There may not be a real solution short of physically modifying something. I may just pick up some cheap 26" slick tires to replace the knobbies and spend some time riding it san brakes. I've been doing that for the last couple of days, just riding up and down the street to get a feel for the bike. I did find a 1988 Bridgestone MB-5, which has geometry closer to what I like than most MTB's, but it's $100 and has one of those funky rear brakes that I know nothing about.