Question about Avid Shortys

Rex Vincere said:

I just put a set of shortys on my bike today. Only after finishing the installation I noticed that
both brakes were "Rear" brakes.

As I don't really want to go to the trouble of removing the one on the front, putting the old
brakes in, returning it, waiting for a front one to arrive and swapping them again, I have this
obvious question: What is the harm? What really (if any) is the difference between the front and
rear brakes for Avid?

Otherwise, everything seems to fit correctly and brakes are working fine.

thanx Rex

BTW, I would like to join many others by expressing my awe and surprise seeing how well these
brakes work. I was all determined to try these out, see them not work and go for V-brakes in the
end, before I went for a ride with the Shortys.

Rex,

If I'm not mistaken, the only "difference" is in the orientation of the brake shoes. Their mounting
posts are offset so that the shorter end points toward the front of the bike on both the front and
rear brake. If your'e concerned about that, you can fix it by loosening the mounting bolts on the
pads, rotating them 180 degrees, resetting the brake toe-in, and tightening everything back down.

Properly set up canti brakes are great, yes. I have them on both my bikes.

Trent

Rex Vincere said:

I just put a set of shortys on my bike today. Only after finishing the installation I noticed that
both brakes were "Rear" brakes.

As I don't really want to go to the trouble of removing the one on the front, putting the old
brakes in, returning it, waiting for a front one to arrive and swapping them again, I have this
obvious question: What is the harm? What really (if any) is the difference between the front and
rear brakes for Avid?

Otherwise, everything seems to fit correctly and brakes are working fine.

thanx Rex

BTW, I would like to join many others by expressing my awe and surprise seeing how well these
brakes work. I was all determined to try these out, see them not work and go for V-brakes in the
end, before I went for a ride with the Shortys.

Do they have a "noodle"? The front one on Shimano brakes is bent back on itself, the rear one is
only bent to 90 degrees.

Helps with the cable routing, in theory - "V" brakes are actually designed for countries that use
the left brake lever for the front brake. Us Brits have to put up with an S-bend in a slightly
longer front cable, but it's not a big issue.

Quoted message said:

points toward the front of the bike on both the front and rear brake. If your'e concerned about
that, you can fix it by loosening the mounting bolts on the pads, rotating them 180 degrees,
resetting the brake toe-in, and tightening everything back down.

That's not always the full solution. If the pads have a curve to compensate for the arc of the
wheel, you'll need to switch the left pad with the right one, and vice-versa, so that you get
maximum pad contact.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

"ZeeExSixAre" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

points toward the front of the bike on both the front and rear brake.

If

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your'e concerned about that, you can fix it by loosening the mounting bolts on the pads,
rotating them 180 degrees, resetting the brake

toe-in,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and tightening everything back down.

That's not always the full solution. If the pads have a curve to

compensate

Quoted message said:

for the arc of the wheel, you'll need to switch the left pad with the

right

Quoted message said:

one, and vice-versa, so that you get maximum pad contact.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

...AND if you do what the first reply said, you're asking for the pads to be shot out of their
holders... I got "smart" once...

Mike

Mike S. said:

...AND if you do what the first reply said, you're asking for the pads to be shot out of their
holders... I got "smart" once...

Mike

Not sure if you were replying to my post, but: My reply assumed that the brake shoes were flipped
180 degrees from their correct orientation, so that the short end of the shoes were pointing towards
the rear of the bike. In that position, they could be shot out of their holders, particularly if the
retaining pin were not installed properly. But if, in that scenario, the shoes were rotated 180
degrees so that the short side points towards the front, they're not going anywhere.

Trent

"Zog The Undeniable" wrote

Quoted message said:

Do they have a "noodle"? The front one on Shimano brakes is bent back on itself, the rear one is
only bent to 90 degrees.

Helps with the cable routing, in theory - "V" brakes are actually designed for countries that use
the left brake lever for the front brake. Us Brits have to put up with an S-bend in a slightly
longer front cable, but it's not a big issue.

Like other cantilever brakes, Shortys do not have a noodle.
coloradocyclist.comproductdisplay2 v2.cfmOpen ↗
R=17046&S=12278,17046,29907,29676
--
mark

What I did was to take the pads out, rotate 180 degrees and switch left to right. So in the end, the
brake mechanism is 180 degrees reversed (facing front, although they were designed to face back in
the rear position), but the pads are in correct position and alignment (left pad on the left and
short side facing front).

I never had canti brakes before so I don't know what a noodle is, but I dont' think that matters in
the Avid's case.

The only thing I can think of as being unusual is the front brakes are very strong, even after
loosening the cable to the max. I wonder if they had a weaker set for the front. I am not
complaining though. Given the risk of a tumble vs. getting run over by a truck because I crossed the
stop line, I'll take the first.

Rex

"trent gregory hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike S. said:

...AND if you do what the first reply said, you're asking for the pads to be shot out of their
holders... I got "smart" once...

Mike

Not sure if you were replying to my post, but: My reply assumed that the brake shoes were flipped
180 degrees from their correct orientation, so that the short end of the shoes were pointing
towards the rear of the bike. In that position, they could be shot out of their holders,
particularly if the retaining pin were not installed properly. But if, in that scenario, the shoes
were rotated 180 degrees so that the short side points towards the front, they're not going
anywhere.

Trent

Rex Vincere said:

... I never had canti brakes before so I don't know what a noodle is...

As usual, Sheldon Brown has the answer: <http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_m-o.html#noodle>.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities (Illinois Side)

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 20:09:53 -0500, "Rex Vincere" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

What I did was to take the pads out, rotate 180 degrees and switch left to right. So in the end,
the brake mechanism is 180 degrees reversed (facing front, although they were designed to face back
in the rear position), but the pads are in correct position and alignment (left pad on the left and
short side facing front).

I never had canti brakes before so I don't know what a noodle is, but I dont' think that matters in
the Avid's case.

The only thing I can think of as being unusual is the front brakes are very strong, even after
loosening the cable to the max. I wonder if they had a weaker set for the front. I am not
complaining though. Given the risk of a tumble vs. getting run over by a truck because I crossed
the stop line, I'll take the first.

<SNIP>

Why not just flip the pads over and change sides for less brake efficiency ? That's how mine are on
my fixed-gear. Not by design mind you. I was shocked when after reading the original post I took a
look at my bikes with canti's. Sheesh, who needs directions anyway.. Phil