Unlike V-brakes, they use regular brake levers. So you can use your favorite classic levers or non-classic brifters. They have tension adjustment screws and a straddle wire adjuster. They even have slots so you can move the pads up-and-down about 15mm. And they come with toe-in adjustable pads.
About the only feature they lack is a good name. If you come up with the name we use we'll offer you a $100 VO gift certificate. Put your suggestion in a comment, but remember to use your name so we can identify the winner.
BTW, the high profile Grand Cru MK2 brakes are not being discontinued. In fact, they've been selling so well that we ran out again.
Update: Thanks for all the great suggestions. It took a lot of time and more than a few laughs to make a choice. Eventually we picked "Zeste" as in "Velo Orange Zeste". Greg, please send us an e-mail so we can issue your gift certificate.
Posts
149 comments:
Touring D'Eiffel brakes
How about "Trappist"?
You mention Euro CX racers, so I think the Belgian link is nice.
Also, makes for a good analogy -
Trappist Brakes:Gran Cru brakes::fine beer:fine wine
Finally, "Trappist" contains the English word "Trap" - a good notion of what brakes do and these sort of look like a cartoonish bear trap (in a good way)
"Gazelles" came to mind quickly. Just look a picture of their horns!
Grand ArrĂȘt ("Big Stop")
I never identify myself online, but one of my VO orders was #100014275
How about the somewhat psuedo-french "breforte" for your strong low profile canti brakes. They are beauty, btw!
"Space Brakes" (ref cutouts)
"Grande Descente"
"Tour des Alpes"
How about the somewhat psuedo-french "breforte" for your strong low-prof cantis. Could me a good addition to your current schema. These are beauty, btw!
"Strong arm"
freins les gens
"Crane" brakes.
"ArrĂȘter"
"Bear paw". It's fierce, it's strong, and also a tasty donut variety.
How about the Lager?
I would say Nomad, or spell it Nomade for a bit more French flair.
Nice cantis always remind me of bridges, so I propose "Millau" brakes, named after what is perhaps the most graceful, trim, and strong structure in France (designed by Norman Foster).
As a bonus, the false homophone "Milao" is Portuguese for Milan(o).
Cheers!
Think of Belgium, known for cyclocross and beer, and thinking of french, I suggest Saison (French for season, and a style of Belgian beer)
On a non-name front, I am curious why the VO canti brakes (both this model and the wide profile Grand Cru) use post style pads, rather than threaded. I remember many frustrating hours of trying to adjust old canti brakes just the way I wanted them. Threaded pad holders were such a beautiful revelation to me. I love the look of your these brakes, but I can't imagine buying new brakes with post-style pad holders.
Why not keep the Gran Cru name and add an "LP" (low profile) designation? Save the fancy new names for frames.
"Gran Cru LP".
Grands Bras!
"Ralentir"
It means, simply enough, "to slow down".
a couple of fun French word hacks:
quant y l'hiver (meaning something like: respect to winter, pron: kawnt-ee-leevair)
frein de grande tour (meaning something like: tall tower brake, pron: frendeh grawn toor)
Hermesheels, I agree with the bridge idea but was thinking more Ironbridge than Millau.
I propose "Cantique," which means canticle/hymn in French
"Ilium."
I'm at work repairing a book on prehistoric life, and it contains a drawing that illustrates the difference between lizard and bird hips. The drawing of the ilium looked remarkably similar to the outline of the brake.
Friens de garde.
I think 'UFB' would be perfect.
They kind of look like the stylized horns of a bull. How about Taureau?
"Friens de garde."
They kind of look like the stylized horns of a bull. How about Taureau?
non plus vite brakes!
Friens de garde.
non plus vite brakes!
Cantaloup (French spelling, of course)
They create a big canti loop, and you can always say as you embark on a tour, "Cantaloupe tonight!" which is on a par with "Call me a taxi!"
My vote is for profil bas
"J'adoube" is something you say in chess when you want to align the pieces without making a move, literally, "I adjust." Sounds like a description of your brake!
Haha, Trappist and Grand Arret are excellent ones.
They look like thumbs to me, so 'Big Thumb' or if preffered, Grand Pouce'".
Tom T
Grand Cross
"Incognito" because of the low profile.
or Cross Cru
Grand Tour
"Profil" by itself sounds better than with the "bas"
Or some semi-rugged French geographic designation-
Vosges
Ardennes
MontBlanc
Pyrenees
last order # 100006900
Canti-Stop-Me-Now
How about...
Grand Cru LongArm
Previous VO order #: 100008344
Gimmee A Brake
"Grand Halt" who goes there "brakes"
Venus Arms
For two reasons ... One, they resemble a Venus Fly Trap, which is one bad-ass plant. Two, named after Venus de Milo's lost arms, which --legend has it -- broke off during a scuff up between French sailors and some Greek dudes while the statue was en route to the France.
These help you stop and smell the roses so how about "Flaneur"?
Pollywogs,
or "Pollies" in short.
Name inspired by the Froglegs brakes.
Super Reserva, for a change from French (or something like Grande or Super Reserve)
Grande Marque
Premier Cru
Grand Rondeur
Matt M.
Velo Orange Frottement
"Cantinator" For their metal skeleton looks, or if it has to be french: "Cantinateur".
There's also the cantina in it, which goes with the leisurely type of cycling VO promotes.
Grand Cru Lisse
Or, "Trofee," given their tie to competitive CX?
Brakes de Resistance
How about 'Lorraine,' after the French resistance 'Croix de Lorraine?' French, Low profile, resistance, evoking the Golden Era of Constructeurs.
Michael Burdge
Grasshopper Brakes
Roubaix
Dog-ear Touring Brakes
or rather, in french:
Chien-l'oreille Touring Brakes
How about Aimée- it means 'beloved', it's french, and it sounds and looks cool.
Keeping it simple I would go with some translation of "little big" brakset. As in it's the little brakeset that does big things.
Options:
French - Peu Grosse Brakeset
Italian - Poco Grande Brakeset
Mix - Peu Grand Brakeset or Poco Grand Brakeset
TJ
How about "cul-de-sac"?
Or perhaps Grand Crus "cul-de-sac" Low Profile Canti?
It's a familiar French (more or less) phrase, it's fun to say in French but has a common English pronunciation, and the sorts of one-way streets it evokes are generally a pain for cars but calmer for bicycles and pedestrians.
I also believe that in French you could describe Rue du Chat-qui-PĂȘche and Impasse Eliane Drivon -- two of the narrowest "streets" in Paris -- as cul de sacs, which seems appropriate for a low profile brake.
-Nate
Orange squeezer!
Donne-moi une pause (frein)
....just sayin'
Bob G
I love all those suggestions in an approximate french !
What about "Normandy", the place where i'm living, and the symbol of rapprochement between US and France !?
Best regards, bien Ă vous !
Romanee-Canti Grand Cru.
Merci!
Velo ORANGE Adjust-o-Matic Brakes
Minime Arreter for "slim stopper"
Scott R.
Pinse Pont
Pinse Jante
Pinse Nez
In keeping with the French theme, I propose "Confiance," as in "J'ai une entiĂšre confiance en toi," (I have complete confidence in you.)
Leaux Preaux
How about "VO Stopies"
-if that is not too Rivish
Dennis H
La Prise
How does the stopping power of these compare to the grand cru brakes? I'm in the market for a set of canti's, and it will probably be one of these two options :)
"Sauveteur" - it is after all safety equipment
When I see these new brakes I think of a dove with it's wings extended. An appropriate name a la Francais then would be "la Colombe".
Sputnik or Spoutnik (fr)
Do to the torture in xc: Canti de Sade
How about "Maginot" or "Le Ligne" or something in that vein after the series of fortifications that was supposed to stop anything--even a column of tanks.
One would hope the new brakes do the job better than the namesake I'm proposing...
VO Incognito brakes
VO Incognito brakes
more partial to Italian and based on the profile: gabbiano
fesse grosse, or simply, "big ass". C'est moi. Robert. order#100016403
The Cantibury Trails
You're welcome :D
"Les Casses-Noisette de la Montagne du VO" -- pardon my poor French, but you get the idea. Bonus: If Surly buys the design from you, they can just translate the name into English and it will fit right in with their other products.
"Whoa Nellies" (actually that sounds more like a Rivendell name.)
VO Diamante
Albatross
Stiletto Brakes
- J. Barre
Stiletto Brakes
- J. Barre
Given the strong resemblence to a certain Power Brake cantilever made from billet aluminum in the 90s, I submit Cristal.
VO Diamante brakes..sorry I keep posting under "anonymous"!
How about Grand Cru Touring Cantilever?
Tadpole! look at that shape..
How about Champagne?
Or Croissant?
The latter is a Frenchy pun on 'cross racing and while the former speaks up the quality.
Orange Crush
or in French, presse orange.
Perhaps name it the "F.A.M.A.C." (Frein Avec la CapacitĂ© d'ArrĂȘt Massif), or the "C.A.F.A.M." (Capacite Arretant Fort, Avec Magnificence).
People will probably think of them as "that VO brake that looks like the old MAFAC cantis", and it helps strengthen that association, by calling to mind MAFAC and slightly making fun of their odd (yet very French) corporate acronym ("Manufacture Arvernoise de Freins et Accessoires pour Cycles").
As I'm sure you know, MAFAC's been out of business for a couple of decades now, so you won't have to worry about them being bothered.
For me, cycling has so many sailing connotations - beating into the wind, downwind reaches.. so I think of Mainstays or Strongholds as possibilities
The VO ĂV
Not a "V" brake...
for me, cycling has so many sailing connotations - beating into the wind, downwind reaches. So I think Mainstays or Strongholds would be nice. both are synonyms for levers.
how about
the velo orange "avion" brakes,
or avionne, either french or spanish i guess.
they look like the wings of an airplane.
-Ely
For us tourers how aboută©ăćă 【dosamawari】or in english touring,on the road.
I'd suggest VO "Onadime" brakes.
-steampunk T.A. 55426
No name New Brakes
Pate de stop
Turbofrein
Servofrein
DeCanti
Gran Crosse
Chris's Canti
Strong Stud
CantiClever
Clever Canti
Chris's 'no-calve-cleaving' Canti
CantiCutYourCalves
I'd like to shorten my suggestion from the irreverent "Crane" (though also French) to "Cran".
Cran Cantis.
"Long John Silver" by Velo Orange...
Me han encantado.
"Magnum" for stopping power (i.e. .357 magnum), or if the firearm connection is at all controversial, then for the big champagne bottle, or the Belgian hop variety.
Cisaille - French for wire cutters that the brakes resemble.
Maxi-Canti
Lots of cute puns . . .
The main connection I would've made would be to DiaCompe's line of cantis that ruled the roost in the 80s and early 90s. The most popular models had numbers running from around 981 to 987. However, Soma has a canti which seems to evoke the old DC models, the GC 999. So I wouldn't go there. I also like IRD's play on Mafac: Cafam. But I'm tiring of word games. I would just call the new canti Grand Turismo, because of the traditional connotations with the old Campy GT derailleurs and many (canti-equipped) touring bikes through history . . . Actually, I'd say Gran Turismo, but since you're already using Grand in other components, I'd add the "D."
michael white
How about Anchorage.
Dunkirk? The last French town before the Low Countries (home of CX)? Or, where one holds off the Germans on a "fast break"...
How about "Levage", French (I think) for Leverage?
"L'ecraser Low Profile Cantilever Brakes"
L'ecraser roughly translates to "The Squeeze"
-- Rolly
"L'ecraser Low Profile Cantilever Brakes"
L'ecraser roughly translates to "The Squeeze"
-- Rolly (I can send info upon request)
"Sven Nys" or vanderRem (from the brake)
When I look at these brakes, I think of the high end CNC MTB/cross brakes of the 90s (esp. Machine Tech). I think these could be called 'Robotique'-french, sophisticated, innovative, modern...
I enjoy reading the creative submissions. I suggest:
Velo Zest Brakes
It's a bilingual play on words.
Zeste is a French word for Peel, like those of citrus fruits, and in English of course it refers to (Velo) Orange Zest.
If I can make an alternative suggestion, you could call them Can-Can (Canti) Brakes. Distinctive, appropriate, and keeps the Gallic touch.
maigre
clairet
El Diablos
Tour, or nouveau tour (a tower, trip or "tour")
VO Deluxe LP
LP Deluxe
How about "Le Brake Uglee"?
The new brakes seem very bird like to me, I'm suggesting VO Kestrel brakes for the name. No particular reason for Kestrel, I just like the way it sounds.
you should call them "Rabobank" brakes.
Flying V
Since you are discontinuing the MK2 brakes, and most of your products are either Grand Cru or VO, and this is your third release, I would propose
Grand Cru Cantilever Tripel or
VO Cantilever Tripel (if you are planning an upscale Grand Cru version.
I didn't spell triple incorrectly, it ties back in with a CX-Belgium theme.
If you pick this I'll send you my contact information.
-Jeff L.
Full Nelson Brakes
Greg Snyder
snyder@paulbunyan.net
Hi there VO. I'd like to make a request: please include some kind of note in the instructions, and maybe even on the product page, that the good way, other than to make a quick fix, to adjust this kind of brake as the pads wear is to move the pads closer to the rim rather than use the barrel adjuster, because the main drawback to this kind of geometry is that mechanical advantage slips outside of the optimal range relatively quickly as the pads wear compared to medium and wide profile brakes. In my experience it's pretty classic for riders of utilitarian road bikes with this geometry of brake (or similar, ie 90s style low-profile brakes) to miss the significance of this and wind up with mediocre braking, and also sometimes with extremely chewed up cables because they thought that they needed to re-anchor them somehwere to fix the problem. Thanks, and I am happy that you're making such a legit version of this design!
(I worded that vaguely. By "move the pads closer to the rim" I meant move them in via re-clamping the brake post, resetting the geometry of the brake to the "starting point.")
I believe the post says VO is not discontinuing the MK2...
"Prochain Arret" = Next Stop, like on the metro.
Or in Italian, "Prossima Fermata"
longues grands
M Crisp
Long Lovers
kohn35@gmail.com
"Skeleton Brakes" would be my name suggestion. I really like the cutouts on them.
How about "Cafam"?
Orange Crush !
The Michigans.
Cheers!
How about VO-Lo brakes
Grand Magus, for amazing stopping powers...
Mofocs
And not just because I'm from the NW, but they should be called Sasquatch brakes, for stopping big heavy things.
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