Miche enjoy a just reputation for high quality track produce and while their dual pivot Performance brakeset is competing at the lower end of the market, there’s nothing bargain basement about their build quality or performance. Sure you wouldn’t pop them on a Stork or Cervelo but with upgraded pads they’re great budget stoppers-especially for club mounts and/or road fixers.
Available in a choice of either anodised silver or black, forged 57mm drop with 16mm of adjustability (between 41 and 57mm) provides ample room for mudguards without leaving undressed, minimalist mounts looking gappy. This also makes them a sensible choice for older bikes built for 27inch but running 700c hoops-although some may demand judicious filing of seat-stay and fork crown drillings.
Chrome plated fixings are quaint in this age of composite materials but they’re perfectly functional and periodic wiping with an oily rag will prevent tarnish - especially on winter bikes - while a reassuringly smooth quick release tames small buckles on the fly. The rich gloss anodising on our test pair looked classy and seemingly very durable, complimenting my road-path bike’s pale blue/black livery. However, time is always kinder to silver finishes.
Married to mid range levers via decent quality cables, braking has proved impressive with excellent modulation and feel-even swooping into long, wet and winding descents and on a powder coated rim. The original pads have relatively soft compounds but are a touch generic and won’t quite stop on the proverbial sixpence. By the same token, unless you hovered around 90 kilos and lived in a hilly area I wouldn’t rush to upgrade them.
Minor niggles aside, giving change from £20 they are excellent value for money and a particularly good choice for cost conscious audax and winter bike builds.
Verdict
Competent brakeset for when price is a priority
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Miche Performance brake callipers
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
The performance are a budget priced, long reach dual pivot brake callipers and giving change from £20 they're a very good example as to how far technology has trickled downward.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Forged anodized alloy construction, 57mm drop, chrome steel fixings,soft compound blocks. 315g pair.
Give chrome fixtures a periodic wipe with an oily rag to prevent tarnish.
315g
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These are excellent performers given the price with nominal flex even under hard braking. wet weather performance is surprisingly good given the slightly generic pads and while not demonstrating stop on a sixpence prowess, I wouldn't rush to replace the pads either.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Style, modulation, feel and a good quality finish
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing, although chrome fixings look a little low rent by modern standards.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, for winter /fixer budget road builds or upgrading older bikes
About the tester
Age: 35 Height: 1m 81 Weight: 70 kilos
I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)