Recently built my first cyclocross bike with some old road parts and put on Avid shorty 4 Canti brakes. Last night I needed to pop off the front tire but couldn't get the cable off the break to easily drop the front tire. I had to deflate the front tire and punch in through the break to remove. Is it just because the break cables are new or is it something else I should be doing to release them?

thanks
Robert

You definitely need some good slack in the cables to pull that cable ball-thing off one leg on the Avid Shorty.

On my bike, I have a hand-screw tension-adjuster on the cable guide, which is mounted to the fork post, about 6" above the brake. Just set enough slack in the system be able to easily unhitch the front brake, and then use the hand-screw tensioner to take the slack out of the system for riding.

Sadly, my rear brake did not come with an in line hand-screw adjuster. So I think I'll have to deflate the tire or loosen the cable anchor bolt if I want to take the rear off.

You can add Jag in line adjusters to any cable with or without barrel adjusters. I have them and it makes taking off wheels with Avid 4's a breeze.

I had the same problem. I just bought a pair of new pads from koolstop. They are called Thinline all weather brake pads, mine came in red (there are other colors). Matches the bike perfectly!