Direct Mount Brake Clearances?

[mwynne]

I'm sure this has been kicked around here but I couldn't find much on it.
Anyone got hands-on experience with any direct mount brakes with good tire clearance? Slowly thinking about a new 'road' bike - hoping for ~30mm tires, but not entirely sold on mid-reach calipers yet, just looking for examples and ideas!

[Ken Robb]

I'm not sure what "direct mount" brakes are.

[mwynne]

I'm not sure what "direct mount" brakes are.
Ah, talking about the current crop of things like these. Sorry should have clarified.

http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2014/09/direct-mount-brakes.html?m=1

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[Peter P.]

I don't know about direct-mount brakes but any good builder can construct a frame to fit 30mm tires and short reach brakes.

My Soulcraft with 32mm (advertised size) tires:

[ultraman6970]

30 mm??? and road bike is not like a combination that has too many matches. add that direct mount and probably you will be better going with a disc brakes road bike, maybe a CX bike?

[mwynne]

30 mm??? and road bike is not like a combination that has too many matches. add that direct mount and probably you will be better going with a disc brakes road bike, maybe a CX bike?
Certainly unusual, but I think doable and reasonable. I've got a great CX bike already, but I definitely want a more road geometry oriented bike. Mid-reach side pulls are the obvious choice, just exploring other options since I can!

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[mwynne]

I don't know about direct-mount brakes but any good builder can construct a frame to fit 30mm tires and short reach brakes.

My Soulcraft with 32mm (advertised size) tires:

Peter, neat to see! Any idea if those tires actually come out around advertised size?

[thirdgenbird]

Here is another 30 in a short reach:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/Yokota-%20ss/437158eb09934be908380c0a1d85ad75_zps2ab30ea8.jpg

The pads were also far from maxed out:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/Yokota-%20ss/71fcf28e39979540f24fc0dde88dd734_zps22430de8.jpg

[mwynne]

Here is another 30 in a short reach[...]

That is a surprise to see!

[Peter P.]

Peter, neat to see! Any idea if those tires actually come out around advertised size?

The Panaracer Paselas in the photos measured 27mm tall, 28mm wide.

[ElHardeen]

Work at a former Trek shop and have played with a few flavors of the Shimano/Bontrager direct mount brakes.

Depending on the rim, 28c tires are going to be the biggest most of the Shimano and older plastic Bont-rager versions can handle. Tire comes pretty close to hitting the caliper height wise.

New metal Bontrager ones shipping with the Emondas would probably play nice with around a 30 as the arms are more sculpted out in the middle leaving room for the tire at the highest point.

Honestly, if we're looking at big(er) tires, direct mount may not be your brake standard.

[Ken Robb]

I have no complaints about the performance of the Shimano Standard (mid) reach calipers I have had on several bikes. The biggest tire I tried was 700x32 but there was room for a bigger tire. I have 700x37 tires on my Riv. Allrounder w/canti brakes so I might be fun to see if they would fit in the calipers.

[Rob1519]

The Cervelo C series will accept a 30mm tire

https://www.cervelo.com/en-us/engineering-field-notes/tire-clearance

[thirdgenbird]

That is a surprise to see!

I have since changed frames to one that uses a mid reach. Like you, I was wanting a frame that cleared a 30 with a short reach but I don't regret the decision. I still plan to mostly run 28-30mm slicks, but I have the flexibility to use the wheels with 35mm tires from my cross bike. It also opens the door to a proper fender with a 28-30mm tire.

The VO mid reach brakes have been good. They lack the initial bite that I'm used to with record brakes but I don't feel any more flex when I get on them. I'm guessing better pads would probably go a long ways to level the playing field. I've found them good enough however so I haven't spent the money.

[palincss]

I'm sure this has been kicked around here but I couldn't find much on it.
Anyone got hands-on experience with any direct mount brakes with good tire clearance? Slowly thinking about a new 'road' bike - hoping for ~30mm tires, but not entirely sold on mid-reach calipers yet, just looking for examples and ideas!

Seems that "direct mount" is another way of saying brazed-on pivots -- something every cantilever brake has, also not unknown with centerpulls. Paul Racers are great in such an application.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3036/2668209327_60cb6cbc7c_z.jpg?zz=1

[mwynne]

EllHardeen - I also used to work at a trek shop, but left right around when the DM brakes were gaining ground, thanks for the insight. And yeah, I think it's going to a mid-reach caliper build in the end.

Ken Robb - Looks like calipers are going to make the most sense for me too.

Rob1519 - Cool! But I don't really want a Cervelo just so I can have the brakes ;)

palincss - Yes, basically just brazed-on pivots, but a different mounting location than canti bosses or Paul Racer mounts (I like the Racers, but I am a bit put off by the proprietary mount). Several of the "big" brands (Shimano, Campy, Tektro/TRP, etc..) have direct/brazed on versions of their standard calipers all with the same pivot placement. I had hoped that there would have been a bit of shifting around and someone would have offered up a bigger clearance version in the last few years - seems like it would make sense to me!