How To Install A Problem Solvers Travel Agent
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- Опубліковано 8 кві 2015
- A Travel Agent allows short pull brake levers (ie for road brakes or cantilever brakes) to be used with long pull brakes such as V-brakes and mountain bike disc brakes. These are great if you want to use road type STI brake/shifters (brifters) with v-brakes such as on a cyclocross bike.
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Only on UA-cam can you find 5 people to actually give thumbs down to a very helpful video describing the use of an obscure bicycle part.
as a cyclist considering putting a dropbar on one of my older mountain bikes with v brakes, this is still a relevant video. :D
You always have the deep cuts im looking for ! Bravo !
I'm about to so a drop conversion on a mountain bike, with v-brakes... I had long forgotten how to use travel agents, and THIS video hit the nail on the head! RJ, I owe you a beverage of your choice!
I just got one for the front on my 99' klein attitude...26" to 700cm...got pro max post adapters in back ...came with manitou forks but I have a Judy on it cause the mounts are standard for disk ...if the agent dont work good I'm going to use the disk...upgrade everything maybe to get light but winter riding 1st
I made a similar device to extend the cable pull for my front derailleur for my quad chain ring so that the friction shifter had the range I needed. Thanks for the video it was helpful when I designed mine. It solved the problem and kept it simple. 👍
Just discovered that I need to do this on my old 90s MTB today. I installed V-brakes but kept the original short pull levers (the bike originally had cantilevers). I couldn't figure out why I had no braking power and why the levers were pulling all the way to the grips. Bike shop near me recommended to check out Travel Agents, but thought they were out of production. Found out that they are actually still made as knock-offs, so ordered a couple up. This video is immensely helpful to help me get them setup right. Thanks!
Thanks for the detailed information on installing travel agent adapter. 🤓🖒 I have an older bicycle that I want to convert over to V brakes. It's an MTB with brifters that I like. This will allow me to keep them, and upgrade the brakes. Thanks 🤓🖒
Those work awesome. Don’t need to pull hard to get a full braking.
Had those on my Old 94 GT Zasker with XT brakes.
Thanks for sharing your video! 👍🏼
Thanks, just what I needed. Clear, concise, no nonsense. Thanks RJ!!!
fantastic timing. My problem solver TA arrived this morning.Many thanks RJ
Very helpful. Was also thinking to convert my hybrid to drop bar and these should work nicely with the current v-brakes. Thanks!
I've been making do with a drop handlebar conversion with v brakes and almost drove off the edge of cliffs a few times! Didn't even know these clever little adapters existed before seeing this, cheers you helped me out again with this video👍
I needed to buy one of these for a hand-me-down bike I fixed up for my step daughter, and your instructions help me figure out how to actually use it. Thank you so much!
this video was a life saver. never heard of these travel agents before.
Brilliant, this vid was very useful, exactly what I needed, thanks.
This video helped me a lot for my Dahon Minivelo. Thank you from South Korea.
Thanks so much for this video! Easy fix with some visual instructions
I didn't know they existed and really wished I did! Thanks RJ!
RJ... you're slowly becoming the modern Sheldon Brown! (to be taken as a compliment).
AmiJurgl I am a fan of his and have learned a lot of stuff from his website.
I found this because of Sheldon Brown..
This video really helps me I been having that problem with my cyclecross bike
Valuable video, very to the point. Keep up !
Thanks for making this video 👍
Ok. I finally finished my FX3 conversion. Between work and kids, I handled to put all the parts together and with the help of your video as mentioned before, plus your extra advice on using mini v-brakes..the outcome is all in all a good one. I'm really happy with the dropbar, the pedals and brakes. I have to say though, that the braking power with these shifters and the v-brakes is not as good as with the crossbike shifters but they do the job and at this point it's all I needed. Haven't seen any other FX3 converted to dropbars in the internet...not sure if it's totally worth it. For me it was something I wanted to do. Thanks again for the quality videos and support. Enjoy your riding everyone!
I am surprised the brakes aren't stronger.
@@RJTheBikeGuy I wonder if compression isn't the real problem.
A Travel Agent. Thats the best name they could come up for this.
Thanks! I recently changed the brakes on my Muddyfox from cantilever to V-Brake (because the cantilever ones were broken) and I am having this exact problem. I've been into bike repairs 15 or so years and I am still learning. I may look for a couple of travel agents....or I could change brake levers.....but if I change brake levers I'd have to change gear shifters as they are incorporated into the brake levers...
RJ makes everything look so easy… I always have problems on installations with anything on bikes.
Excellent video, thank you!
Very cool! Thanks for the demo! I have absolutely no use for one of those right now but I kinda wish I did, you know, so I could install it :-p
Great vid. This Travel Agent thing was vexing the hell out of me. I'm still having issues on the rear brakes sticking - potentially because I didn't set route the cable through the hole at the 1 o'clock position.
Good stuff anyhow...
I saw the part online and was kinda skeptical of the efficiency, because I need it for my build. Good to see the work great
bought road shifters. attached them to vibrakes. Thanks.
Well that was easy thanks to your video! 👍😀
Tnx. Great vid
thank you, I learn something new.
Incredible. It's so clever!!!
Fantastic video RJ, thank you for posting. This answered many questions about going from Ultegra STI's to V brakes. PS Travel Agents are sitting here now while I watch your video and will go on the bike in the morning. Killer! I also watched your video about cleaning the STI's, did exactly as you prescribed using WD 40, and voila, results precisely as described in the video. Enormously helpful!!! Maybe change your YT name from RJTheBikeGuy to RJBTHEMAN ... :)
nice video man
Thanks RJ
Thanks for an easy to understand explanation. I'm busy ' hacking ' an Archer electronic shift kit to work on my TT bike, some have said the shifting is slow and I think this device can speed it up as theoretically 1 mm of servo movement will be 2mm ish of the cable with this?
I'll see what it's like standard as I'm running the cable all the way through the frame rather than it being close to derailleur on a MTB. Maybe I'll need higher torque?? Got to experiment don't we 🤪
İt was very helpful i will use it in dropbar with v brake
The best videos
Awesome!!!
Perfect timing, I found the travel agents on line after you posted the picture. I have the v brakes but I am using road brifters and this should solve the problem. My poor boy engineered hybrid to road bike transformation will be about complete and a lot safer.
This video helm me solve my problem, I use roadbike brifter and v brakes on my folding bike
Hey thanks for the video. I'm thinking that this would work for using a Gyro with a V brake?
Good how to. It would be helpful to list a few combinations of brake levers and brake arms that this Travel Agent pulley is intended to work on. My project is an old Cannondale Tandem being outfitted with STI road brake and shift levers while keeping the original cantilever brake arms. The video shows a V brake style brake arm with the Travel Agent resting in the noodle's cable connector. How does the TA sit in old cantilever style arms?
I have used these to make rear brakes on Townies and step-through frames work better.
sir I've been following you videos I get a lot of answer . can I ask if this will work for a sti Road lever?
You gotta do this video again but with a drop bar set up and traditional center pull cantilever brakes! Maybe some 105's or Tiagra's brake levers !
It doesn't change as far as the travel agent is concerned. It's the same.
Hey RJ. Will the travel agent work for regular STI levers on V Brakes?
Brilliant, how could anyone give that a thumbs down.
Everything looked promising until I realized that a pair of these were over $50. I guess I'm gonna have to keep the rims 100% true and stick with the short pull levers or buy long pulls with that money. Good to know nonetheless. Great vid.
You can get them on Aliexpress for 6 bucks a piece.
this is for many a "DON'T DO IT" project..but after watching this video I decided that if there's a way it's worth trying it. My main concern is safety... I want to convert my TREK FX3 to dropbars and the shifters are not compatible with V-brakes...I will use the travel agent to keep the V-brakes because the frame won't take caliper. Still, if you can share your thoughts or recommendations on this issue , I would really appreciate it. THANKS FOR THIS GREAT VIDEO!
Use mini v brakes if the tires aren't too fat.
bought the mini v. 85mm (80 sold out in this part of the planet) added the problem solver ..it's working but can't get much tension at the shifters end. I spent some time adjusting the tension at the brakes...I will test it once done with shifters and gear system. Thank you for the advice and great explanations. Keep it up!
So, in theory, if you installed two of these on the same cable, could you create a x4 cable pull?
sorry I should've re worded my question earlier. what is the purpose for the first hole on the adapter?
I'm going to use the 2nd hole or inside hole as per your video, but what's the purpose for the outside or 1st hole on the adapter?
The first hole is to a 90 degree bend with no cable pull adjustment. It doesn't do anything.
Is the cable length pull adjustable as you move the big pull clockwise or anti-clockwise? or just doubles the pull of the cable only?
It is not adjustable. It just doubles or halves the cable pull.
I assume these things will work with mini-Vs as well? I just got a commuter and I wanted to convert the flat handlebar to a drop bar with STIs, though annoying there are no mounts on the frame or fork for Caliper brakes.
Mini-Vs have the same pull rate as calipers and STI shifters. Don't need this.
@@RJTheBikeGuy
Not necessarily,
I'm running Apex 1 brifters on TRP 8.1 mini vs and TBH, I like the braking and lever feel better with a travel agent in the system.
Without them I felt my modulation while super generous, was too soft - full lock was WAY to close to the bar for my personal taste. (Especially from the hoods)
The bike is a surly travelers check (a cross check with s and s couplers) set up in a 700c monstercross configuration. It sees a lot of singletrack...
The agents hardened up the lever so full lock comes on at about halfway to the bar, and still have very controllable and modulated one finger braking in the drops, and good, powerful and not fatiguing three finger braking from the hoods.
So, YMMV. There is room for personal "feel" when setting up brakes - as long as they are safe and effective. Travel agent helps with that.
Also - if you didnt already know - compressionless housing is HUGE when tuning brake feel, one of those OMG why didnt I try this stuff sooner?!
Yokozuna or jagwire elite... it'll change everything.
In short problem solver increase brake power?
Ai dentro!!!
Kkkkkkkk
Cearenses.... Kkkkkk
I had never heard of these before. Good to know because I am wanting to change the brakes on my bike from cantilever to V. Have you ever seen the brake levers that have 2 settings, C and V. Made for both types of brakes. Worked on a bike a few months ago that had them, it was a Schwinn bike but do not think any of the parts were original.
casperbenj I have seen them online, but never worked on a bike with them that I have noticed.
So, I run into a lot of Townie, Townie style and step through linear pull bikes that basically have no rear brakes. I am always astounded to find side pulls that work better.
I have considered Jagwire replacement and Koolstop pads for reducing compression, but I wonder if this might be a good tool to use with them. Please share your thoughts.
I would like very much to find travel agents to make my road brake levers compatible with MTB disk callipers, but it seems almost impossible to find them. I'll have to find adaptors to switch the callipers from MTB to road type.
How can i get that device for V brakes? Help me
I have very similar travel agent, except mine has a barrel adjusted on the first hole of the travel agent.
how would i go about installing this? I assume the same steps but using the first hole instead?
I don't know the one you are talking about, so I don't know how it's supposed to be installed.
Great video, however, Problem Solvers quit making these and I can' find them anywhere. DO you know if they are available anywhere?
www.jtekengineering.com/
@@RJTheBikeGuy can't find any brake pulleys on this site,only shift converters. I did find a Chinese one on Ebay, hope it's of OK quality. Thank you.
@@francestyrrell6135 Not sure. eBay might be your best bet then. Maybe some will show up. Or someone might have some NOS stuff.
I installed mini V-brakes but the space between the blocks and rim are very narrow. (1mm)
Will give the Travel Agent more space between the rim and block?
+Ronald van der Voorst Yes.
Hi again RJ. The problem solvers seem vanished from this world, I am about to stop all ideas to install the drop bars on my bike. So confusing. Spend 90€ on Claris levers and even be forced to buy other brakes, ugglier, heavier, sounds too bad. Someone says it had made one adapter, and this video had made me thinking how can I do one also...
Uauuu. Found ones on ebay, called; Litepro LP v brake adapter folding road bike converter to caliper brake adaptor
Where can you buy these at? I'm working on a project and need one of these. Do you have any for sale? :)
I don't sell parts. You will have to shop around. I don't think the maker makes then anymore. Try ebay.
I've just ordered them fron aliexpress. They are from "litepro"
How do you fix both rear and front suspensions??
Trippin Josh That is kind of a vague question. I have several videos overhauling front shocks. If it is a low end department store bike with garbage suspension, then your best bet is probably to get a new bike.
What if you want to use V-brake levers with road brakes or cantilever brakes?
Melvin Shupe I found this. "If you run long pull lever with short pull brakes, it will be easy to pull the brake, but very hard to apply braking force with a hard lever feel."
I don't think they make a travel agent to go the other way.
I wonder if there is any reason why in America the front brake is on the left, rear brake on the right, of the handlebar, and here in the UK it's round the other way.
Because we drive/ride on different sides of the road. It is safer to hand signal with your front brake hand.
RandyDarkshade it's the same in other countries where you ride on the right side of the road. It's not only in the US :)
I set my bikes up for front brake on the right to match what I'm used to on a motorcycle. I don't ever want my instincts to be conflicted in a panic situation.
hi, someone knows the implications with this travel agents on V-brakes with road shifters? thanks!
Finally something I know! That is precisely what this tool is designed to do.
When you speak of road brakes are you talking about center-pull brakes or side pull brakes?
Melvin Shupe I was thinking modern side pull caliper brakes, but it applies to old center pull brakes too.
were can i buy it?
Not sure. Looks like Problem Solvers, the company that made them, doesn't sell them anymore.
Aliexpress
Ok but the question is: How do yo diferecen beteween v-brake brake lever and cantilever brake lever? For me are the same... if you have so much in a box maybe 10 of each one, how do you know what is the type?
V brake levers are often labeled as v brake levers.
SRK Measure the distance between the brake-lever pivot and cable-attachment point. If less than 30mm they are side-pull/cantilever levers. If more than 30mm they are V-brake levers. Typical measurements are 20-25mm for cantilever and 35mm for V-brakes.
Of course these aren't made any more; I had to barter the local BS for a pair, way over the price on the package. One had a cable adjustment barrel, the other did not, and I took time to wrap kevlar line and UV glue around the second, before tapping threads for a second barrel, as the aluminum is pretty thin, and the idea of blowing out a brake cable under pressure is a nightmare. Not finished installing, so can't rate the concept, but the goal is for a DIY MTB to road bar and brifters gravel setup and the original Shimano V-brakes worked fine on severe MTB descents, saving weight and retrofitting non-disc wheels and fork should be plenty fine on less severe 'gravel' terrain.
Estranho mas funciona kkkkkk 👍
Onde encontro?
Where can these be found these days?
Ebay sometimes. They were more available when i made the video.
it's available on Aliexpress. Search for "V Brake Tension Adapter"
what about wearing of the cable? I read about some problems with the cable snapping when the guy was braking hard.
I would like to build a custom trekking bike with dropped handlebars and V-brakes so I wouldn't want that to happen when I'm in the middle of nowhere :D
Try Mini V-brakes.
do they have enough clearance for things like fenders?
Dunno. Maybe try cantilever brakes then.
RJ The Bike Guy: Some Specialized Sirrus come with mini-V-s stock and in theory they can be used with brifters. In practice they work far better with the travel agents as without them it's nearly impossible to release the brakes to remove the wheels. One other downside to the travel agents is cable fatigue; however, even if the cable snaps you'll still have enough authority and pull to ride until you can get the cable replaced.
And yes the mini Vs on the Sirrus can be used with fenders.
man this thing is so hard to find
Aaaaah no my bike has the opposite problem. Pulling the brake lever moves the pads way too much and I have no leverage. I'm going to see if I can install it at the lever side with the 2x setting and make it work out.
Probably easier to just get match brakes and levers if you can.
I still dont understand what this thing does...doest it pull x2 the power with the same power your fingers applyed before it was installed?
It is a simple 2 to 1 lever using pulleys or in this case discs, output is 2 times the input cable pull length but output is half the force of the input force. Same as a straight 2:1 lever but uses the circumference difference of the discs. Twice the diameter, twice the circumference.
This seems like it will wear out fast.
They are hard on cables.