Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.

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Bernard Duhon

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May 30, 2026, 4:23:23 PM (9 days ago) May 30
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Mates,
After a decade I am tired of letting the air out of my tire to remove the front wheel. .
It is a 650b conversion 42 mm tire. The brake opens enough but pad holder his the fork to prevent complete opening of the brake. 
The brake bolt is long enough that I can move the brake 1/2-3/4 inch from the fork. 
I would screw a couple of nuts unto the brake bolt to act as spacers.  Problem solved.
However, I am concerned about the extra torque on the brake bolt due to the additional "leverage"  
My first thought was that the bolts screwed unto the brake bolt solves the issue.  

What say ye?   


Benz Ouyang, Sunnyvale, CA

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May 30, 2026, 8:39:10 PM (8 days ago) May 30
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Are you using so-called V-brake brake pads like these?
Shimano XT BR-M770 V-Brake Pads (Silver) (1 Pair)

If so, you may want to switch to so-called Cyclocross brake pads (that use normal road refills) like these:
Cross Pro Brake Pads

In my experience of using them on my Atlantis, these will clear the fork blades, provide plenty of braking power, and won't require you to deflate the tire.

Bernard Duhon

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May 30, 2026, 8:54:50 PM (8 days ago) May 30
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No these are Paul center pulls
What appeared to be standard road brake shoes
From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Benz Ouyang, Sunnyvale, CA <benzo...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2026 7:39:10 PM
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.
 
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Bernard Duhon

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May 30, 2026, 8:55:34 PM (8 days ago) May 30
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For the tip thank you I have a V brake bike with the same problem the amount of severe I'll try it
From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Bernard Duhon <ber...@bernardduhon.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2026 7:54:31 PM
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.
 

Dan

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May 30, 2026, 10:20:24 PM (8 days ago) May 30
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A word of caution - spacing the caliper out from the fork (which is what I think you are proposing) introduces more leverage and hence more flex into the system. In practice, this means that in hard braking the brake caliper flexes more at the mounting bolt and is more likely to swing the pads up into the tyre.
At least - that is what I experienced on my Roadini with Paul centrepulls! Brake feel was much improved and propensity to rub the tyre much easier to adjust out by mounting the brake as close to the crown as possible.

Before:
IMG_5497.jpeg
After:
IMG_2189.jpeg

You'll note I am using the pad types that Benz is using! They work great.
If they hit the fork it doesn't bother me, I don't remove the wheels often at all.

Garth

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May 31, 2026, 7:05:02 AM (8 days ago) May 31
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The Kool Stop pads that the brakes use have an internal backbone. While I don't use that version of pad, the Eagle Claw type backbone only extends about 3/4 of the pad, the rear 1/4 is pure rubber and can be chopped/snipped off to expose the end of ther internal aluminum metal backbone. If that is not quite far enough use a quality metal file to remove what you need to and smooth off the edge. Shortening the pads doesn't effect braking at all. You pads will now clear the fork blades. 

Bernard Duhon

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May 31, 2026, 2:26:19 PM (8 days ago) May 31
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Thank you Dan,

In flatlands there is little hard braking. But it occurs.

Your detailed description will have me letting the air out of my front tire from now on.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dan
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2026 9:20 PM
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.

 

A word of caution - spacing the caliper out from the fork (which is what I think you are proposing) introduces more leverage and hence more flex into the system. In practice, this means that in hard braking the brake caliper flexes more at the mounting bolt and is more likely to swing the pads up into the tyre.

At least - that is what I experienced on my Roadini with Paul centrepulls! Brake feel was much improved and propensity to rub the tyre much easier to adjust out by mounting the brake as close to the crown as possible.

 

Before:

After:

 

You'll note I am using the pad types that Benz is using! They work great.
If they hit the fork it doesn't bother me, I don't remove the wheels often at all.

On Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 05:53:23 UTC+9:30 ber...@bernardduhon.com wrote:

Mates,

After a decade I am tired of letting the air out of my tire to remove the front wheel. .

It is a 650b conversion 42 mm tire. The brake opens enough but pad holder his the fork to prevent complete opening of the brake. 

The brake bolt is long enough that I can move the brake 1/2-3/4 inch from the fork. 

I would screw a couple of nuts unto the brake bolt to act as spacers.  Problem solved.

However, I am concerned about the extra torque on the brake bolt due to the additional "leverage"  

My first thought was that the bolts screwed unto the brake bolt solves the issue.  

 

What say ye?   

 

 

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Garth

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May 31, 2026, 4:51:25 PM (8 days ago) May 31
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Inspiration Bernard, chop chop ! Assuming you're using the stock KS pads that can be chopped of course. No one should ever have to deflate a tire to remove it, ever !


IMG_20250620_113033edit.jpg
IMG_20260531_162434_HDR.jpg

Bernard Duhon

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May 31, 2026, 4:54:27 PM (8 days ago) May 31
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I have done that successfully with v brakes but these are Conventional side pull type pad holders. ( even to these ae Paul Center pulls. 


Y

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Garth <gart...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 3:51 PM

To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.
 
Inspiration Bernard, chop chop ! Assuming you're using the stock KS pads that can be chopped of course. No one should ever have to deflate a tire to remove it, ever !


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Dan

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Jun 1, 2026, 5:41:25 AM (7 days ago) Jun 1
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For what it’s worth:
I’ve tested on my Paul centrepulls and what limits the opening width isn’t the brake pads hitting the fork; it’s the tops of the brake arms hitting each other. 

Bernard Duhon

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Jun 1, 2026, 9:02:01 AM (7 days ago) Jun 1
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Thanks

But it is the pad hitting the fork

I can see it & the paint there is well  chipped off.

 

 

 

 

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dan
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 4:41 AM
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.

 

For what it’s worth:

I’ve tested on my Paul centrepulls and what limits the opening width isn’t the brake pads hitting the fork; it’s the tops of the brake arms hitting each other. 

On Monday, 1 June 2026 at 06:24:27 UTC+9:30 ber...@bernardduhon.com wrote:

I have done that successfully with v brakes but these are Conventional side pull type pad holders. ( even to these ae Paul Center pulls. 

 

 

Y

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Garth <gart...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 3:51 PM


To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Brake pad holder hits the fork when opening.

 

Inspiration Bernard, chop chop ! Assuming you're using the stock KS pads that can be chopped of course. No one should ever have to deflate a tire to remove it, ever !

 

 

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Ron Mc

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Jun 1, 2026, 10:07:52 AM (7 days ago) Jun 1
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You might try Yokozuna Classic Canti/ Fin Canti, or someone's replacement for original Mafac Racers (Rene Herse)
Capture.JPGCapture.JPG
I have two bikes/forks that each won't clear larger than 28-mm and 30-mm tires, and both run Yozozuna cartridge pads with no interference.  
One Chorus side-pull, one Dia Compe CP.  

Ron Mc

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Jun 1, 2026, 10:31:13 AM (7 days ago) Jun 1
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here we go, Kool Stop - all threaded pads are M6, so Paul nuts may work on these.  

Capture.JPG

Bill Lindsay

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Jun 1, 2026, 3:07:51 PM (7 days ago) Jun 1
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Go to www.rivbike.com
Hit the search window
Type in the keyword: "sanity"

View the BMX brand Odyssey stubby brake pads.  Riv has them in stock and they are $10 a pair.  That's a cheap experiment

Here's a direct link: SANITY!

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Scott Oblander

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Jun 2, 2026, 6:34:31 PM (6 days ago) Jun 2
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I have installed the Odyssey sanity brae pads on my XO-4 with v brakes.  Works good and the pads clear the fork now.

JohnS

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Jun 3, 2026, 2:02:29 PM (5 days ago) Jun 3
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Those Kool Stop international pads would like pretty neat on my Raleigh Sports,  but at $35/pair, I think I'll pass.

JohnS
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