Brake help?
09-02-17 | 08:56 PM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Felt F70
Brake help?
I got a good deal on a set of Shimano flat bar brake/shift lever, but they are made for V brakes.My road bike has brakes that are on all road bikes(side pull?) and I going to put flat bars on it.The guy at the LBS said he can make the V brake shifters work.Any body been through this problem before? A couple of people on Amazon in the reviews said they made it by adjusting the mechanical advantage. Thoughts? I'm just trying to save money.
Last edited by SANDBORNSTEVE; 09-02-17 at 10:04 PM.
09-02-17 | 09:27 PM
#2
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
I'm confused by your mechanic. V-brakes are linear brakes. Making V-brake shifters work ought to be a no-brainer.
Ben
Ben
09-03-17 | 02:28 AM
#4
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Some v-brake levers can be adjusted for a shorter/stronger pull.
Depress the lever fully. See if the anchor point of the cable can be moved closer to the hinge of the lever. If it can, you're good.
A decent fabricator might even be able to unhook and move the anchor point of a non-adjustable brake lever. But I know I wouldn't be able to do it fast enough for it to make sense in a commercial situation.
Another option is to run a brake adapter called a "travel agent" in reverse.
Or simply to try the mismatch.
It'll give a bit less braking for a set amount of hand effort, but generally not an overwhelming difference.
Depress the lever fully. See if the anchor point of the cable can be moved closer to the hinge of the lever. If it can, you're good.
A decent fabricator might even be able to unhook and move the anchor point of a non-adjustable brake lever. But I know I wouldn't be able to do it fast enough for it to make sense in a commercial situation.
Another option is to run a brake adapter called a "travel agent" in reverse.
Or simply to try the mismatch.
It'll give a bit less braking for a set amount of hand effort, but generally not an overwhelming difference.
09-03-17 | 02:31 AM
#5
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09-03-17 | 03:58 AM
#6
Grumpy Old Bugga
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
There's a thing called a travel agent that runs the brake cable around a wheel so that the pull on the way out is different to the pull on the way in. My Trek 520 years ago had these to make the V-brakes work with road brifters. I should imagine you can just reverse that things to make them work the other way (ie, make your V-brake levers work with caliper brakes). Maybe this is what your mechanic is thinking of
09-03-17 | 08:24 AM
#7
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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some multi purpose brake levers have 2 places to put the cable end, closer or further from the pivot bolt.
you could put a MTB Crank and FD on .. its done for touring bikes to get hill climbing gear ratios.
and/or shorter arm V brakes..
...
you could put a MTB Crank and FD on .. its done for touring bikes to get hill climbing gear ratios.
and/or shorter arm V brakes..
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 09-03-17 at 08:28 AM.
