Building a bike from scratch

[Pelerin]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the site, having just moved to Paris and one of my projects here is to re-build a frame that I've brought with me from Wales, but I've quickly realised I know nothing. So I'm hoping to get the advice I need here, if anyone is willing and patient to help me through it? Starting from the back, I'm currently confused about the V-Brakes. I've got some off an abandoned bike (there a few around so I'm looting what I can), but then I've bought a rear wheel (26") and the brake pads don't even come close to hitting the wheel rim. Does anyone know why this may be? Do brake arms perhaps come in different sizes?

Peace,
Jack

[Painkiller]

My first question would be is the frame for 26" wheels. are the brakes lower or higher? can you post some pics?

[Bill]

Hi welcome to the site. Is the wheel for a road bike and the frame a Mountain bike?

[Pelerin]

The brakes are higher, so I guess if it's not the brake arms then I just need a larger wheel? Also, it says it's a "leisure" wheel from b'Twin, but it's the same size as MTB Wheels, and my frame is a mountain frame.

I'll upload pictures soon as, just need a cable to connect camera. Thanks for the reply - I'll refund the wheel tomorrow and buy a camera cable.

Peace,
Jack

[nfmisso]

Hi Jack

V-brakes and Cantilevers fit the same pivots on the frame, and are designed for the pivots to be approximately 25mm below the brake surface on the rim. There is typically around 15mm of vertical adjustment for the pads around the nominal 25mm.

Measure the frame, and the wheels.

Wheels (and tires) have an ISO dimension call the bead seat diameter, which is approximately the braking surface center. 26" MTB are ISO 559 (559mm). 700c/29er MTB are ISO 622. The common 26 x 1 3/8 is ISO 590; 650c is ISO 571. (I ran into this on my Sierra Sport; which was I have determined was originally ISO590, now I have ISO571 on it; it originally had cantis, now has V brakes).

If you have a bare frame, you should start with the headset. Then you need to pay attention to the bottom bracket and crankset - they have to match. If you are going to use a front derailleur; that has to have travel range to match your bottom bracket/crankset combo.

Spend some time reading all of Sheldon Brown's stuff on bicycles. Have fun.