V brake or 105?

brindlescoops
brindlescoops Posts: 465
edited November 2012 in Road beginners
I have a cheapo trek hybrid which i seem to use twice as much as my luxuroius and costly road and mountain bikes, so thought it might be worth giving it a bit of TLC. I have a pair of 105 callipers spare and wondered if they would give better peformance than the no brand v brakes on the hybrid? The holes in the frame are too small to take the bolts so I would have to drill them out is it worth the effort?
My biggest fear is that should I crash, burn and die, my Wife would sell my stuff based upon what I told her I paid for it.

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    The drop on the 105 callipers will meet the tyre not the rim. Cheap v-brakes can be improved with better blocks.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Cheap v-brakes can be improved with better blocks.
    In particular if your current pads are all-in-one and don't have a metal backing with replaceable pads an upgrade will help a lot.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    The brake levers used with 'V' brakes pull more cable than the ones for callipers. The 105 brakes would be hard to pull on and not very powerful. Just get some good blocks and shoes for the 'V's. Something like these. You would just need to replace the blocks in future at £6.50 a pair.
    http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s104p825
    My Fleet.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Wot he said ^

    Stick with the v-brakes cos they'll work best with the levers you have. Just clean the rims and treat yourself to some new brake blocks.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    The brake levers used with 'V' brakes pull more cable than the ones for callipers

    Indeed they do. I'm using V brakes on my tourers 105 levers because the previous cantilever brakes were useless. I bought a "travel agent" to adapt the pull ratio. I have a spare one for sale as there wasn't clearance to upgrade the rear canti brake.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    As the OP had a hybrid already set up for 'V's changing to a less powerful brake would be a step back especially with the added complication of getting the correct travel agent. What you are doing makes sense. Changing to 105 brakes does not.
    My Fleet.
  • brindlescoops
    brindlescoops Posts: 465
    Cheers all, v brakes it is with new cartridge clocks, 105's can go back in the parts bin!

    Cheers all!
    My biggest fear is that should I crash, burn and die, my Wife would sell my stuff based upon what I told her I paid for it.

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