[Rendel Harris]

A mate asked me to replace the rather unsatisfactory cantilever brakes on his Tricross (they’re not great, I know as I have one too and they’re the only thing I don’t like about it) with Tektro mini Vs. Removing the cantis today I found that the left rear post has been bent slightly inwards, probably in a crash (he commutes through central London and has been hit twice in the last 18 months). This makes it impossible to get the pad aligned parallel to the rim and so renders the brake all but useless. The options are bend it back myself or take it to a shop, but I have a feeling most shops would refuse to do anything involving bending metal for liability reasons. Has anyone done anything like this? Any information on likelihood of success and the best technique to use would be very welcome, thank you!

Topic

[Rendel Harris]

It’s aluminium – as mentioned

It’s aluminium – as mentioned below, it’s a £130 secondhand bike so he doesn’t want to spend a fortune…

[Backladder]

If the seat stay bridge has a

If the seat stay bridge has a brake hole drilled then remove the canti and fit a caliper for the back.

[Sredlums]

I think key information here

I think key information here is missing: what material is the frame?
If it’s steel: just genttly bend it back yourself, little by little.
If it’s aluminium: go see a framebuiler and hope they can fix it at reasonable cost.

[jaymack]

I was going to suggest

I was going to suggest Winston Vaz who’s not a million miles from you in Hither Green but then saw how much the bike cost. Still Winston’s usually worth a visit for those seeking to repair rather than discard  https://www.varonha.co.uk

[mark1a]

I guess they’re not removable

I guess they’re not removable posts? Before writing off, I’d consider taking it to a local frame builder and see what they say. If they’re not keen on bending it, maybe cut the old post down, and then either drill & tap a new one in, or even braze one on. I’ve got Sven Cycles local to me, and he did something similar for a colleague with a seatstay light mount. 

Personally I wouldn’t be keen on bending it myself if it’s aluminium. 

[Rendel Harris]

Cheers, they’re welded in. I

Cheers, they’re welded in. I’m sure an expert could do a good job but it’s his beater commuter for which he paid £130 so bit of a law of diminishing returns on outlay…

[Author]

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