I have a rim brake cross bike that I love. Clearance for huge tires and I have multiple wheel sets. I currently have Box Components Mini-V brakes, which I like, they provide good stopping power. I dislike getting my wheels out. I'm unable to get the noodle disengaged so often resort to deflating my tires. Not horrible, but my rear road tubeless doesn't seal back up after completely deflating, so I have to hit it with a compressor every time.
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\nI saw an old review by Guitar Ted about the Mini-Motos so I was hoping he or someone else who has ridden them would chime in on whether the pads can be run far enough from the rim to allow the noodle to disengage.
I'm running Mini-moto's on my Ritchie Swiss Cross. The brake release design is very good and easy to use. Once released, they should clear your tires. The only issue may be the brake pad movement after you release the noodle. Pad movement is limited by the front fork. Here is a photo of my front brake: https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPj1t1HXnQ2d0a1I59-0erOw7-sxL-20lzYOrLY They are great brakes. Frankly, I think they work better than disks in dry conditions. I haven't had any problems with changing wheels.
Why not get a noodle with a built-in cable adjuster? A couple turns should give you enough pad clearance for the noodle to disengage. Plus you get the ability to easily adjust for pad wear.
kopsis wrote:Why not get a noodle with a built-in cable adjuster? A couple turns should give you enough pad clearance for the noodle to disengage. Plus you get the ability to easily adjust for pad wear.
Good point- the Mini-moto does have a build in barrel adjuster in the noodle: https://paulcomp.com/shop/components/minimoto/ I should have mentioned that. I guess if you had trouble releasing the noodle by squeezing the brake arms, you could release cable tension a bit with the barrel adjuster. I don't recall ever having to do that though. Plus, you would have to re-adjust the cable tension after you installed the new wheel. The main issue here, as I see it, isn't tire width, but is rim width and shape. The rims will determine pad spacing, orientation, and cable tension --- not the tire. The fork legs, will limit how far you can release the brake arms as they will limit how far you can open them after you release the noodle.
Some other point I'd like to make about Paul's Components: - I have no personal financial interest in Paul's Components. - I get no preferential treatment or discounts from Paul's. - I have been purchasing specialty components like Thumbies, brakes etc from Paul's for many years, and have always been satisfied with the high quality and design of their stuff. - Paul of Paul's is a bike rider. He and his crew personally test everything they sell. - Paul supports the cycling community in his area, as well as many domestic bike builders of custom bikes. - Paul's components aren't inexpensive. But they are virtually hand made in the CA, in a small shop. If you want to support "Made in USA", you can't find a better choice.
I do have a barrel adjuster, but I haven't been able to get them adjusted so that I can loosen it to get the noodle disengaged. I should probably put a little more effort into that.
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\nI have some Paul Moto-Lite brakes that are super nice. His stuff isn't cheap but it's too of the line.
