Avid BB7 Road Mechanical Disc Brake Designed with a specific leverage ratio that will work with SRAM and Shimano STI shift / brake levers, the BB7 road brakes take everything that is awesome about the MTB model and make it accessible to road cyclists and cyclocross riders. With the normally conservative UCI cycling body having recently making disc brakes allowable on Cyclocross race bikes, there has been a rush from frame and wheel manufacturers to make their bikes disc brake compatible, recognising the huge advantage that disc brakes offer up against traditional rim brakes. Whether you're after more braking power for your loaded-up touring bike, improved clearance in muddy conditions for cyclocrossing or more consistency in wet weather for road cycling, the Avid BB7 road disc brake will do all of that and more. While the BB7 brake is a simple design that has remained un-changed over the years (for good reason), there are a number of key features that make it without doubt the best mechanical disc brake on the market. A lightweight forged alloy calliper provides a stiff platform for the brake, while housed inside the body is a sealed Ball Bearing Cam design that allows for a smooth and linear feel at the lever that mimics a hydraulic system. While you don't get a fully sealed setup like a hydro brake, by using high quality brake cabling and ensuring they are clean and lubed goes a long way to reducing any cable friction and providing silky smooth actuation. The BB7 brakes are insanely easy to setup thanks to the CPS washer/cone system that has featured on almost every Avid disc brake over the years. Similar to the hardware found on V-Brakes, the CPS washers and cones allow for perfect brake alignment when taking into account the different tolerances between the frame, hub, rotor and calliper. Unlike hydraulic disc brakes, the BB7 gives you control on the position of the brake pads on both side, so you can setup the inboard and outboard brake pads to be the precise distance from the rotor required. This also gives you adjustability on the "feel" of the brake, with additional modulation achieved by increasing the distance between the inboard (stationary) brake pad and the rotor. Conversely, get more instantaneous power by positioning the inboard pad as close as possible to the rotor for minimal deflection when engaging the brake lever. G2 Cleansweep Rotor Included with the BB7 brake is a 160mm G2 rotor that is also used on the Avid Juicy brakes. In fact, the BB7 calliper also utilises the same brake pad as the Juicy range, so you have plenty of options aftermarket when replacing pads and/or rotors. The Cleansweep design is used on the G2 rotor for a consistently round shape that provides smooth braking, while the vented design helps eliminate heat when braking hard on long descents. There are several other rotor sizes available aftermarket; 140mm, 185mm and 203mm, so you can mix 'n' match sizes to achieve the best braking setup for your bike.
From SRAM: "When the Road calls, we answer. All of the performance and features of the BB7 in a disc-brake system that is designed for the demands of the road. Inboard and outboard adjustor knobs, Tri-Align Caliper Positioning System, and integrated Cable Stop spring tension adjustment ensures that our standard is everyone else’s goal".
The Avid BB7 Disc Brake Features:
The Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes get you maximum reliability in a smooth and powerful package
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