Mini V-Brakes
 

I have a Surly LHT complete with Tektro CR520 brake calipers on, but I was thinking of trying out some mini v's to see which I prefer.

Is it as simple as me just buying this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...brake-ec006124 and fitting it, or is there more to it? Do they work well with the bar end shifters and levers I've got? Will they also accomadate 26x2.0" tyres with mudguards?

Any advice appreciated before I 'add to basket'.

Short answer is that you will also need either a QBP Travel Agent adapter (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_tp-z.html#travelagent) or a set of brake levers that support V-brakes. V-brakes have a different mechanical advantage than the cantis that you have, so you will need brake levers that support V-brakes. See http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#brakelever for more info.

Also see http://sheldonbrown.com/canti-direct.html#levers.

Even with a cam device on the V-brake, you may find standard road levers to result in a mushy, spongy feel. Caliper brakes are also more forgiving about out-of-true rims and require less precision in how far the brake pads are from the rim.

Are you sure? I thought that Mini-V brakes had different cable-pull requirements than traditional V-brakes...

Not true, mini-Vs were designed to work w/ 'regular' levers.

They are really finicky about wheel-true-ness though. *Really* finicky.

Doubt you will be able to use your 26x2.0" tyres with mudguards, a 1.5" without mudguards is probably all you can clear .
If you get Avid Speed dial levers you can adjust the lever a bit, between V and Cantilever sort of cable travel requirements
but thats a straight bar lever.

Q: Do they work well with the bar end shifters and levers I've got?
gear lever is not involved .
the brake is a shorter lever than a longer V brake , so if its a V brakelever it will pull a lot more cable than the shorter arm lever needs .

I'd say its a choice of: long arm V , Cantilevers , Or Magura Hydrostop Rim brakes.

I originally built my commuter up with cr720's (same thing) but I couldn't get the front brake adjusted to work right and I also had issues with them centering correctly so I eventually swapped in tektro rx-5's http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Mini-Al.../dp/B000C17NPC. The mini-v's work much much better with my tiagra 9 speed levers. Adjustment is super easy and even though the lever has some play to it they have much more braking power. I am running coolstop salmon pads

I don't know if they will clear your tire+fender I am running 700c 35mm tires and it looks like I might have barely enough room for fenders

your LHT has barcons right? why not swap normal v's in and change the levers while you are at it?

Thanks for the replies. But you'll have to forgive my ignorance on this subject, I'm a bit out of my element. But I'd always assumed that mini v's got around the problem of cable pull issues when using drop bars and v brakes, thus not needing a travel agent....But if mini v's won't allow me to run a 2.0" tyre ( I've currently got Marathon XR's) then i guess they're a no go for me. I do have barcons, but I also have a spare set of tiagra 9 speed brifters lying around (but thats a whole other debate right:))

However would using normal v's allow for fenders and big tyres and if so would I still need a travel agent if I used v brake levers like this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=35189.

you can get a tektro lever that is the same but costs much less

you would need travel agents to use full v brakes with sti levers but the travel agents may not clear your racks

I used regular Vs on my LHT w/ 50mm tires and fenders (and a fork-crown mounted light), all fit:

http://home.comcast.net/~adrian_spidle/v.jpg

Used these levers

The Tektro RL520 is the road lever that works with v-brakes. I use it on my touring bikes and I enjoy it... mine are the larger sized ones and fit nicely.

A mini V brake just barely fit on the back of my foldup bike which has 24X1.5 tires. I doubt it will fit on a LHT unless you use tiny tires and even then it might not fit. I am using a normal brake lever and it feels a bit mushy, but is usable. I use a cantilever brake on the front where I need a good brake.