Drop bars and disk brakes
I was on a tour in the High Atlas in Morocco and the subject of brakes disk brakes came up. It seemed like a good idea to more than one of us that disk brakes would be a good idea for touring, but not at the expense of losing drop bars and ErgoPower (or similar) shifters.
We thought a that a mechanical disk caliper might do it and a quick look at this Sheldon Brown article suggests that Avid makes two road calipers: the BB7 Road or the BB5 Road.
Sadly the Avid site goes no further in the lever compatibility department than stating that these should be used with "road style" levers. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Has anybody used these calipers with a drop bar? If so, which shifter/lever?
We thought a that a mechanical disk caliper might do it and a quick look at this Sheldon Brown article suggests that Avid makes two road calipers: the BB7 Road or the BB5 Road.
Sadly the Avid site goes no further in the lever compatibility department than stating that these should be used with "road style" levers. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Has anybody used these calipers with a drop bar? If so, which shifter/lever?
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Road as opposed to mtb style levers I should imagine. Probably be OK with any Campag / Shimano / SRAM road lever then.0
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keef66 wrote:Probably be OK with any Campag / Shimano / SRAM road lever then.
I'm trying to eliminate the word "probably" from that. Does anybody have experience with these or hard evidence that they are ErgoPower compatible?
I've checked the Service section of the SRAM/Avid web site and there's nothing there either.0 -
Can't help you there, never tried this kind of thing. Hence the use of the probably.
Any phone number or 'contact us' type thing on the Avid site?0 -
replace probably with definitely
BB5R and BB7R are designed specifically to work with caliper/cantilever pull brakes, which pull less cable than linear pull brake levers designed for V brakes. You need to be sure to get the "R" labelled version though, their standard ones are linear pull and so need special drop bar levers (TekTro and Dia Compe make them, aswell as others, I have the tektro ones) but then you don't get the shift-y levers (I use bar end shifters)Everything in moderation ... except beer
Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer
If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
... or being punched by it, depending on the day0 -
Actually, they seem a bit unsure themselves. They at one point suggest choosing one of their Speed Dial levers to go with your BB5 or BB7. They are mtb type levers.0
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If you use standard BB5/BB7 brakes with standard road levers (any), then you get a very powerful set of brakes. The BB5/BB7 Road calipers are downrated to avoid numpties grabbing a handful of discbrake whilst on the drops.0
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Thank you Alex, that is just what I was hoping to hear!0
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My cyclocross bike is equipped with Campag Veloce Ergo levers and Avid BB7s and offers very powerful, progressive braking in even the worst of conditions.
One word of caution, the availability of Campag compatible disc hubs is not widespread. I've got DT Swiss 340 hubs with a Campag freehub on it but that option apart it's hard to find other options.0 -
my commute/training bike has bb5 brakes with shimano sora shifters
as long as they are set up correctly the brakes are excellent, far more power than any rim brakes, one fnger on the lever is all it needs
but if they are set up wrong then braking force suffers, the bb7 has better action, so if you are thinking of getting some go for those
you need a disk-specific front fork, at the rear you might find a road frame is too narrow to take a disk hub, and the stay needs to be able to take the forces too
if you are thinking of trying to retrofit a bike then try doing just the front - at the rear the lower traction will limit the benefit anywaymy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
I run BB7 discs and Ergos too - great combo. BIggest problem will be finding a Campagnolo compatible disc hub - apart from the aforementioned DT hubs, that's about your only choice. Otherwise, use something like an XT hub and a re-spaced cassette like I do.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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In this case, front will do nicely. Thanks for the replies!0
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Monty Dog wrote:I run BB7 discs and Ergos too - great combo. BIggest problem will be finding a Campagnolo compatible disc hub - apart from the aforementioned DT hubs, that's about your only choice. Otherwise, use something like an XT hub and a re-spaced cassette like I do.
Does that run as an 9 speed or 10 speed setup MD?0 -
Funny, but this sounds like something that Hope should do! :-)
Thanks again.0 -
They don't do a Campag compatible disc hub. I asked them just last week.0
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Oh yes, this sounds like something that Hope should do!!! :shock:0
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Alex wrote:If you use standard BB5/BB7 brakes with standard road levers (any), then you get a very powerful set of brakes. The BB5/BB7 Road calipers are downrated to avoid numpties grabbing a handful of discbrake whilst on the drops.
Best regards,
Jakob0 -
cykelhviskeren wrote:Alex wrote:If you use standard BB5/BB7 brakes with standard road levers (any), then you get a very powerful set of brakes. The BB5/BB7 Road calipers are downrated to avoid numpties grabbing a handful of discbrake whilst on the drops.
Best regards,
Jakob
I use the BB7 MTB, not even the Road ones, combined with Campagnolo Ergos and they work fine. The pads need be extremely close to the disc, half a millimeter or even less on the right side and the disc has to be straight as a die. The setup has been good for nearly one year now... occasional adjustments required, which are easily done on the BB7left the forum March 20230 -
Fwiw the latest Shimano STIs have different cable pull to SRAM and Campagnolo and do not work as well by all accounts. The Shimano CX disc calipers are optimised for their levers.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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ugo.santalucia wrote:cykelhviskeren wrote:Alex wrote:If you use standard BB5/BB7 brakes with standard road levers (any), then you get a very powerful set of brakes. The BB5/BB7 Road calipers are downrated to avoid numpties grabbing a handful of discbrake whilst on the drops.
Best regards,
Jakob
I use the BB7 MTB, not even the Road ones, combined with Campagnolo Ergos and they work fine. The pads need be extremely close to the disc, half a millimeter or even less on the right side and the disc has to be straight as a die. The setup has been good for nearly one year now... occasional adjustments required, which are easily done on the BB7
Thanks! My discs are not totally straight, and even when I adjust the pads to be really close to the disc, I can't make it brake properly. Guess I'll have to find me some of them Cane Creek drop V levers or the likes.0 -
Monty Dog wrote:Fwiw the latest Shimano STIs have different cable pull to SRAM and Campagnolo and do not work as well by all accounts. The Shimano CX disc calipers are optimised for their levers.
I'm building a singlespeed bike, so no STI's for me0 -
I quite possibly have a bike that is changing from flat to drops and needs a complete change of levers, etc.
The bike is a Boardman Comp with BB5 discs. Changing to drop bars so Sora 3500 shifters 9 speed have been purchased (2013 model shifters). Along with this bars, shorter stem, new rear mech to accommodate.
I know Specialized are using these shifters on their new secteur along with BB5 discs so I'm hoping it'll all work out smoothly.
I'm switching the lot this weekend possibly so it should be interesting to see how it works out.0 -
cykelhviskeren wrote:Alex wrote:If you use standard BB5/BB7 brakes with standard road levers (any), then you get a very powerful set of brakes. The BB5/BB7 Road calipers are downrated to avoid numpties grabbing a handful of discbrake whilst on the drops.
Best regards,
Jakob
Are you using the regular MTB BB5's or the road specific versions. The road specific versions move the pads further for less cable pull allowing for the moving pad to be placed further away from the disk. The static pad, however, should always be as close as possible no matter what version of BB5/7 your using.0 -
Ouija wrote:Are you using the regular MTB BB5's or the road specific versions. The road specific versions move the pads further for less cable pull allowing for the moving pad to be placed further away from the disk. The static pad, however, should always be as close as possible no matter what version of BB5/7 your using.
It's the standard (MTB) version, unfortunately. I'm aware of the difference between them now -but that's a little late, since I've already purchased them AND screwed them on the bike #facepalm
I'm also aware that the static pad needs to be as close to the disc as possible, but thanks for pointing it out anyway
Looks like I'll just have to buy me some v-compatible road levers. They seem to be hard to come by, though. Any suggestions besides the Cane Creek drop V's?0 -
cykelhviskeren wrote:Ouija wrote:Are you using the regular MTB BB5's or the road specific versions. The road specific versions move the pads further for less cable pull allowing for the moving pad to be placed further away from the disk. The static pad, however, should always be as close as possible no matter what version of BB5/7 your using.
It's the standard (MTB) version, unfortunately. I'm aware of the difference between them now -but that's a little late, since I've already purchased them AND screwed them on the bike #facepalm
I'm also aware that the static pad needs to be as close to the disc as possible, but thanks for pointing it out anyway
Looks like I'll just have to buy me some v-compatible road levers. They seem to be hard to come by, though. Any suggestions besides the Cane Creek drop V's?"Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
As previously mentioned, I use the BB7 MTB version no problem.
While the travel of the piston is less, that also means that the action is significantly more powerful... if correctly setup, they are excellent, better than the road ones in my opinionleft the forum March 20230 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:As previously mentioned, I use the BB7 MTB version no problem.
While the travel of the piston is less, that also means that the action is significantly more powerful... if correctly setup, they are excellent, better than the road ones in my opinion0 -
cykelhviskeren wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:As previously mentioned, I use the BB7 MTB version no problem.
While the travel of the piston is less, that also means that the action is significantly more powerful... if correctly setup, they are excellent, better than the road ones in my opinion
They must be... I can get some quite good modulation as well. My Ergos are Mach 2, kind of 2000-2003left the forum March 20230 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:cykelhviskeren wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:As previously mentioned, I use the BB7 MTB version no problem.
While the travel of the piston is less, that also means that the action is significantly more powerful... if correctly setup, they are excellent, better than the road ones in my opinion
They must be... I can get some quite good modulation as well. My Ergos are Mach 2, kind of 2000-20030 -
cykelhviskeren wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:cykelhviskeren wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:As previously mentioned, I use the BB7 MTB version no problem.
While the travel of the piston is less, that also means that the action is significantly more powerful... if correctly setup, they are excellent, better than the road ones in my opinion
They must be... I can get some quite good modulation as well. My Ergos are Mach 2, kind of 2000-2003
Older brake levers had more pull... maybe some bargain on ebay?left the forum March 20230 -
With BB7 MTB and road levers you'll get powerful braking, but you'll have to keep the pads adjusted very close or you'll run out of lever travel.
BB7 MTB and V-levers such as Tektro RL520 or Dia Compe 287V will probably work a little better than standard road levers and BB7 Road calipers.
V-levers and BB7 road calipers will not give much power at all.0