From: UCPL081@UNLVM.UNL.EDU
Subject: Re: Campy Delta and Chorus Brakes
Organization: University of Nebraska
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 13:46:01 CST

Campy Chorus brakes came out as the new repacement for the old classic
Super Record brake by which all brakes were judged.  So, they have that
similar stiff, strong feel to them that everyone associates with in good
brakes.  The campy Cobalto brakes are still around (basically SR brakes
with a blue 'jewel' on the center bolt) but are hard to find.  The pros
still use them, especially for a time trial bike in a smaller frame size
because a Delta brake is too tall for the brake cable to curve up nicely
to the bar from the front brake.  Now, the concept behind the Delta brakes
was different.  Deltas were considered to be more for 'controlled pack -
braking' rather than panic stoppers.  The pros have used them for years and
have had no problems.  The only time you'll see a campy sponcered pro rider
in europe use a chorus or cobalto brake instead of a delta, it's usually for
weight savings for climbs and/or the small frame size problems as I mentioned
above.  Most of the bad reviews that the Deltas got were by people who weren't
pros.  That's my opinion.  They don't ride like the pros so a brake intended
for pro use probably would feel scary to them.  The pros have great bike
handling skills and they won't use something that doesn't work.  If the Deltas
were so 'weak' and 'scary' (as described by many non-pro riders in shops and
in magazines) the pros on the campy sponcered teams wouldn't use them, plain
and simple.  I guess the Deltas are kind of like 'anti-lock brakes' usually
associated with high performance cars.  The feel of a Delta brake suits a pro
much better than it does a Cat IV/V rider or recreational rider, that's because
they handle a bike very well and don't need the panic-stop feel.
For '92, Campy has modified the Deltas as to appeal to the growing population
of recreational riders buying their stuff.  They feel more like the classic SR
brake and Chorus brakes now, less like 'anti-lock' brakes.  So of course the
reviews of the brakes by the same people who criticized them before have
improved because the Deltas feel more like to them (being non-pros who don't
fly down the decents and ride in the packs in europe), what good brakes should
feel like...good panic stoppers.  A rider on the street has to look out for
cars, pedestrians, and fellow riding partners and all other sorts of 'possible
hazards' that might require a strong panic-stopping brake.
Now, the only 'inconveniences' with the Deltas has been setting them up and
working on them.  Only someone who KNOWS what they are doing can set them up
correctly.  I'm sure many of the first deltas sold on bikes a few years ago
were improperly adjusted by young mechanics paid by how many bikes they could
assemble and maintenance ( in shops and/or distributors).  The new '92s have
all the 'bugs' in setup taken care of.  I haven't worked on any of the new
ones, just rode them.  We all don't have the benefit of having a pro-mechanic
to check over our bikes before and after each ride like the pro riders we
envy.
All and all, they are great brakes, so are the Chorus.
Shimano brakes have a totally different feel to them, partly because of the
lever springs.  It just takes getting use to what ever brake you use.
That's all for now.  Ciao, hasta luego!
 
Conrado 'Campagnolo' Castaneda
U of Nebraska-Lincoln
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech