I like Campagnolo brakes better than Shimano brakes, and according to your tests they are also stiffer. Can I combine Campa brakes with Shimano's Dual Control levers?
Stephan Hornstein, Kornwestheim
The transmission ratio of the levers and brakes would be compatible, so the braking effect would remain almost the same. However, there is a practical reason that speaks against this combination. Shimano's brake bodies have a release lever that is used to open the brake arms if the wheel has lateral runout (for example as a result of a broken spoke) or needs to be installed or removed. Campagnolo, on the other hand, integrates this release mechanism into the Ergopower grips.
This means that the brakes can no longer be opened with your desired combination. The only way out is to turn the adjusting screw for the brake cable tension so far out when the bike is new that you can slacken it, i.e. open the brake arms. The disadvantage is the inconvenient wheel removal and the necessity of having to re-clamp the cable each time the brake is adjusted due to pad wear.
