Originally Posted by
mtnbud
I should work on adjusting the pads a little more before I give up with the current setup.
^This^ From the second picit looks like the top of the brake pad is hitting the tire, not the rim. That'll blow your tube and ruin your tire in a ride or two. And from the third pic, it looks like the right arm is pulling all the way back and making the left arm drag the rim. Pads should be set up symmetrical to each other. And where the brake cable goes thru the straddle assembly, you need to 'lock' the cable into the other slot after you complete your adjustments.