Bicycle Mechanics - Brake dilemma campy levers with v brakes

I am building up a commuter bike from a Nashbar aluminum touring frame. Everything is built and I am ready to go, except that I can't stop, and its all down hill from my house :-) I am trying to mate Campagnolo 9 sp mirage shifters (~2002 era?) with V-brakes. Of course cable travel was an issue. I got the travel agents, but the campy brake cables appears to be to big to fit through the hole on the pully. Dereailluer cables work, but I think that would be a no-no. I am interested in hearing from any of you that experienced this and your solutions (or perhaps which long reach calipers have worked with this frame. For reference, I have 700x35 nokian studded tires on it which appear to be about the maximum in terms of clearance (with fenders). Any solution would have to include the campy levers.

Thanks

Please don't even think about using shifter cables for brakes EVER.

Would your frame/fenders accommodate cantilever brakes?

look for step down ferrules.. and Yes Only square coil housing for Brakes ,
IDK about the Jagwire Stuff for cable disc Brakes .. though I have a roll of it.

you may choose to just enlarge the hole in the travel agent..
to fit the brake cable thru
or find a thinner inner cable that will fit..

Fellows at the LBS said If you can find Braided stainless brake cables ,
they go around that pulley and its different diameters better.
.. than the stiffer Bowden type cables .

there are MiniV brakes the shorter lever works with less cable pull.
Pauls Comp and TRP make them .

Cyclo-crossers are their market , they want to use road Brifters too..

Campy cables are smaller in dia than Shimano

Just get some mini-V brakes (if they'll clear) which will work with road levers. Tektro make some good, cheap ones.

- Joel

you may choose to just enlarge the hole in the travel agent..
to fit the brake cable thru


there are MiniV brakes the shorter lever works with less cable pull.
Pauls Comp and TRP make them .



Drilling the hole was way too simple and easy but it just worked very well. I had a drill bit that was barely bigger, but enough. I destroyed my brake cable so once I get another legit cable I will give it a good test ride (but the cable served as a good test cable). I like the mini-v brakes idea too. THANKS

With the impending snow storm its going to be my mountain bike if I want to ride, so a test ride on new commuter/touring bike will likely have wait a few days.

Please don't even think about using shifter cables for brakes EVER.

Would your frame/fenders accommodate cantilever brakes?

I hear you on the shifter cables. :trainwreck: I think Cantis would have worked too. The field (road) test in a few days will decide it for me.

Thanks

Campy cables are smaller in dia than Shimano
The end fittings are but I don't think the cable itself is.

Just get some mini-V brakes (if they'll clear) which will work with road levers. Tektro make some good, cheap ones.

My experience with mini-v's hasn't been that great. When I adjusted them close enough to stop the bike before the brake lever bottomed against the handlebar, they wouldn't open to remove a wheel. I've found a couple of work-arounds, like clipping the noodle, but I don't think I should have to rely on work-arounds when I buy a new product.

The end fittings are but I don't think the cable itself is.

Yeah. I was going to suggest using a Shimano cable and filing the mushroom head to fit the Campy lever.