Cross bikes on the commute

cjcp
cjcp Posts: 13,345
edited September 2009 in Commuting chat
Hae just bought a 'cross frame for racing, but may use it for the commute too through the coming autumn and winter.

I'm presently looking at which brakes to buy. In case I use it for the commute, I'm minded to buy some Avid Shorty 4s or something else around the £30 mark. Are these ok for the commute? I've heard that bad cantis cause shuddering and are less powerful than calipers, but don't know whether this is true in pratice, having never used them.

Any thoughts welcome.

Cheers.
FCN 2-4.

"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."

Comments

  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    shimano canits deffinitely not as good as shimano calipers IME.
    I believe you can adjust the power with the straddle cable lenght though.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Cheers. Yeah, I read the Shimano cantis were bobbins.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Cane Creek SCX are the business although the pads wear pretty quick in the wet and mud but there you go that's CX for you.

    BTW I now use my CX to commute on perfectly comfy almost built for the job.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    FWIW though the judder thing totally goes away with a fork crown mounted cable hanger (Kona KF) so do that from the start if you're building.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Thanks, chaps. Much appreciated.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    My vote is still for the Tektro CR720 (or CR520). They are da bomb. 2nd vote would be for Froglegs - good price at Planet-X. Generally it is all about leverage - the wider the better.

    ps. Word of warning. Wide cantis (i.e. non-lo pro) are a pain on the commute as they stick out and hook on stuff. I've heard good things about Avid Shortys.
    David
    Engineered Bicycles
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    and admit it, you're just trying to lower yourself down the food chain no?
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Roastie wrote:

    ps. Word of warning. Wide cantis (i.e. non-lo pro) are a pain on the commute as they stick out and hook on stuff. I've heard good things about Avid Shortys.

    :shock: I find as long as they're narrower than the handlebars............... :?:

    what sort of things?
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    will3 wrote:
    and admit it, you're just trying to lower yourself down the food chain no?

    Hehe. I've actually thought about shaving my legs as a statement of intent. But the wife won't go for that. Besides, my conscience tells me I can't treat a crosser as lower in the food chain. :)

    It's because I can't get away with buying a separate groupset and complete set of componentry specifically for cross racing, so I'm debating whether to switch over the kit from the commuter for each race, or just keep it on from October to Feb. Just working out how many races I can realistically do between now and then to see whether the former option is too much of a PITA. If it isn't, I'm going for the Tektros.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Don't forget I almost won the Highclere communicat this year on a CX against an army of carbon porn, almost....

    next year :twisted:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • woodford2barbican
    woodford2barbican Posts: 1,505
    cjcp wrote:
    Hae just bought a 'cross frame for racing, but may use it for the commute too through the coming autumn and winter.

    I'm presently looking at which brakes to buy. In case I use it for the commute, I'm minded to buy some Avid Shorty 4s or something else around the £30 mark. Are these ok for the commute? I've heard that bad cantis cause shuddering and are less powerful than calipers, but don't know whether this is true in pratice, having never used them.

    Any thoughts welcome.

    Cheers.

    I've got a never used pair of these you can have for £20.....
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    woodford2barbican wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    Hae just bought a 'cross frame for racing, but may use it for the commute too through the coming autumn and winter.

    I'm presently looking at which brakes to buy. In case I use it for the commute, I'm minded to buy some Avid Shorty 4s or something else around the £30 mark. Are these ok for the commute? I've heard that bad cantis cause shuddering and are less powerful than calipers, but don't know whether this is true in pratice, having never used them.

    Any thoughts welcome.

    Cheers.

    I've got a never used pair of these you can have for £20.....

    You're about to get PM. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    will3 wrote:
    Roastie wrote:

    ps. Word of warning. Wide cantis (i.e. non-lo pro) are a pain on the commute as they stick out and hook on stuff. I've heard good things about Avid Shortys.

    :shock: I find as long as they're narrower than the handlebars............... :?:

    what sort of things?
    Not while moving.

    Just find I get annoyed by them hooking on bike racks, other bikes, bag straps, bits of equipment (when I keep it in my office), ...
    David
    Engineered Bicycles

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