V's and Drops

GarethPJ

I've a tourer I use as a winter hack which is equipped with Cantis. They've never been much use and after another winter of road cack they really need replacing. I could buy decent set of cantis, but I have a more or less new set of V's in the shed. I can think of two alternative ways of achieving this; the first is travel agents; the second is Dia Compe 287V levers.

Anybody got experience of either? The travel agents don't seem to me to be a particularly elegant solution and I've heard bad reports of the Dia Compe levers. Or has anybody got any other suggestions?

TIA

GJ

mrushton

The Dia Compe levers are rubbish. I've got 2 pairs lying gash. You would be better off with the Cane Creek V specific levers imo which are actually swept back to get closer to the bars. I use these on my Pompino and actually have a spare pair I think from my partners bike (She went to caliper brakes and used the specific lever)

http://www.canecreek.com/component-other?product=drop-v

GarethPJ

Those Cane Creek levers look nice, but they open another dilemma. For that money (and the new bar tape) I could get a decent set of cantis. So many choices.

mrushton

if you can find me a UK price for those CC levers and I can find them we may be able to come to an arrangement

GarethPJ

Called the LBS and they say they can get me a pair for 52 quid, which seems pretty steep.

However a friend has suggested I should fit the mini-V's he uses on his CX bikes. They work with standard levers, cost a fraction of the price of a set of the best cantis and he reckons they work a lot better. I'm going to measure up his to make sure they'll clear my guards. If they'll fit I'll be giving them a try.

georgee

I use mini v's on my road rat with full guards, they clear the mud guards (just) and work fairly well, they're dirt cheap as well

elcani

The Diacompes are indeed awful, I bought a pair and they were so badly made that the lever didn't move freely. I sent them back and replaced the with Tektro RL520s which are much better. Cheap, too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=34840

Cheers.

boblo

I have both the Tektro 520's and Dia Compe 287v's. The Tektro's are better finished and slightly better quality. They both work perfectly with V brakes (I have both Shitmano and Avid's).

I've used normal levers with mini V's and low profile cantis and they aren't as good as the above levers and V brakes.

Buy the Tektro's, you won't be dissapointed.

GarethPJ

I think I'll give the mini V's a try this weekend, if only because fitting them will be less hassle. No need to mess about with the bar tape.

Berk Bonebonce

I got some Campag mini V's a while ago from Mercian - much better than canti's.