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review

Cane Creek ee Brakes

4
£599.98

VERDICT:

4
10
Uber-light brakes for crazy bucks, but the risk of damage to your frame makes them hard to recommend
Weight: 
163g

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The Cane Creek eeBrakes are super-light and do the job of stopping you well, but they might also damage your bike frame.

  • Pros: Incredibly light while still offering really strong performance
  • Cons: Incredibly expensive and may damage your frame

eecycleworks is a small US business that's developed a handful of boutique bike products of which this, the eeBrake, is the best known. In August 2016 the brand became a part of Cane Creek, which today manufactures and distributes the eebrake. The product has evolved since its launch in 2008 via a number of versions into what you can buy today and is now available in a conventional and a dual-mount design.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The headline here, without doubt, is the weight. These are very lightweight callipers. We weighed them at 163g the pair (excluding pads), which is dramatically lighter than any mainstream competition. Shimano Dura-Ace callipers are 160g each, SRAM Red are 262g the pair; both of these include pads but that's a pretty remarkable difference nevertheless. A set of four pads is typically around 21g.

Cane Creek EE brakes5.jpg

These aren't the very lightest brakes that money can buy – knowledgeable readers pointed to the THM Carbones Fibula at a claimed 120g per pair excluding pads when we did a 'coming soon' story on the eebrakes.

However, designer and co-founder of eecycleworks Craig Edwards maintains that his focus was on making the best brakes possible, not just the lightest. We've tested very light brakes round these parts before and sometimes the weight saving comes at the unappealing cost of a reduction in braking performance. Here, the performance is strong, and the weight saving comes at the cost of, well, cost. The looks are also somewhat divisive.

Fitting

Fitting rim brake callipers is generally a fairly straightforward affair, and so it was here. It's slightly more fiddly to thread the cable through to the pinch bolt than on a standard brake, but not massively. I really liked the patented tool-free pad shoes – a smart design that does away with that pesky little screw. The slot is shaped such that you can push the pad home by hand but it stays firmly in place.

Cane Creek EE brakes3.jpg

Once you've approximately centred the brake and tightened the mounting bolt, there's a further (theoretically) tool-free adjustment to precisely centre the calliper, via the long, thin screw which emerges to one side. However, on one of the callipers I found this impossible to use as the thread is quite tight and the head is so small and sharp that I couldn't move it.

Cane Creek EE brakes2.jpg

Rather more to my concern, this small, sharp, metal screw head is the first thing that comes into contact with my bike's down tube when the handlebar is turned as far to the right as it'll go. Obviously this isn't something that happens while riding the bike, but it can and did happen while manhandling it in the garage or putting it onto a car roof-rack. The first time it happened it took a tiny chip out of the paint, and I applied a couple of layers of heli tape to try to prevent further damage.

Cane Creek EE brakes8.jpg

The Shimano Ultegra brakes I had fitted previously have small plastic bumpers which avoid this problem. I discussed the issue with Cane Creek tech support, and the feedback was that it wasn't an issue they had seen before. Certainly, as my bike has Di2 gears, this means there aren't mechanical gear cables and this lets the handlebar turn freely until something bangs into something else. If you've got mechanical gears it may not be an issue; likewise, if you're always careful with your bike then you may be okay with this, but I'm not. I spent my own hard-earned on my race bike and I'm pretty uncomfortable with things that might bang a hole through important bits of it.

Stopping power

These brakes are compatible with levers from Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo; I used them with Ultegra Di2 levers. In terms of outright braking performance, I would say these are at least the equal of top-end Shimano or SRAM brakes. eecycleworks claims that these brakes have "dramatically higher" stiffness when compared to a conventional brake, and if you pull the lever really hard with the bike stationary, it is pretty remarkable how little the calliper flexes – hugely less than my Ultegra callipers.

Cane Creek EE brakes10.jpg

The spring (which keeps the brakes "off") is a bit undersized in my view. I found that with my internally routed cables, which are a couple of years old, the back brake would tend to rub as the spring wasn't strong enough to overcome the cable friction and open the calliper when I released the lever. I'm confident that fitting nice new cables would improve this, but if my existing cables work fine with my existing brakes, I'd like them to do the same here.

Open wide

There's a wing-nut where the cable outer meets the calliper, which works pretty much as in other brakes, allowing adjustment for different wheel widths and for pad-wear.

Cane Creek EE brakes6.jpg

The quick-release function is pretty different to elsewhere, though, with a long slender catch across the top of the calliper which disengages from the rest of the mechanism to open the calliper. This lifts more easily if you squeeze the pads together with your other hand while lifting it, and it's not as simple to operate as the cam arrangement that you'll find on Shimano brakes. It does open the calliper nice and wide, though, making it a cinch to fit 28mm tyres (even when on narrow rims).

Cane Creek EE brakes12.jpg

With a price for which you'd get a decent first road bike, there's no doubt that these are aimed at a pretty niche market: elite hill-climb specialists and those with particularly deep pockets. It's very impressive how the manufacturer has removed so much weight and actually improved stiffness.

> 12 tips for better braking

Without mechanical gear cables on my best bike, I was keen to finish the test and get my Ultegra brakes back on, which is hardly a ringing endorsement, but this has nothing to do with their performance. If weight saving is a priority and you can afford them, they are a good set of stoppers, but I could only really recommend them if you can be sure that they won't damage your frame.

Verdict

Uber-light brakes for crazy bucks, but the risk of damage to your frame makes them hard to recommend

road.cc test report

Make and model: Cane Creek EE brakes

Size tested: Rim Width Compatibility 18mm to 28mm

Tell us what the product is for

Cane Creek says: "The eeBrake is the ultimate brake from start to finish - a uniquely robust patented design developed and refined by relentless engineering, both at the computer and through real-life testing. At half the weight than that of its competitors, eeBrakes continue to set new standards by which all other high performance road brakes are judged. The same supreme upgrade for performance-oriented riders, a dramatically higher overall stiffness provides better modulation and more power. No detail has been overlooked, greater tire clearance and tool-less pad centering make installation simple."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Cane Creek:

Weight (without pads)

Regular Mount: Front (82g) and Rear (80g)

Direct Mount: Front (79g) and Rear (76g)

Materials

Forged high grade aluminum, titanium and stainless steel

Rim Width Compatability

18mm to 28mm

Leverage Compatability

Optimized to work with Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM levers

Assembly

Assembled in Fletcher, North Carolina, USA

Color Options

Logo badges available in 8 colors: green, yellow, orange, blue, red, white, gray and black

Warranty

3 years

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10

Intricately put together in the pursuit of lightness.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Braking is good; I'd estimate power to be at least on a par with Shimano brakes which is impressive given how much less material there is in the calliper. I'd like to see a stiffer spring – if your cables are anything other than slick-shiny, you may find the rear brake doesn't open up properly when you release the brake lever.

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

No issues experienced in testing, but be aware that a lot of the (teeny tiny shiny) bits of this aren't going to be as easy to come by should they need replacing down the line as something more mainstream.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10

Crazy light. Although if you spend even more, you can get even lighter.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

If you're a dedicated hill-climber then you may appreciate the weight savings, but at this price it's not great value otherwise given how good the much lower-priced (mainstream) competition is.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Offers good braking, is very light. I reckon that was its designed purpose, and it certainly ticks these boxes.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Decent braking, impressive weight-saving, clever pad retention system.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Likelihood of damage to frame (especially with Shimano Di2 or SRAM eTap), weedy spring meaning a need for clean cables.

Did you enjoy using the product? Not especially, as it was my frame that was at risk.

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if they were a hill climber with mechanical gears and very deep pockets.

Use this box to explain your overall score

An example of a review where the overall score is way different to the average of the section scores. They are super-light, they stop you well, and they have an ultra-engineered look that some (but not all) will like, which suggests a score of 7 or possibly even 8. Unfortunately, they also damaged my frame and I would be fearful of them writing it off altogether, which makes me score them a lot lower than I would otherwise.

Overall rating: 4/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 188cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: On-one Bish Bash Bosh  My best bike is: Rose X-Lite CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

Add new comment

17 comments

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

So that's you and a first time poster.

That's ok though as nobody from a company has ever been on here promoting or commenting on their own product...

[\font=sarcasm]

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

I won't knowingly buy a US product as long as that racist twat is the president.

Avatar
matt_tw | 6 years ago
1 like

Having ridden the brakes for a bit over a year on my Ti bike i can clearly say that this review score is far from reality. 2 out of five is not a fair score at all. 

Fortunately i have a direct comparison of the EE Brakes with TRP 979, Dura Ace 9070 and Dura Ace 9100 brakes spread over my bikes (DA9070 were replaced by the EE Brakes).

Braking performance of the EE Brakes is definitely the best of the four brakes, so is modulation. Riding in the mountains on a daily base i can say that i never get sore hands even on the longest descents. Braking power is constantly high and reliable. I can wait until the last moment before the turn, hit the brakes hard and take the turn. 

As for the frame interference, this has not been an issue on my Ti frame. I have not tried them on my CF bike yet as i haven't received my order yet. I am curious to see if it's an issue. If it is, i am sure a small bumper can fix it. 

Yes, the spring isn't the stiffest there is but that's exactly what makes the modulation of those brakes so awesome. If you mount a new set of brakes you may as well change the cable and housing. Part of riding is bike maintenance and that means changing cables regularly in order to keep the bike in good condition. 

After riding in wet conditions the brakes can feel a bit stiff after the grit dries up. Nothing a wash and a little oil spray can't fix though.

Avatar
Nick T | 6 years ago
0 likes

So not only do you have to have the ugliest looking brakes on the market, but you need to change your cables and housing every year for them to work properly?

Avatar
phazon replied to Nick T | 6 years ago
0 likes

Nick T wrote:

So not only do you have to have the ugliest looking brakes on the market, but you need to change your cables and housing every year for them to work properly?

 

No. Read the comments from those with experience of them. This does not reflect our experiences 

Avatar
simondbarnes | 6 years ago
0 likes

Testing £600 brakes with 2 year old cables? What sort of mickey mouse operation is this place becoming? That really is piss poor.

Avatar
Prosper0 | 6 years ago
1 like

 “I really liked the patented tool-free pad shoes – a smart design that does away with that pesky little screw.“

Nope, you’re just not used to using normal high quality industrial design found on Campagnolo groupsets  3

Avatar
phazon | 6 years ago
2 likes

I’ve had the pre-Cane Creek-acquisition version of these brakes on my bike for a few years, and they are very easily the best non-disc brakes I have ever used. Crazy light, super powerful, and great feel. Yes I changed the cables when new - but have not had to do so again over about 10,000km of riding

Just my 2p

Avatar
StraelGuy | 6 years ago
1 like

The little screw is only really there to stop the cartridge inserts falling out if they're loose and you wheel the bike backwards with the brakes applied. No great loss.

Avatar
pwake | 6 years ago
1 like

These look incredibly similar to the Bontrager Speed Stop Pros that my wife has on her Emonda SLR (yeah, I'm the only guy in the world whose wife lies to him about how much her bike cost!), but these are a lot more expensive!

Interesting that the reviewer liked the "patented tool-free pad shoes" that do away with that pesky little screw; Campagnolo brake shoes have been that way for years

 

Avatar
photek replied to pwake | 6 years ago
0 likes

pwake wrote:

These look incredibly similar to the Bontrager Speed Stop Pros that my wife has on her Emonda SLR

You're not the only person to notice this...from the EE Cycleworks website : 

http://build.eecycleworks.com/wp-content/uploads/NO-1080x530.jpg

 

Avatar
Grahamd | 6 years ago
2 likes

Fully appreciate those calling for new cables, however I feel this review has highlighted an important aspect, just how fine the tolerance is for these brakes. The review would indicate that the brakes require cables in very new condition and are therefore likely to require more mollycoddling than I currently give mine. 

 

Avatar
justDave | 6 years ago
0 likes

Not exactly very aero, are they? They look rather Heath-Robinson (younger readers might have to look this reference up).

Avatar
rtw | 6 years ago
4 likes

"The spring (which keeps the brakes "off") is a bit undersized in my view. I found that with my internally routed cables, which are a couple of years old, the back brake would tend to rub as the spring wasn't strong enough to overcome the cable friction and open the calliper when I released the lever. I'm confident that fitting nice new cables would improve this, but if my existing cables work fine with my existing brakes, I'd like them to do the same here."

Do you mean to say that you didn't change the cables? It seems a bit unfair. Do you think anyone purchasing £600 brakes is going to use '2 year old' cables and outers?

Avatar
DrG82 replied to rtw | 6 years ago
3 likes

rtw wrote:

Do you mean to say that you didn't change the cables? It seems a bit unfair. Do you think anyone purchasing £600 brakes is going to use '2 year old' cables and outers?

Fair enough if you have £600 to spend on brakes you'll probably get new cables but,  it's not really unfair as the reviewer stated clearly in the review that these were the conditions in which they were tested and and this was compared to competitor products which worked fine with the cables that were used and if anything added extra information to the review.

Avatar
liam92 replied to DrG82 | 6 years ago
1 like

DrG82 wrote:

rtw wrote:

Do you mean to say that you didn't change the cables? It seems a bit unfair. Do you think anyone purchasing £600 brakes is going to use '2 year old' cables and outers?

Fair enough if you have £600 to spend on brakes you'll probably get new cables but,  it's not really unfair as the reviewer stated clearly in the review that these were the conditions in which they were tested and and this was compared to competitor products which worked fine with the cables that were used and if anything added extra information to the review.

 

I would be happy to agree with that point if it were not for the fact that these calipers are clearly designed with the one goal of reducing weight. Therefore I think its quite logical to presume that they obviously wouldn't want to include a heavy duty spring that would overcome worn out/sticky cables as it would add quite a bit of weight (relatively). So while it might be accurate to say "the ultegra caliper copes better with operating old cables", you are not buying these for their lack of maintenance.

 

Completely fair point about the damage to the frame but i think the rating is a bit harsh considering the only other gurmble is a cable issue.

Avatar
earth replied to liam92 | 6 years ago
2 likes

liam92 wrote:

DrG82 wrote:

rtw wrote:

Do you mean to say that you didn't change the cables? It seems a bit unfair. Do you think anyone purchasing £600 brakes is going to use '2 year old' cables and outers?

Fair enough if you have £600 to spend on brakes you'll probably get new cables but,  it's not really unfair as the reviewer stated clearly in the review that these were the conditions in which they were tested and and this was compared to competitor products which worked fine with the cables that were used and if anything added extra information to the review.

 

I would be happy to agree with that point if it were not for the fact that these calipers are clearly designed with the one goal of reducing weight. Therefore I think its quite logical to presume that they obviously wouldn't want to include a heavy duty spring that would overcome worn out/sticky cables as it would add quite a bit of weight (relatively). So while it might be accurate to say "the ultegra caliper copes better with operating old cables", you are not buying these for their lack of maintenance.

 

Completely fair point about the damage to the frame but i think the rating is a bit harsh considering the only other gurmble is a cable issue.

 

For the purposes of reviewing the cables should have been replaced so that the brakes perform at their best.  Otherwise we don't know what state the cables were in and how much they reduced performance.

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