Re: [CR]Why normal reach calipers on short reach frames?

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

From: <RaleighPro531@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 18:56:05 EST
Subject: Re: [CR]Why normal reach calipers on short reach frames?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 1/11/2002 5:59:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com writes:


> Short reach calipers generally have a reach range of 39-49. Long
> reach is usually 47-57. (Talk of "normal" reach is likely to be
> confusing, and I'd urge everybody to purge this ambiguous term from
> their vocabulary.)
>
> A caliper brake has its greatest mechanical advantage when the pads
> are high up the arms, close to the pivot. Back when long reach was
> the "norm" a conscientious frame builder building a high performance
> bike would locate the bridge and crown to maximize the braking
> mechanical advantage. Especially, the old Campag single pivots had
> such poor braking that this was a very nice touch.
>
> You may also see this on bikes made to work with both 630 mm (27
> inch) clinchers and 622 (700c) tubulars. When the larger wheels were
> installed, the shoes should be near the tops of the slots.
>

I'm in the middle of assembling an old LeTour using 700C rather than 27" wheels. I realized I'd have to use the 750 Weinmanns centerpulls instead of the 610's which were close but a hair short. I wondered about the braking. The question: Is there a difference in braking ability between shorter reach brakes with the pads at the bottom of the slots vs long reach with the pads mounted at the top if the pads end up mounted the same distance from the pivot?

Pete Geurds
Douglassville, PA