Silver Cantilever Brake Suggestions

[handsomerob]

I am putting together some parts for a 2012 Salsa Casseroll and the stock Oryx ones don't do it for me aesthetically.

Here is my want list:
1.) Not Shimano (it is a budget Campy build and I can't bring myself to mix)
2.) Work well
3.) Silver
4.) nice looking
5.) relatively inexpensive

If I had no budget, Bruce Gordon's would be a no-brainer. Even better (and more expensive) would be some Paul Stoplights... but these are going on a Salsa, not a Weigle. Some touring or neo-Retros would be a little pricey and the way they mount wouldn't allow me to use the factory rack.

I am leaning towards trying the VO Grand Cru ones that they put on sale for $65, but I can't tell if they have a tension adjustment.

I do like the Avids that look like neo-Retros, but I wanted to go down a road less traveled.

If you have a pic or link for any suggestions, please post it. Thanks, HR.

[spacemen3]

IRD Cafams would be my pick.

[FlashUNC]

I'd go with TRPs. Love mine.

[nooneline]

The VO Gran Cru ones don't have a tension adjustment, unless your frame has three-hole canti mounts - choosing which hole acts as tension adjustment.

I'm partial to Tektro CR720s. Simple, durable, easy to adjust, and they work very well. They're best with shorter road shoes/pads than long pads.

And, they're cheap.

If you want to spend coin, I'd look at VO Gran Cru Zest low-profile brakes. Likely quite strong; great looking. Rabobank uses these brakes (not from VO, though).

[nighthawk]

TRP EuroX, look good, work good.. And can usually be found used for a reasonable price.

[AngryScientist]

TRP EuroX, look good, work good.. And can usually be found used for a reasonable price.

i second or third this suggestion, i love mine:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma9eDcpb3tY/UFcGRv33WVI/AAAAAAAAAzI/LkzooVUcs-Q/s640/IMG_0165.JPG

[handsomerob]

I saw those Zest ones and they do look pretty cool. Had no idea that a pro team would use something like that..

Those CR720's and TRP Euros are definitely on the short list.

The VO Gran Cru ones don't have a tension adjustment, unless your frame has three-hole canti mounts - choosing which hole acts as tension adjustment.

I'm partial to Tektro CR720s. Simple, durable, easy to adjust, and they work very well. They're best with shorter road shoes/pads than long pads.

And, they're cheap.

If you want to spend coin, I'd look at VO Gran Cru Zest low-profile brakes. Likely quite strong; great looking. Rabobank uses these brakes (not from VO, though).

[nooneline]

Yup:
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/article/pro-bike-lars-booms-rabobank-giant-tcx-advanced-sl-29877/

[zennmotion]

Tektro CR720s are your ticket. Easier to adjust than the various Mafac clones (TRP, Velo Orange) or the various narrow profile brakes, CR720s have good hardware- no dependence on tiny 2.5mm set screws (HATE those little effers) to hold the brake cable in place (the two on the straddle hanger are strictly optional- I just remove them as they serve no practical purpose). The springs are robust and tension can be easily adjusted to balance them with a set screw. Toe-in can be easily adjusted with a 5mm hex key (think: easy multi-tool to get rid of a squeal mid-ride). The stock pads are throwaway though- although I found them OK for dry conditions, replace with Kool Stop salmon colored inserts. Wide profile, so they have good rim clearance and stopping power can be adjusted by the height of the straddle cable (in comparison, not much you can do here with low profile cantis). And the CR720s come in silver and they're cheap, even with replacement pads. I've tried quite a few canti models- NOS Mafacs, Origin 8 (same as VO Gran Cru as far as I can tell) Avid Shorty 6, Kore, TRP (basic alloy model) and the CR720s are when I stopped experimenting- I have them on 3 bikes (2 cross racers, 1 gravel road/travel bike), no complaints.

The only others I would strongly recommend are old stock Shimano XTs which are medium profile and work really well, but require a 10mm box wrench to adjust the toe-in (not a big deal, but it's not conveniently on my multi-tool so and I like the capability of easy mid-ride adjustments on a bike that travels and sees long gravel rides)- but otherwise the XT's (first generation model) are a great brake if you're OK with something NOS or used. You did say no Shimano because you're a campy dude yada yada yada, but Campy's MTB components, including their canti brakes were crap- they did a full retreat out of that market for a reason. So you can be forgiven for the XTs in this case (again the 1st generation medium profile, not the later narrow profiles-see the pic below)- they are pretty much the bees knees for canti brakes, just sadly out of production.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88057131@N00/3352045545/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4008/4482516324_5deb2c4106_z.jpg

[sg8357]

Tektro CR-710

http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=156&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

Available in silver, note these are not for cx use, they are brakes
not speed modulators. Horrible things happen if you have working
brakes at a cx race.

[handsomerob]

Thank you all very much for your input... Especially zennmotion for that great comparison.

Those 720's were good looking and pretty cheap, to know they are also easy to set up and do the job makes them my front runner. I like those TRP's a lot as well... And they seem very well liked too.

Time to see what kind of deal I can find. I will post pics when the build is done.

[fourflys]

Here is my Cass with Paul Touring... you can use the rack if you get the adaptors from Pauls... sorry the pics aren't the greatest of the brakes... let me know if you want other angles... I really like the Paul's...

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/i-PfvHPHq/0/L/IMG1969-L.jpg
http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-x5TGvzk/0/X2/2012-09-2314-08-04153-X2.jpg