Rim Brake Shifter/Brake Combination for Maximum Pad Clearance

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by RyanH

Bontrager speed stop won't work because of the cable exit below the BB placement.

Oh yes, I had forgotten that there is a special version of the EE brakes with different cable routing for under-chainstay mounting. As far as adding/removing spacers under the brake pads, that probably won't make a difference. EE brakes use a bellcrank style actuation which remains nearly linear through out its travel. Adding/removing spacers under the pads just offsets the range of pad travel.

Originally Posted by RyanH

What happens with SRAM levers and Shimano brakes? Isn't that the combo where the whole lever travel barely moves the calipers so the calipers have to be super close? If so, shouldn't the opposite be true?

Yes, as mentioned above, the new Shimano levers have a higher cable travel (lower leverage) that earlier Shimano levers, and probably SRAM levers as well. But the change wasn't drastic, so it may only give a smidge more clearance. That's an awfully expensive experiment, which may yield only small results.

Under chainstay brake mounting is an idea that keeps getting recycled, and there are good reasons that bike builders keep going back to traditional brake mounting.