Commuting - Mini V brakes with full fenders (35mm tire)?

HI- im currently in the process of building a surly cross check for an all around bike (commuting, etc). I dislike cantis, would prefer mini V brakes. I am building it up with sram apex group so need linear pull brakes. I need fender clearance for FULL fenders, with about 35mm tires. Anybody have any experience with this? Only brakes I know of are these http://harriscyclery.net/product/trp-cx9-mini-lp-brake-front-rear-set-red-sku-br7689-qc49.htmbut that is a lot to pay for some brakes, this is no race bike. Something in this area anybody aware of that would work http://harriscyclery.net/quality-bicycle-products-special-order-catalog-qc49/linear-pull-brakes-t159.htm

I would prefer to not have to use cable pull adaptors or anything if possible.

Thanks.

I run these (http://www.ebikestop.com/tektro_926al_mini_linear_pull_brake_black-BR7125.php) on my crosser. $20 a pair, can you go wrong? No. If you don't like Tektro pads (few do), just get some Kool Stops. Problem solved. I cannot speak to the fender question.

Pauls make some with longer arms, I don't know if that will help.

FWIW, I tried some Avid minis and they didn't clear the front fender, but then I trimmed a slot into the fender with a Dremel and rode it like a boss.

Hey Truman, any chance you could post a pic of that modification?

I haven't tried these, but I might do it just on a whim some day soon seeing as they're absurdly cheap.

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=48336&category=671

As a point of reference, here's a pic of the front brake on my Cross Check.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6005/5903842192_009a2b56cd_z.jpg

This is an Avid SD7 (about 105mm arm length) with a 25mm tire. So figure you're looking at brakes with 20mm shorter arms, a tire with ~10mm more height and you need ~10mm spacing between the fender and the tire. It would be tight if it worked at all.

OP, a couple of points:

1. I have the TRP CX9s; they are worth every penny, imho. I replaced some stock, bottom-feeder Tektro mini-vs with them; the difference is night and day, but

2. that said, I don't think they -- or any mini-v -- is going to give you the clearance you want unless you do a cut-in on the fenders as suggested above, and even then I'm not sure. The arm length on mini-vs (85 or 90) just won't give you the clearance 'over the top'. I might be able to put 32s + fenders on my bike, but I'd be cutting it close; I could mount 35s no problem, but not with fender clearance.

So, I do think you're stuck with regular mtb v-brakes + travel agents or some such bodge, if you are using Apex brifters (I use SRAM double-tap flat-bar, so no issue for me) and want linear pull as opposed to cantis.

A coworker has a specialized tricross that came stock w/ mini-Vs and he had the LBS add full fenders, no cutouts. I am thinking it came w/ 32 mm tires, but it could be 35s. I think your idea is close to doable.

I am not a mini-V fan myself, I have gone for full Vs on my current rides, w/ tektro dropbar V levers and bar-end shifters in one case, single-speed in the other.

I have a pair of Tektro mini-Vs on a folder and can't get them to clear the BMX rims with standard tires on them.

Updating this thread with some more data...

I just rebuilt my Cross Check in singlespeed mode with Genetic Mini-V brakes (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=48336&category=34) (85mm arm) and Panaracer Pasela TG 700x28 tires (which measure 26mm wide for me). Using Planet Bike Cascadia road fenders, I had no issues in the rear but the mounting bracket on the front fender didn't give me enough drop to get under the brake cable. I used the insert piece from an old Crank Brothers cleat (http://cart.crankbrothers.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/p/r/premium_cleat_3.jpg) to get about another half inch. This gets the fender under the brake cable, but it's close enough that the fender rattles against the noodle bracket. That's probably fixable. The clearance from the tire is near the minimum I'd find acceptable.

I think I can definitely say that 32 or 35 mm tires would not work with mini-V's and fenders without cutting the fender. A 32 might work with a mini-V that had 90mm arms, but it would be tight.

I'll update with pics later.

Mini V has shorter arms to comply with cable pull from STI brifters for road/cross race bikes.
mudguards never were considered. get the longer standard V brake and travel agents,
or V-pull levers, then they will pass cable above your mudguards..

I'm running Tektro RX5's, 700x35 Vittoria tires, and Planet Bike fenders. All fits well, no modifications needed.