icepik1234

If you are not riding fixed you need a rear brake. Period. You may also want to adjust your handlebar angle.

SpeshulEd 

yes!!!

brdftbll

Thanks for all the help.... This is my first build and really 2nd summer of riding. I've ridden my Giant most of the time (hauling kids behind me) but really wanted to build a bike for riding around town and exercise. Anyone recommend brakes?? The one (yes the one) that was on the bike was to short.

SpeshulEd 

How can a brake be too short?

TejanoTrackie 

Probably means too short for the brake blocks to reach the rim.

Flatulentfox

Reach, the calipers can be to short to reach the braking surface.

Edit: Tejano beat me.

brdftbll

I was using a short reach caliper and I needed a long reach. Short reach was rubbing the tire.

3speedslow

Those 83 Raleighs prolly used 27" rims and you have 700's on them ?

I think Dia-Comps were the one that came on those and you can still find cheap ones around both short and long reach. Plus they will be nutted, not Allen.

brdftbll

Great! Thanks. Yeah they are 700s.

3speedslow

Good luck. It should not be too hard coming up with a set of long reach ones. Many makers have them available. I have enjoyed riding around on my 85 Raleigh SSFG, was fortunate that I could loosen the brake pads and drop them down enough to reach the rim.

TenSpeedV2

Shimano Sora should work for you. My local shop has them dirt cheap since they get a lot of people coming in looking to replace a front brake with something good that won't brake the bank.

You see what I did there?

hairnet

Sora calipers are nice, I wish they had a better finish than that paint they use.

johnnytheboy

i personally prefer the tektro long reach.
r559, i believe.

Metieval

Dawes SST AL

IcySmooth52

A Trek T1, but seen much customization obviously.

SpeshulEd 

Ha, that's what I was going for but wanted the poster to reply so I knew what to suggest...and then I started drinking and forgot all about this thread.

TejanoTrackie 

Are you sure you had not already been drinking when you made your post ?

SpeshulEd 

Ya know, now that I think about it, I had bottomless mimosas after my ride yesterday morning. I was probably about 6-7 of those in, so yeah...that probably helps explain it.

https://app.strava.com/activities/297542841

hardboiled718

2.4 mi in 17 minutes? usually you ride faster when drunk

Z3BR4

SpeshulEd 

Haha, I think I left it running for a bit when I got to the restaurant before pausing the ride.

I had also just finished a 48 miler right before this...literally took a shower and walked right back out the door to go drink.
https://app.strava.com/activities/297421741

Pixieshakes

Built this over the last few months. My first SS bike since a kid and also my first build since then, 30years ago. A free aluminium frame, along with a few other bits, Carbonzone rear, Giaant Rigida front, Syncros seat, Kalloy post and CF clamp, CF flat bars with Cinelli tape, Shimano 105 and Dia-compe Tech 99 brake bits, Truvativ cranks and BB and Ruff Cycles Skully headbadge make for a fairly light bike. Estimate around 6kg. Lets see how long it lasts before I break it!







A few things to do, change rear cog to 18T, have some bullhorns I might chuck at it instead of the flats, but pretty happy with it so far on the few rides its had

Wspsux

I've never seen that front wheel before looks super light at a glance

TenSpeedV2

More information on the front wheel please. I like the whole thing.

Pixieshakes

Gents (or ladies), that front wheel is a Rigida DP18, carbon hub and spokes and alloy aero rim. As far as my research has told me, they were first on early model Giant TCR carbon road bikes, the rear wheel had 16 spokes, the front (the only one of these wheels I have) had 12. Not sure of exact weight but seems from the Google fraternity they aren't as light as others. That thought really doesn't enter mr mind when on the bike. It's not what's slowing me down. That's be my legs and fitness.

Oh and TenSpeed, thanks for the kind words.