"Braking" from tradition: mini-v brakes + fat tires + Nitto M-12?

[559Rando]

My buddy and I are not the best with setting up cantilever brakes. I can get them right, just not (usually) in a reasonable timeframe.

To avoid using cantis, can the following bits be put together?

1) Fat tires and fenders (likely 650B GB Hetres with 58mm fender)
2) Nitto M-12 (or M-13 or VO Pass Hunter) canti-post mounted rack
3) Mini v-brakes (instead of the traditional cantilevers)

I'm guessing I can only get 2 out of the 3 to work together, but if you've accomplished all 3 or otherwise have an opinion to share, the floor is yours.

The Paul "Mini Moto" would be especially hot, but I'd use any mini V-brake you say works.

Daniel

PS If memory serves, someone on the Rawland list tried setting up their "rSogn" with the Paul Moto brakes and straddle blocked the hole in the fork crown. Of course, that's a standard V-brake (not a mini).

[Ken Robb]

You might get the answers by calling Rivendell.

[GRAVELBIKE]

85mm Tektro mini-v's with 650Bx38 SOMA B-Lines:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/7498827326_d180335b54.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/7498827326/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7498826834_bc3e4ae0b4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/7498826834/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7246/7718734376_c4c3fa0a8b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/7718734376/)

Depending on your brake boss placement, Hetres and mini-v's might be a close fit even w/o fenders or a rack.

[MerckxMad]

The use of all three without interference with each other really depends on the fork (crown height and placement of the bosses). The mini-v may interfere with the fender, and most probably would interfere with the rear or upright portion of the rack. Wide-arm cantis are a better bet. You just need to set the straddle cable correctly for clearance and mechanical advantage.

[woolly]

Assuming these are what you're looking to use, the pic on the Riv site appears to show them with some Shimano linear-pull brakes:

http://www.rivbike.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=RH2&PhotoNumber=3

[woolly]

The use of all three without interference with each other really depends on the fork (crown height and placement of the bosses). The mini-v may interfere with the fender, and most probably would interfere with the rear or upright portion of the rack. Wide-arm cantis are a better bet. You just need to set the straddle cable correctly for clearance and mechanical advantage.

I recall running some mini-V's on an old Surly Crosscheck, and with a fat Specialized Nimbus tire, there definitely was not enough room under the straddle-wire left for a fender. I'd check this potential constraint out first if I were you.

[Marburg]

I just moved my Rsogn over to full-sized Vs (Avids), Quasi-motos, and a Riv "Marks' Rack" (whatever that is in Nitto numbering). I can confirm that with full-sized Vs the cable is right in front of the crown hole. With the flat plate crown-to-rack attachment I've been able to get the right bend in to avoid interference.

Will take a pic, just for reference, next chance I get.

I have no more than a test ride on this setup, so won't put forward any opinions on its performance.

[edit: while mildly irrelevant, here's a couple of photos. I measured, hm, 13-14mm of clearance from the bottom of the straddle apparatus to the knobs]

http://www.notetofutureself.org/albums/TestGallery/DSC_8070.sized.jpg
http://www.notetofutureself.org/albums/TestGallery/DSC_8071.sized.jpg