running Big Ben 50s and SKS fenders. Does anyone have experience running a similar setup, and if so how is it working out? I know that Tektro makes a linear pull brake with extra-long arms for more clearance, but I'd prefer to go with Motolites because of a) sex appeal, and b) made in USA, etc.

Thanks,

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

[Shoji Takahashi]

Hi Jay,

Perhaps you have too much mechanical advantage? Are your brake levers bottoming out on the handlebars? If so, you might want to try a long straddle cable.

Deacon Patrick runs a headtube-length straddle cable on his Quickbeam. (With what looks like CR720, same style as Neo Retros.)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/14506250495/

I've run CR720s and Shimano CX70s (narrow) on my Hunqapillar. I run the CX70s with a low straddle cable, and lots of stopping power. (Haven't switched to Koolstop pads, either. The Shimano OEM pads are surprisingly good.)

Good luck,

shoji

[Aaron Young]

Was just reading on the Shimanos.  Looks like the recent versions require long pull levers. Can anyone confirm this from experience?  What I would like to hear is that the brakes will work with regular road levers without any extra hardware.  

Thanks,

Aaron Young

The Dalles, OR

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[Shoji Takahashi]

Which Shimano brakes? The CX70s (cantilevers, which Riv sells) use regular levers. I have them on my Hunqapillar, and they are terrific. 

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[Ginz]

What size tires are you running? I have a feeling you will have clearance for the fender with the motolites.

A tale of caution -- the ONLY way I could eliminate the squeal and chatter from my Hunq fork was to use the canti brakes in front with the Tektro fork-crown mounted cable stop.  No combination of canti, V-brakes or otherwise helped.

[gunnara]

No way, my sons and my wife's bikes got normal v brakes and it is a tight fit with fenders. I had the same problem like you, I went for Paul touring cantis, they are much stronger.
Look at my Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/40626759@N06/
Best regards Gunnar

[Tom Harrop]

Hi Jay,

I use V-brakes with 60 mm tyres and fenders (and a front rack). It works great. Mine are Shimano BR-T780, which have 107 mm arms. Motolites are 104 mm so it should work with 50 mm tyres—depending on canti stud and fender placement, I guess. But that's just, like, my opinion.

Tom

[Tom Harrop]

PS the 104 mm measurement came from Paul Components after I asked them for it, I don't own a pair to measure myself. There's also a database of arm lengths here: http://www.gravelbike.com/?p=3298

[Matthew J]

> It works great. Mine are Shimano BR-T780, which have 107 mm arms. Motolites are 104 mm so it should work with 50 mm tyres—depending on canti stud and fender placement,

Bingo!  I am having a custom built with motolites that will fit 50mm tires.  Builder worked with Paul on exact post placement.  50 mm tires and Motolites may, and probably do, work together on some off the shelf bikes.  More fortune than anything as likely there are not too many off the shelf bikes designed around a small batch brake.

[Aaron Young]

Shoji,

I saw "long pull" under the Product Description section of this Amazon page: 

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-BR-CX70-Cyclocross-Cantilever-Brake/dp/B0063R26VK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407852028&sr=8-2&keywords=Shimano+cx70+brake

Maybe it's a typo, or maybe I am confused about what long pull means or I'm looking at the wrong brake or...

Good to hear the ones Riv sells work with normal levers though. 

-Aaron Young

The Dalles, OR

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