STIs and Mini V-Brakes?

sgt.pepper

First of all, hello all! Came across the forum after a BikeRadar video referenced the SCR (absolutely love the fact there's literally a grading system btw). I thought I was the only one who really saw the daily commute as the Tour de France.

Have a question regarding converting my flat bars to drops. First of all, worth noting my budget is VERY tight (as in about $50 NZD) due to a wedding coming up next month. Currently commuting on a GT Legato 3.0, I know it's not the flashest of bikes but it's comfortable, relatively quick and the parts are decent quality but not too costly to replace.

However, my main issue with it is the horrendously wide stock flat bar, with extra plastic things on the ends just to make sure I'm wider than most motorbikes. I bought it online, unaware that there are potential complications with matching V-brakes with grifters. We have a great shop nearby run by the council that takes and sells on used gear, some of it pretty nice and modern. I'm planning on picking up a roadbike frame with decent quality drops and grifters and just doing a straight swap - will this work with my Tektro-RX1 mini-Vs? Will also hopefully serve as a decent set of parts for doing up an old Carrera of mine for the old man too.

Thoughts?

Thanks

beanstalk

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

First of all, worth noting my budget is VERY tight (as in about $50 NZD) due to a wedding coming up next month.

First of all:
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
Rule #11
Family does not come first. The bike does.
Sean Kelly, being interviewed after the ’84 Amstel Gold Race, spots his wife leaning against his Citroën AX. He interrupts the interview to tell her to get off the paintwork, to which she shrugs, “In your life the car comes first, then the bike, then me.” Instinctively, he snaps back, “You got the order wrong. The bike comes first.


Mini V-Brakes with Road STIs works somehow, the brake power is sufficient, the modulating is not so good it feels mushy.
The brake pads have to be close to the rim otherwise you could pull the levers nearly to the bar.
That goes for all STI, Sram doubletap and Campagnolo Ergopower with the possible exception of newer Shimano 10 and 11speed STI.
Those have a different leverage with more cable pull so they should work better with mini Vs but I haven't tried them myself yet.

davidof

I've converted a Giant from flat bars to drops with Microshift shifters, braking works well. I had to fit an anti-lock shoulder to the front brake as there is too much power otherwise.

https://youtu.be/03T29d8-lro

beanstalk

davidof wrote:

I've converted a Giant from flat bars to drops with Microshift shifters, braking works well. I had to fit an anti-lock shoulder to the front brake as there is too much power otherwise.

https://youtu.be/03T29d8-lro

That's what I meant:

sgt.pepper

beanstalk wrote:

davidof wrote:

I've converted a Giant from flat bars to drops with Microshift shifters, braking works well. I had to fit an anti-lock shoulder to the front brake as there is too much power otherwise.

https://youtu.be/03T29d8-lro

That's what I meant:

Great, thanks for the feedback. Heading to the shop tomorrow to see what I can scavenge. I can't quite see what the anti-lock shoulder is, possible to send an ebay link?

davidof

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Great, thanks for the feedback. Heading to the shop tomorrow to see what I can scavenge. I can't quite see what the anti-lock shoulder is, possible to send an ebay link?

Hi,
How did you get on. The antilock thing is the black curved bit in the photo, it adds some spring in the system otherwise the force you can apply with the levers can lock the front wheel. The whole system is very powerful, better than caliper brakes (well maybe not Ultegra 6800 calipers :-) ).

It is this part:

https://www.newfrog.com/product/mtb-mou ... rts-195362

kingdav

I recently converted a flat bar kona dew to drop bars. I used shimano 10sp 105 shifters and these tektro 926 mini-vs

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BCTK926MV ... i-v-brakes

They work fine, but I was advised that since the flatbar shifters have barrel adjusters and brifters do not, I should substitute in some v-brake pipes with the adjustment included. I did do this and am glad I did.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BSTKCGP90 ... -90-degree


Only problem was that it's reduced the clearance I have for the mudguards, a bit of fiddling required.

edited to add:
I've not had problems with them being too powerful and so didn't seek an anti-lock solution.

sgt.pepper

Brilliant, appreciate all the help. I'll get those brakes ordered, haven't been able to get to the shop yet (it has quite random opening hours) but want to get it sorted the next few weeks. Will obviously post updates/annoying questions

tsarouxaz

Hi, can you measure the length of the v-brake arm? brake pivot bolt to cable clamping bolt please centre to centre .if it is more than 90 you gota change them. 85mm ones from any company would be nice, I have tried them my self. oh, and you have to increase your budget too.