Weight Weenies

Hi all! I've been researching about this break regarding the quick release in case you get a flat or taking the front wheel loading the bike on a rack. How difficult is it on this brakes? Any links or video tutorials I can watch? Thanks!

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All you do is back the adjuster off a couple of turns then slip the litttle barrel out of the catch.. is easy/quick.. works for me quite well.

I also did a mini-review of these brakes which you might find useful:
http://anotherdooratthe.endoftheinterne ... te-review/

or ride campy and you will have a quick release at the shifter!!!!

The Planet X is a stupid design, particularly that entire "quick" release and the actual cable holder.

It isn't anything like most quick releases where you just flick it up and it opens right up, you have to lift/pull up on hit pretty good to get it to release. The method is somewhat counter-intuitive IMO, compared to what most brake makers have.

Next, the actual cable fastener, it simply just crushes/smashes the cables to hold it into place. It shreds your cable/flattens it, and it will slip when pulling the brakes hard. Most brake cable clamps have a rounded part which put more than enough pressure to hold it securely, but not destroy the cable in the process. Planet X will ruin your cable...so have plenty of spares around if it shreds, or you have to remove the cable.

I got rid of the set I had. Maybe owned them for a week or two. Went back to SRAM Force...no complaints since. Don't care how much weight I was saving, I would rather be able to confidently stop my bike, and easily change my wheel, and not ruin my cable if I have to remove it after 1 use...

Good luck.

I have used the planet x cnc set for well over a year and had no issues with it; I wouldn't say I run my brake pads loose, but most times I don't need to loosen the adjuster - just pinch the pads on the rim with one hand and slip the barrel out with the other. That said, I Would agree ŵith the previous poster about damaging the cable - however, the only way you can stop a cable slipping is by compressing it or using friction ( winding it). ..... I Am sure there are breakesets out there which cause less damage but not one I have ever used.

Another really happy planet X cnc brake user here. Easy to unclip, just grab the big black screw on end and pull down hard, off it comes, takes maybe 1 second, not a lot different from flicking a lever. I dont back off the very big and easy to turn while riding adjuster even though I keep my pads as close to the rims as possible without rubbing

As for the bolt crushing the cable, true, but so does the bolt at the front and rear derailers and your normal brakes. How else do you clamp cables!

I swapped out Sram Reds for these brakes and think they offer better feel and braking

I've been using mine about 3 years now. I am satisfied.
They are a little more finicky to adjust and fiddley to change wheels, but you will get the procedures down quickly and then enjoy the weight savings and $ savings.

I love my Planet X brakes. Simply put, what a great value and surprising performance. I genuinely didn't notice any loss in performance after switching over from my dual pivot Shimanos. The quick release is pretty intuitive,no need for tutorial because it'll be quite obvious as to how it works. It's almost but not as quick as a traditional assembly. As for the cable crush, it's a set-and-forget thing so nothing to worry about.

I'm also very happy with my planet x cnc brakes. I just got a set of carbon tubulars (zipps) and was really worries about stopping power. Using the zipp platinum pro pads, the stopping is solid and more than enough. Keep in mind I'm 145lbs so someone doing mountain descents weighing 200 lbs might think differently.

Ok.. let's dispell a myth..
Here's a vid of exactly how difficult and time consuming it is to release the Planet X brakes. This is the rear brake on my TT bike. I've backed off the adjuster just 1 turn...
http://youtu.be/lHlqQn0V8w4

That was done one hand, whilst holding the phone with the other. These people who go on about how difficult it is.. I really cannot imagine what they're doing wrong...
It's really not that tough....

sleepingmenace wrote:Ok.. let's dispell a myth..
Here's a vid of exactly how difficult and time consuming it is to release the Planet X brakes. This is the rear brake on my TT bike. I've backed off the adjuster just 1 turn...
http://youtu.be/lHlqQn0V8w4

That was done one hand, whilst holding the phone with the other. These people who go on about how difficult it is.. I really cannot imagine what they're doing wrong...
It's really not that tough....

I totally agree...
centering this brakes on the other hand...

...is really easy. Use the washers on installation, centering bolt for centering.

I was going to try the cnc brakes in black but I actually ended up getting all my new Red parts quickly. I decided to order a set of the TRP 920sl brakes for $125 shipped on the bay. The CNC brakes will stay on my radar if a used set come up for a good price. The new Red brakes would be awesome if they were black and not almost $300. I don't have wide rims and it's so flat here I hardly brake.

prendrefeu wrote:...is really easy. Use the washers on installation, centering bolt for centering.

Exactly.. Just do it once, do it right, and it's a non-issue.

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I have no problem centering either.
Set it approximately correct when you tighten the installation bolt, then use the centering adjustment screw for fine tuning.
If it is too far off for fine tuning, readjust the main bolt. Once set, it stays put. I even have some wheels that are dished a little "off" that I just use the centering screw to adjust for when I use those wheels. No problem.

BTW: I have been using them with the stock pads up until about a week ago (on aluminum rims). They worked fine. But I put in some Swisstop Green pads last week and they are noticeably better. The Greens don't "glaze over" and maintain a nice, quiet grip with great range of precision modulation.

I use blue reynolds pads on my carbon rims.