I'm building a Redline mini for my 5-year old daughter. The frame is set up for V-Brakes. I am using some "aero" style sewup rims. The issue I have is that the V-brakes don't have enough adjustment range with respect to the pad positioning. Are there any offset pads available?

My next thought is to make or buy an adapter plate which would mount to the V-brake posts and that would properly position a mini-size caliper to work against the rim in a normal manner. I realize that this would be going somewhat "backward" in technology, but it's one of the possible solutions that I see. I've never seen such an item for sale, so I may have to call on a machininst friend to help with any such bracket.

Any other ideas on how to get some V-brakes to work with a sew-up rim?

SteveM.

V-brakes are manufactured with varying reach like standard sidepulls. Find a reputable LBS and take some measurements with you. Most importantly the distance from the post to the braking surface.

Cool - another girl racing

Bombshell VPS adapters might do what you want:
https://www.jrbicycles.com/storefront/index...;productId=1709

the "adapters" are somewhat expensive I think like close to 50$ and not very nice to look at IMO,I would suggest buying a set of paul brakes and calling it a day.

I think he is refering to the taper of the Aero rim... Being that the rim is smaller than a standard 20 X 1-1/8 rim. I don't think there is anything out there to help you with the angel problem.. I used NISI sewup rims when I built mine and had no issue due to the straight sides of the rims.. All you can do is set the pads as close as possible to the taper and being that she is a little girl they should stop her sufficiently.. If there is something out there, le me know for future knowledge.

Ryan

This is the 2nd mini with sewups I have done for my kids (son is 6, daugher is 5). The NISI's I used for the boy's bike have the "square sides", and hers are the "aero" profile, but that's not the real problem. The big issue I'm having is due to the different diameters of the 20" wheels that the bikes came with versus the sewup wheels. The sewup wheels won't go far enough "forward" in the dropout slots to line up properly with the pads. On my son's bike, which uses caliper brakes, I was able to slide the caliper in the slotted bridge, getting it close enough to the wheel to work. His bike is an older Redline with a slotted brake bridge for a caliper. Her's is a newer Redline with V-brakes, and less adjustability.

Looking at the Paul style V-brakes, I'm not convinced that they would work either. In order to use the smaller diameter sewup wheels with the v-brakes, the pads have to be so close to the pivot points that I'm not sure that any V-brake arms will work. It looks to me like I will have to make a custom adapter which will bolt to the V-brake posts, and which will allow me to mount a caliper brake in the traditional caliper positioning.

If I end up making the adapter, I'll post a pic here.

SteveM.

Look for the Tektro 926A mini-V brake. I has a shorter reach, it's designed for flat-bar road bikes. If you can't find it on your own, follow my initial instructions.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The LBS does not have any kind of selection with respect to different sytles of V-brakes for mini bmx frames. There is not a BMX racing "scene" in this area anymore, like there was when I was a kid.

The bike I'm working on already has Tektro mini-V brakes, but I'll have to check the model number. The 926A's pictured look like they might have slightly more room to adjuste the pads "downward" than what I currently have. For my application, the pads have to be very close to the pivot point of the arm.

Steve.

These any good?

http://www.speedgoat.com/productB.asp?part=108671

They're for running a 700c wheel on a MTB and getting the v-brake to line up. Don't know if the offset between the two canti posts will be too much though. I initally thought of Pauls Components too, but if you've ruled those out then I'd still be taking a second look.

I'm in the process of building up an old frame, couldn't get the brakes to line up with the rims then realised the rims were 20 x 1 3/8. Used a road caliper and all's good, but that doesn't help you with v-brakes.

Neatest solution would be to get a frame builder to braze the canti mounts on a bit higher but that kind of limits your wheel options for that frame in the future.

Good luck.

PB

Another good idea.

That speedgoat looks like another good idea, but I need to go the other direction. The V-brake posts are too "high" on the frame. The sewup rims are only about 18" diameter or so, compared to the standard 20" wheels. All of the commercially available solutions that I have seen will let you run bigger diameter wheels (i.e. 700C's on a 26" MTB), but not the other way around. The existing mounting points will get in the way of the swing of the V-brake arms.

I'm not going to go to the expense and problems associated with cutting off the existing V-brake mounts and having them re-welded lower on the seatstays. They are currently TIG welded in place.

I'm leaning more and more towards making an adapter similar in shape to the Speedgoat piece, but which will bolt to the V-brake mounting points and will allow mounting a caliper brake in the traditional location.

Then when my baby girl gets bigger, I can put the 20 x 1-1/8" wheels on, and use the original V-brake in the original location.

SteveM.

Why are you rejecting the Bombshell VPS adapter? It allows 1.5"(406mm) rims to be used on a frame built for 1.125"(451mm)rims, as well as the other way around. 18" rims are(sewup?) listed in my Sun Ringle catalog as 400mm. If so, should work.

Unless I am missing something, when the V-brake arms are mounted "lower" on the seatstays, the arms will hit the existing mounting posts. The "posts" will interfere with the operation of the brakes. (Like I said, unless I'm missing something). The posts are not removable on this frame.

SteveM.

The brake pivot post screws into the brake pivot post boss, which is welded onto the frame. I have never seen one that wasn't built that way, but I'm no expert. Mid 90's 'A brake' bosses seem to be different, but I've never really paid attention. But if the pivot is removeable, you take that bolt that is threaded into the thicker end(for shipping)out, replace it with the brake pivot post, use the bolt to fasten the VPS to the brake boss with the post toward the dropouts, using the proper VPS device(locator pins are opposed). The one I have was used on an Intense Podium Jr Pro(1 3/8, 451mm, running 1.5" 406mm rims. worked great. Keep us posted. Al

I will look again this evening. I had assumed the same thing (that the pivot bosses were removable), but they do not appear to be removable on this frame. Maybe I just need to look closer. I would hesitate to grab the outside of the pivot boss with anything like vise grips or channel locks.

This is the first "new school" frame that I have messed with, so I'm not up to date with the technology. If the bosses are removable, then the VPS will be the right way to go.

Thanks again for the help.

SteveM.

Back to the drawing board. The V-brake posts are not removable on this frame. They are integral to the weld-on mounts.

I have tried grabbing both the "stem" and the "base" with vise grips, and they show no signs of being a 2 pc assembly. Now I have to get to work sanding out the marks left behind by the vise grips.

SteveM.

Steve I put a set of NISI sewups on a micromini avent which has the bosses set up for a 20 X 1-1/8 rim... I had to run the wheel as close to the front of the dropouts as possible.. you have to use the smaller gear setup like a 39/14 or so... I still had some adjustments left withthe stock brakes with no modifications to them... I am not sure why youare having so many issues.. Ihave another friend locally who did the same with a UFO frame nao problems... Can you send me a picture ofthe set upthat you are trying to use.. with it all together if possible