Varonha Frameworks winter bike / FW Evans 650b conversion rat bike fun

Never used TRP 957 before.

I'm not actually using the normal attachments on the mudguards - I've removed all the stock hardware and have drilled a new hole for a small bolt that attaches under the fork crown.

Basically, I should've sent the brakes back as soon as I realised they weren't a proper pair... Unless that's how all TRP brakes come, which I find hard to believe (maybe @amey or @youramericanlover can throw some light on that?).

Anyway, Winston's done this braze-on design a million times with no issues whatsoever... the problem is purely that the bolt on the calipers isn't long enough to reach through the fork crown without using a longer nut, which is adds the extra unwanted width. It kinda works with a medium length one but the mechanic at Seabass isn't happy to do it so I'll take his advice.

I don't want anyone thinking I'm having a go at Winston, he's done a great job! : )

This is the stock image of the calipers from bikediscount.de
I definitely think I have two rears and that if I had a proper front brake then this problem would be solved:

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If anyone has a front in okay condition then I'll happily buy it off you!

Yeah you prob have two rears. Hopefully a proper front will sort it.

What I was referring to is the under arm clearance with TRPs and PDW - my guess is you'll have some jiggery pokery to get them situated (at least compared to shimano brakes). But maybe you're a pro installer https://blackmtncycles.com/clearance-pt-ii-road-frames/

You can have my bolt off my old front caliper.

Ah, I see... I've already installed the guards and it's pretty tight but it works. The frame was made with these guards and calipers in mind (with 28mm 4seasons). Interesting to see in that article that the TRPs actually offer slightly better clearance than Grand Cru, I'd heard somewhere that it was the other way around.

The main ballache with PDWs in my experience is how fat the safety tabs are... I had to shave a bit of material off my rear rack to make more room at the back, and it's impossible to run modern front racks (with thicker tubing) on the Dawes for the same reason.

Picking everything up from Seabass this afternoon so I'll take photos etc tomorrow : )

That would be amazing, thanks man!
Although I still suspect we have our nuts and bolts muddled up.... and now I'll get even more innuendo jokes thrown at me!

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These indented top eyes are really sweet! You owe us daylight pictures!

No, we have no muddling, will send both nut and bolt though, as no point me having one without the other.
Dm me your address and I'll post it tomorrow.

You're a gent @jontea, I had no idea those things were removable...

Yeah Winston's done a lovely job, they look awesome : )
More photos soon.

Why not buy another set of the brakes from wherever you got them then return these in their place?

Also, dibs all the pdw hardware if it’s going spare 👍🏻

oh yeah had the bolt length issue with front TRP and the curve of TRP caliper doesent have a rounded enough profile (compared to VO or Shimano) to be able to push guards up. I swapped to VO Gran Cru.

Switching to gran cru helped me push guards further up and clear about 4mm I'd say.

Where are your pads sitting in the slot?

The PDW hardware might be going spare... gonna see if my old ones will fit my girlfriend's bike before I let it go though... watch this space.

I bought the brakes about 4 months ago... when they arrived they had a little chip in the ano and after such a long time in my possession I doubt Spa Cycles will want them back in a hurry. I placed an order last nightfrom bikediscount.de for what appear to be one of the last pairs on the internet - hopefully this 'two rears no front' problem is exclusive to Spa - we shall see.

The fucker is I have an appointment with Scherritt on the 9th that will be difficult to reschedule so I'm trying to get this done before then.

Probably a moot point in light of current news.

Thanks @amey.

Was your problem that you were supplied with two rear calipers? Or did yours have one longer than the other but still not quite long enough?

Don't quite understand how TRP got this wrong, my Tektro r539 calipers fit large 32mm tyres and 42mm mudguards under without any problem. They should have just mimicked the 539, made it a little stiffer, and used better hardware (springs, bolts, nuts and washers).
I've always preferred the look of the VO calipers, so would have bought them if I was gonna keep the All City.

Got it back from Seabass... as far as I can tell the nut clears the braze-on easily and is simply just a few mm too long, and therefore hitting the inside of the front hole.

It should connect perfectly well with a slightly shorter nut.

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And yes, my mudguard attachment needs some revisions!

Bish bash bosh. I can get four full turns on the allen key now... is that enough?

Quick survey of other bikes in the house says:
Road bike is 4 1/2 turns
Girlfriend's bike is 5 ish

Seeing as I have no cranks atm anyway, I'll wait and see how the newly-ordered TRPs look when they arrive before I decide what's best.
Either way, I certainly had a more enjoyable evening than I would have had worrying about what to do for xmas!

Hope everyone's staying well
: )

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Shall I still send my bolt/nut combo, just in case?

you're hacksaw happy you ; )

Hey Jon, was about to message you - I reckon hold off for a bit.
Massive thanks though, the spirit of the forum lives within you!

Well as it's the season of giving, and it's only the cost of a 1st class stamp, I'll send it anyway.

Ha ha! Merry jolly ho ho Christmas!