Van Dessel no more?/Disc brake question
 

I commute on a Van Dessel Super Fly (2002 model) that I purchased about 6 months ago. Other than a couple of issues, I love the bike, but I am having trouble contacting the company about my problems.

First of all, does anyone know about the company? Their phone number is disconnected, they are not responding to my emails, and their products are not listed on the websites of their "dealers."

If responses indicate that the company has in fact tanked, then perhaps you could help me with the issues that I am trying to resolve:

1) some older threads mentioned problems with the Cyclone front disc. Mine is in need of replacement (it is not serviceable), so I ordered the Avid Mechanical model. It arrived today, but despite the disc being the proper size and the mounting bolts being spaced correctly, it does not fit on the bike, because there is not enough clearance between the fork and the spokes. I looked on Avid's website, and they do make a road model, but it appears that the only difference is that it does not require linear pull levers (which I have). I read on a previous post that Van Dessel switched to using an Avid model on newer bikes, but I am not sure which model I particular, and whether they make one that is the proper clearance for my bike.

2) Most Van Dessel commuter bikes come with a nice aluminum disc chainring guard; mine did not, but I have not been able to locate one. Anyone know how to find one? I am partial to finding this particular stock model because of its subtle looks, but I don't know who makes it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry that I can't help on the technical end, but I do know that the owner of Van Dessel did finally 'unload' the last of his bikes and is out of business for the time being. Rumor is he may regroup and take another stab at this, but with a different manufacturing/distribution plan. But for the time being it is kaput with no one there to back it up other than the ibd where the bike was purchased. If purchased online, well out of luck.

On the 2nd question... the ring was probably custom spec'd overseas, I doubt you'll find one unless it's stripped off another van dessel. For the first question, have you tried the good service folks at the Bike Barn at UCDavis (530)752-2575? There a good shop for some 'out of box' thinking.

Thanks for the tip. I tried the bike barn, and they offered to face the brake mount to get the new caliper to fit, so it looks like I am going to be able to get one to work, but it is still a gamble trying to find one to order that is going to be narrow enough even with the modification. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate them.

Also, any suggestions where I could get a replacement chainring guard? Perhaps I could have one machined? A downhill bash guard wouldn't work because my chainring is a 4-bolt type.

Thanks for the help.

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but here is the cheapest place I found online for Avid's Road Disc.
http://store.yahoo.com/phattire1/avcabac.html

I had a Super Fly with an Avid disc brake -- it was definitely the MTB model, not road. The only difference between those two is the amount of cable pull required to active the brake. Is the brake itself hitting the spokes?

Yep, the caliper does not fit between the mount and the spokes, and if it did, it would not line up with the rotor. I think facing the mount a little might be the only option, but I went ahead and ordered the Shimano Deore along with the Avid in case facing the mount will not provide enough clearance with the Avid. But I would love to find out if Van Dessel changed the position of the mount at all to shoehorn the Avids in there.