Campy Delta brakes

[mcteague]

For some reason I checked out the "Bicycling" website today, something I rarely do, and found an article I actually enjoyed. Read on!

The Greatest Worst Brake Ever
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a28578374/campagnolo-delta-brake/

Tim

[KJMUNC]

Great line: “Yo, man, I want them triangle brakes.”

[weisan]

I tried to sell it at a recent swap meet, a lot of curious onlookers but no takers...yet.
:p

[Gsinill]

Mine are stashed away in my parts bin and will stay there until I decide to either sell them or build up a bike as wall art.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Mine are stashed away in my parts bin and will stay there until I decide to either sell them or build up a bike as wall art.

No reason not to use. A little tricky to set up but work fine and a great example of functional art!

https://live.staticflickr.com/4552/38528300911_9ae1f80a68_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/21GBByc)

[ultraman6970]

User of those aswell :D

Interesting the article at the end says "put the pads closer to the rim".. I think depends a lot of the brake levers. I want to try them with the potenza brake levers, they have IMO more lever. They should stop better.

The other thing i noticed is that they work better with machined rims.

[MikeD]

Jobst Brandt railed about the non-linearity of this brake. On my friend's bike, I noticed a serious lack of clearance above the tire.

[oldpotatoe]

I've used them from early 90s..last gen, 5 pivot and have them on a bike or 2 since then. YES, somewhat of a black art to set up..but when they work, they work great. NOT noisy, lotsa of 'options'(like different width spacers for different width rims)..ability to raise and lower in frame/fork..etc..BUT great brakes..

BTW article said gone in 1992..actually not until 1993 when DP started with Campagnolo....

More info here. Less emotion
http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2014/03/campagnolo-delta-brakes.html
I tried to sell it at a recent swap meet, a lot of curious onlookers but no takers...yet.

BIG difference between CDA brakes and Deltas..IF the guy was trying to get Record Deltas prices for these..not surprised no takers.

[Ttx1]

I bought two sets in the mid '90s.

After my first kid was born in '08 I sold off a bunch of stuff I had been aimlessly collecting and made a good return on the Deltas.

Rare example of ROI positive bike parts...

[jtakeda]

I tried to sell it at a recent swap meet, a lot of curious onlookers but no takers...yet.
:p

What did you price at?
I had 2 sets of 5 pivot. One remain in the stash the other sold on eBay for $450. Not hard to sell unless you’re 3 pivot

[weisan]

I have complete confidence that I can sell it any time I want and for a good price.

That was just a lame attempt in "see, honey, I try to get rid of more stuff...but nobody wants it....so do I get to keep it?"

:p

[glepore]

I really like mine, on a period bike. Much better with new koolstop pads, the oem ones were hard as hell.

[El Chaba]

I really like mine, on a period bike. Much better with new koolstop pads, the oem ones were hard as hell.

This is an excellent point. The newest of the deltas are over 25 years old now, and the pad compound seemed VERY susceptible to hardening. As to how they work, keep in mind that there were several versions. The last version was the most powerful. The Croce version was deserving of all of the scorn that has ever been directed at the Delta brakes in general.

[oldpotatoe]

This is an excellent point. The newest of the deltas are over 25 years old now, and the pad compound seemed VERY susceptible to hardening. As to how they work, keep in mind that there were several versions. The last version was the most powerful. The Croce version was deserving of all of the scorn that has ever been directed at the Delta brakes in general.

Pads still available as new..needn't be '25 years old'..Black bellows..made to be mated to levers wth return springs..5 pivot..bit easier effort to close..Love mine..

[choke]

The Croce version was deserving of all of the scorn that has ever been directed at the Delta brakes in general. I don't find that the Record works any better than the CdA. I prefer the CdA version over the Record for one reason, they'll fit bigger tires. I also replace the pads and holders with more modern Campy ones, they'll bolt right on.

This tire measured 31.8mm. A tire that big would be impossible to fit under a set of Records.

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/losa2.jpg

[DarkStar]

Have a pair of '89 CdA, PIA to setup but so beautiful. No plans on selling them anytime soon, currently mounted on my ’95 Serotta Colorado Ti.:banana:

[Ruimteaapje]

No real issues with Delta's. I ride my Peugeot sometimes several times a week sometimes only every now and then and don't think their better or worse than any other brake from the pre-dual pivot era.

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65385137_10219774783505883_7802633186466332672_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQmWFs1neihE-3BU00FZg-crm3r976L0b6WALLPsr0XeHvrfGYFVfgOntE0dq6k6ov8&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=77a8402c50e225468cb3a0cf842cffb2&oe=5DF4D50E

[zero85ZEN]

No real issues with Delta's. I ride my Peugeot sometimes several times a week sometimes only every now and then and don't think their better or worse than any other brake from the pre-dual pivot era.


Love the early 90s paint scheme! Perfect for that era.

[Ruimteaapje]

Thanks, it's so ugly that it grew on me. Used to ride the exact same frame in these exact same colors back in 1990 (but on a 17-year old's students budget so RX100 parts :) )