Linear pull, Center Pull, Dual pivot: What is your opinion ?

[LewTwo]

I do not want to start a war but I am doing things ass backwards (again). I have a new smart pie 700C front wheel and battery but I can not fit it to the suspension fork on the existing bike. Time to cut the losses and move on. The bike will be used for general transportation in an urban setting with 95% level terrain. I have decided that I want matching front and rear rims. I am planning on ordering a Golden Motors rim from Golden Motors Canada and lacing in an internally geared 3-speed HUB (Sturmey Archer S30 or Shimano SG-3).

I am looking at building up a Redline Crosstown frame more or less from scratch (references below). The question that I am beating myself up over at this point is brakes: Linear pull, Center pull, Side pull dual pivot (hope I got the nomenclature correct). I am planning on using the Golden Motor levers in order to utilize the brake circuit. I assume any of the above will bring the bike to a stop. Side pull seems simpler and more universal. Center pull seems more expensive. I lean toward Linear pull without a good reason but perhaps I am missing something?.

Thank you in advance ... begin

Reference:
Redline on EBAY: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161664064069
Redline on Bike Index: https://bikeindex.org/bikes/39642

Just for clarity (as I may have screwed up the nomenclature):
Example Linear pull: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BC9Q54
Example Center pull: http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Canitlever-Bicycle-Brake-Levers/dp/B00LQFNXWU
Example Side pull: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BMRU0A

 

[amberwolf]

For the brake types, take a look at Sheldon Brown's bike site for explanations of what each kind's advantages and disadvantages are.


For the rims, well, I think you would be better off replacing the GM hub's rim with a good one, rather than replacing a good wheel's rim with a GM one. (I don't know what quality the Redline's wheels actually are, but if they have good rims you may be better off using the rims off those wheels to rebuild both your wheels with...but there are a number of threads with good rim references).

 

[LewTwo]

... take a look at Sheldon Brown's bike site for explanations of what each kind's advantages and disadvantages are. ...

"All in all, though, rim brakes are simple and practical, and they are preferred for economy, sporty performance and light weight."
Other than that Sheldon was rather non-committal. Pretty much 'brakes is brakes'.

The only significant thing that I was able to gleam from Sheldon Brown's bike site was:
"Direct-pull cantilevers require special brake levers. Direct-pull brake levers pull the cable twice as far, half as hard."
The GM brake levers appear to have the same geometry as those on my current ride with "linear pull" (aka direct pull) cantilever brakes.

I think you would be better off replacing the GM hub's rim with a good one, rather than replacing a good wheel's rim with a GM one.

GM's rim are definitely better than what I had on the existing frame. They are a double walled 'V' rim with machined brake surfaces. I am guessing they are 650-22 with about a 30mm deep V (36 spokes).

... I don't know what quality the Redline's wheels actually are ...

It has no rims (frame and fork only). The frame and fork (circa 1991) does have bosses below rims (or where the rims would be). The seat stays also have a cable stop for a center pull cable.

 

[ddk]

v-brakes offer the advantage of being able to disengage the brake arms without needing a tool.
Center-pull brakes sometimes has the same feature.
This is ofttimes a good thing if(when) you need to fix a flat on the road.
Other than that brakes is brakes, where the pads are the important part.
disclaimer- I use cantilever brakes because they're easier to fasten to a bike frame ...if the fork doesn't include bosses for v-brakes.
(like, 2 out of 3 trikes)
The supplied GM brake pulls work fine with either or cantilever/v-brake

 

[LewTwo]

...
The supplied GM brake pulls work fine with either or cantilever/v-brake

Thought that might be the case.
Thank thee

 

[mrzed]

Linear pull are usually easier to set properly and keep adjustment. Some cantilever brakes can be as good, but often require more fiddling. Both need proper pads for best effect.

 

[mrzed]

I'd also respectfully disagree that any lever can work well with both cantis and linear pull. The cable travel is too different. A linear pull lever won't have enough leverage on a canti and a standard lever won't have enough travel for a linear pull. It can be made to work, but not well.