Long/Mid Reach Brakes

[NHAero]

That is the truth Steve!

Originally Posted by sparky33
Gosh, isn't it nice to live in a time when even the [I

worst[/I] components are still very good.

[JasonF]

I've used both the TRP and VO brakes extensively and prefer the TRPs. Seemed to modulate better and were a touch stiffer than the VOs.

[thwart]

Reminds me of the article (from Velonews?) several yrs ago about the bikes of Paris-Roubaix... one team was running these Shimano mid-reach brakes but had buffed out the logo.

Dedicated Campy fan here who has the 650's on a bike and has to admit they're excellent.

[Luwabra]

Br-r600 will throw my arse over the bars no prob w kool stops. Havent tried the others as I wanted max clearance per mike Varley blog. That said I’ll be in the market for a set of trp or vo blacks purely for aesthetics

[cachagua]

I just built up a bike using the TRPs, and I found that it's kind of a pain to switch wheels. Opening the quick-release on the caliper, and the one on the lever, and rolling the barrel adjuster down half an inch, will not let the wheel out easily (tried two so far: Challenge 700X36 on Belgium+, and Bon Jon on TB-14), and in fact loosening the cable anchor and letting the caliper open up to its widest still doesn't allow the tire through.

I'm not suggesting this is a point in favor of any other brake -- I read in a review that the VO has pretty much the same problem. I also had to struggle with 7700 calipers using 700X27 tires, so it's something that happens. Price we pay for big ol' juicy tires.

The way I fixed the 7700s was I cut about 3mm off each brake pad. This left plenty of compound to stop with, even plenty of groove depth to carry away water (if that's what those grooves are supposed to be for) but totally fixed the problem. The added benefit was that, since the brakes close tighter over the rim with less pad, there's more height clearance over the tire.

I did the first set by hand, and it could have been more exact... I think for subsequent ones I'm going to build a fixture to hold the pad and be able to cut them flatter. I'm imagining a few inches of steel angle with a regular brake shoe or pad-holder out of a spare brake, that I slide a pad into, cut it, slide it out and cut another... if anyone else is interested I'd post some photos of what I put together, and if it's really a raging success I'd consider doing a set of pads for people for... I dunno, a Paceline donation. Plus postage, of course.

Or. OR! Someone may know a better/easier way to set the brake up so that the wheel goes in and out without binding?

One other thing, my TRPs came with the pivots all loose and sloppy -- not the center ones, those were fine, but the ones at the right. Tightened 'em up and the braking's great, more than enough power and nice progressive feel, using regular Cane Creek levers.

[Andy340]

I use the VO Grand Cru with Yokozuna Reaction cables - excellent brakes and will clear 35mm tires on c17 rims. I had to trim PDW metal fender (45mm) for clearance.
I assume this clearance issue is common for mid reach calipers but it would be interesting if that is not the case and there are mid reach brakes with similar braking but better clearance for fenders.

[campy man]

Originally Posted by Big Dan

If you were serious about braking you wouldn't say that.
The R650 is better than all of those.

Was strongly considering the TRP RG957 but Ribble has the R650 at a very good price.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/shima...set/#pid=23794

[NYCfixie]

R600 was 8/9 speed era and old Shimano SLR pull.
R650 was 10 speed era and new Shimano Super SLR pull.

I have the 650s on a flat bar road bike and they are really good.

VOs came out when Shimano did not make a high quality more modern version mid-reach brake.

TRP RG957 came out when they realized they could make a better version of the Tektro ones and sell them for more money.

IMHO - TRPs are the best. VOs are second best. And then Shimano (which were once the best). Why would you try to save a few dollars on brakes that might save your life one day?


HampCo suggests the TRP RG957.
Seven suggests the VOs.


Buy the TRPs (or VOs). They are better and cost about $50 more. Amazon even has the black TRPs for $123.95 right now: https://www.amazon.com/TRP-RG957-Rea...dp/B00JNAEOWI/

Originally Posted by campy man

Was strongly considering the TRP RG957 but Ribble has the R650 at a very good price.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/shima...set/#pid=23794

[JDino]

I run the Tektro R539 calipers on my All City Mr Pink and they are completely acceptable. Caliper rim brakes are still not going to stop anywhere as well as modern disc brake bikes so what we are debating here between brands and models is a very small difference in stopping power.

Besides, setup is really the x-factor when comparing how brakes work and whether you're using them for carbon or non-carbon braking surfaces. I recently switch to Mavic Open Pro rims from a Roval carbon rim and I can actually stop fine now.

Tektro and TRP are the same company so I imagine their long reach caliper brakes are very similar. Paul makes your bike look fancy and their components are quality so if you don't care about price, probably go that route.

I just accept that side pull caliper brakes for road bikes are just a mediocre way of stopping but it's a road bike so you shouldn't be worrying about stopping too much anyways.

The vast majority of bikes will be disc in the next few years so this may be a moot conversation, haha.