chiddicks

I've got a Pake C'muter fork with cantilever/V-brake bosses. I made the mistake of assuming I could use either cantilever or V-brakes simply because of the bosses. I bought a pair of Avid Single Digit 7's and have found that when installed they don't leave enough room to install the wheel. In short, it looks like the fork is too narrow for these brakes.

There's some capacity to adjust the spacing of the pad holder (~2-3mm), but not by nearly enough to actually get the wheel in, let alone have enough clearance. Does anyone have experience with this? Presumably these Avid brakes are designed for a much wider Mountain fork. Is there a simple solution?

Is there a V-brake that might be compatible with a narrower fork like this one? Perhaps a mini-V? Or do I need to go with a cantilever brake?

Thanks.

jch3n

use travel agents (https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...t.aspx?sc=FRGL)? i'm assuming you're using short-pull levers and hence not getting enough cable pull/braking without setting the pads super close to the rim, otherwise i'm not sure what the problem is. also, mini-v brakes work fine without travel agents.

jonestr

The mini vs have good feel, but you might want an inline barrel adjuster to get the feel right and be able to get the wheel out.

Chris_W

I'm lost as to what your problem is. A picture would help a lot.

DinoShepherd

I know what you got going on. Same deal on the Scattante cross forks.

You have two choices

- New fork that is wider
- Run old-school cantilever brakes, that don't use V-brake style pads.

I chose the latter.

-Z

scruggle

I can't tell what the problem is either. Have you disconnected the noodle (the 90 degree metal cable housing) at the brake? Are the pads hitting the fork legs when the brake arms are opened? Are the pads hitting the tire or the rim when you try to install the wheel?

chiddicks

I hope this is more illustrative. The issue is that the fork is narrow enough that there is not enough space (only 20mm) between the pads for the rim, with the brake arms roughly vertical. The spacing between the bosses is 77mm, center-to-center of the affixing bolts. The boss spacing is the same at the rear with the Pake C'muter frame. I am going to attempt to mount the brakes by positioning the arms at a more obtuse angle, sort of like this: \ /

If that proves unsuccessful, I'll be picking up some cantilever brakes, unless someone has a suggestion about a V-brake that's compatible with a narrower fork.

scruggle

I can't see the attachment. Anyway, your v-brake arms don't have to be vertical, though I think extreme angles might affect braking. I'm not sure whether cantis will solve the problem - the pad is in the same relation to the boss as on v-brakes, AFAIK. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

pacificaslim

I just measured the same 77mm between bosses on my Bianchi cyclocross fork. My daughter's mtb fork with v-brakes is more like 83mm. I've seen a lot of v-brakes on cross bikes though so I'm not sure the narrower distance is a deal killer without seeing your pictures.

jch3n

mini-Vs!

scruggle

What are mini-vs going to do? Their dimensions are exactly the same as regular v-brakes except the arms are shorter.

scruggle

I can see the picture now. Why not set it up with the arms not-parallel? I don't see the harm in trying it.

chiddicks

That's what I intend to do. Will report back.

erichkopp

I would try messing with the spacers between the brake arms and the pads, but I'm not sure if that will leave everything fitting snug afterward. Try taking the silver spacer out, and just moving it to the end you tighten everything down from to pick up the slack. It might not be ideal, but it should open up enough space for your wheel and keep you rolling until you can get some canti's.

titusracerx

Hi eberyone.Just bought a Ritchey Break away cx and thinking how to set it up.Will do a mix of road and off road and thinking about either cantis or mini vbrakes with some dura ace 9s sti shifters.Looking mainly for power although modulation is interesting as well.People with experience on that kind of bikes could give me any advice?Thanks very much beforehand.

Chris_W

Go with full-size V-brakes plus travel agents. I've only heard bad things about mini-Vs and canti's are a lot more fiddly to set up well.

M_S

I do not think that solves the poster's issue which is that the vees have too high of a "stack width" for lack of a better term for the width of his fork.

I would try playing with the spacers, as others have said, and then, as someone else also said, set it up with the arms not completely vertical. If this does not result in enough room, or the braking sucks, time for cantis or a different fork. Sucks to have a problem like this, I hope you find something that works.

titusracerx

Thanks everyone for the answer.To be really honest i´m going to try some xt´s cantilever first and see how it performs.If i´m not happy with it i´ll try some mini v´s.The latest option will be to go for full v´s plus travel agents.I´ll let you know.