Brake power

TheBrogueadier

Hello!

Got a little bit of an issue with my current bike: It's an Italian thoroughbred; fast, twitchy, eager to move..

And almost impossible to stop without much swearing, hauling on things and a liberal application of fear.

The bike has Campag Omega 19 wheels with no machined braking strip (just smooooth hardox), combined with the awesome stopping power of late 70's / early 80's Colnago single pivot brakes

These two items combine to the provide all the stopping power of holding a few lettuce leaves against the wheels, any water on the road and I may as well have no brakes at all.

Now, I'm averse to slamming into things at high speed and would like to survive winter without any crashes.. So! I need brakes.

The question is, which brakes.

I've been eyeing the Campag Skeleton brakes..
The current choice is between the Chorus Skeleton and the Centaur Skeleton

But I can't figure out what the difference is? (something not helped by most websites haveing the same picture for both)..

Is the Chorus worth £50 more than the Centaur, or am I overspeccing completely (70's/80's Atala San Remo frame, Campag Super Record 6speed groupset, Record hubs with Omega Rims).

Or should I keep the origional brakes and hope that any emergencies happen several hundred yards away?

People of the forums! Help!

skyd0g

Try changing the pads tp Kool Stop Salmons first.

TheBrogueadier

skyd0g wrote:

Try changing the pads tp Kool Stop Salmons first.

I've been trying to hunt down a set of Pre-1990 campy pads to fit the Modolo holders without any luck. I also bought a new set of all-in-one pads for Campy calipers but they didn't fit..

I'd try the Koolstops if I could!

fast as fupp

the difference is about 16g - unless you can get 10 speed chorus brakes (skeleton) which have bearings in the pivot - the 11 speecd chorus dispensed with the bearings!

wouldnt non skeleton chorus suit the style of your bike better?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAMPAGNOLO-CHORUS ... 286.c0.m14

for instance?

Monty Dog

Having bikes with modern and 25 year old brakes, it'll take more than new pads to make the difference - modern calipers are light years ahead in terms of modulation and power - the only problem is whether they'll work as well with old levers - cable pull / leverage ratios are different.

TheBrogueadier

Ugh, and non STI levers are seemingly rare.. Dammnit.

I've ordered 4 of the KS-CRSA (Which fit the Modolo shoes, but annoyingly don't seem to be sold in europe) pads as an interim measure.. If they work, winner. If they don't then I get to swear and spend silly money.

gkerr4

re your question of centaur vs chorus - I don't think chorus is worth the extra -either go for record or save your money and get centaur. the record ones have bearing in place of bushes and a re lighter - the chorus are just marginally lighter.