Travel Agents

<font = Ben Stein as Ferris Bueller's teacher> Anyone? Anyone? </font>

The front brake on the new (to me) Surly is just about useless.

DH installed Cane Creek short reach levers for me.
Prior to that change, we didn't even know that the brake wouldn't do anything, because I couldn't reach the lever to squeeze it, and on the stand, it seemed like it worked.

Now he's thinking to replace the canti with a V brake and use a travel agent to make it work with the new levers.

For me, the thing is, I just need to know that I can stop.
Any ideas, thoughts, or editorial comments?

I don't think I understand the problem.

Is it that you can't generate enough force to close the brake, or is it that the brake is broken?

I've still got the original Tektro cantis and Shimano short reach brake-only levers on my Surly. I had v-brakes on a couple of my other bikes.

Sometimes cantis can be fussy, if the cable is too tight you may not be able to get the lever into your grip enough to put your full force on it. (kinda braking with your weaker fingertips instead of your stronger fist) If the cable is too loose you can squeeze the lever all the way into the bar and still not close the brake. My LBS came to my rescue there and put some big and juicy barrel adjusters on my brake cables so I could fuss and fiddle to my heart's content, and they adjusted the small wire that runs from canti-to-canti and then told me not to touch it... they know me so well.

Do you need new brake pads? Softer pads?

What cantis are you using?

Sheldon Brown has a great page about setting up cantis. I followed it when building my commuter, and I've been really happy with the brakes (older Avid Shorty 6s). I found the stuff about "mechanical advantage" to be particularly interesting and useful.

My only experience with v-brakes and travel agents wasn't good. I can't say for certain if it was the travel agents or just crappy v-brakes, but I don't intend to repeat it anytime soon.

I've used travel agents, and they work fine if set up properly, but are a pain in the rear to set up properly iirc. I know there are some good short-reach brake levers out there (Cane Creeks work fine), and combined with a decent cantilever brake (like newer Avid Shorty 6 or Shimano's) you should have more than enough stopping power.

I would also wonder what brakes you are currently using, and what shape are they in?

I don't think I understand the problem.
Thanks Knotted, this states exactly my position. Ask me anything about head and neck anatomy, breath support needed for phonation, the production of consonants, and tricking kids with autism into talking, but bring up anything in the realm of "mechanical advantage" or even remembering how old I am when it doesn't end in a zero, I will glaze like a donut.

Some of the assembly of this bike may have been done by chimpanzees, full grown grouchy ones, not consciencious young ones with underwear and good tools. The cable was messed up and the straddle wire was smashed in an odd way.

LBS guy looked at it and said there was no way to put a barrel adjuster on because of the angle noodle ... and cabling... or something.

Since my previous post, DH took a closer look, and saw that the pads were badly misaligned.

Since I can't really ride right now anyway, we have some time to tinker.

I think Brewer has a secret (or not so secret) desire to play with a travel agent, because the new Co-motion tandems have them.