recommend an inexpensive front brake for a conversion?
#1
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recommend an inexpensive front brake for a conversion?
I'm finishing up converting my 77 Raleigh super course to a fixed gear. The original wienman brakes are center pull and in my opinion kind of big and clunky for a nice sleek fixed gear. I'd like to install a basic aluminum side pull front brake and run it to the top of the bars to a short lever.
Can anyone recommend a brake+lever set? I forget what the diameter of the old road drops are near the stem but I can always measure that.
I've had good luck with origin8 stuff but to be honest with you I've also had good luck with sunlite stuff. I'm really not fancy. I like stuff to be durable, not flashy, and inexpensive as possible.
Thanks for any help!
Jack
Can anyone recommend a brake+lever set? I forget what the diameter of the old road drops are near the stem but I can always measure that.
I've had good luck with origin8 stuff but to be honest with you I've also had good luck with sunlite stuff. I'm really not fancy. I like stuff to be durable, not flashy, and inexpensive as possible.
Thanks for any help!
Jack
#2
Full Member
If it's an old road conversion then you probably need long reach brakes. I usually use Tektro R559 for my conversions.
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I would measure the reach and get the Tektro that works. I think the tektro dual pivot is worth the extra 10$ or whatever on Amazon. And kool stop pads.
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#4
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Do you guys have a lever you'd recommend? Something for the top of the drop bars.
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[size=16px]Tektro fl750? They look nice. Seem to be for short pull, non linear pull brakes. No barrel adjuster. Have not used myself.[/size]
I am running the tektro bmx levers. I am going to run dia-Comp ss6 levers next. They look like the levers are a little longer giving more leverage/power.
#6
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[size=16px]Tektro fl750? They look nice. Seem to be for short pull, non linear pull brakes. No barrel adjuster. Have not used myself.[/size]
I am running the tektro bmx levers. I am going to run dia-Comp ss6 levers next. They look like the levers are a little longer giving more leverage/power.
I like them but it seems like they only make them for 22.2 bars. My bars are 24mm (near the stem where I'd mount it).
I remember going into this rabbit hole before. I miss the early 2000s when everyone and their mom was riding fixed gears and you could get whatever you wanted. Now there's so little to choose from -- especially in the older style. Seems like now it's heavier frames, wider tires, and 48inch bars. Mountain bike-y. No judgement, just not for me. Of course, the 12inch bars back in the day were pretty dumb.
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I like them but it seems like they only make them for 22.2 bars. My bars are 24mm (near the stem where I'd mount it).
I remember going into this rabbit hole before. I miss the early 2000s when everyone and their mom was riding fixed gears and you could get whatever you wanted. Now there's so little to choose from -- especially in the older style. Seems like now it's heavier frames, wider tires, and 48inch bars. Mountain bike-y. No judgement, just not for me. Of course, the 12inch bars back in the day were pretty dumb.
I remember going into this rabbit hole before. I miss the early 2000s when everyone and their mom was riding fixed gears and you could get whatever you wanted. Now there's so little to choose from -- especially in the older style. Seems like now it's heavier frames, wider tires, and 48inch bars. Mountain bike-y. No judgement, just not for me. Of course, the 12inch bars back in the day were pretty dumb.
#10
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#11
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Too bad the FL750's only come with 22.2 clamps. They are cheap, elegantly simple and have nice long levers for a good pull on old brakes. They solved a problem I had with cantilevers and a Velo Orange Crazy bar 22.2 ends. On my fixed conversion with Origin8 Tiki bars (mustache type in road diameters) I tried inline levers but they seem to lack power and feel for my old center-pull calipers. Incidentally, the long reach versions of the Weinmann center-pull or Dia-Compe 750 copies have enough reach for 700c wheels on an old 27" frame and have a nice vintage look. Now I've switched the conversion back to a regular drop bar and old style road levers. The only drop bars I know of with 22.2 ends are Soma Gators.
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Used dura ace 7800 brakes on Ebay FTW. But only if they're long enough
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#14
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Too bad the FL750's only come with 22.2 clamps. They are cheap, elegantly simple and have nice long levers for a good pull on old brakes. They solved a problem I had with cantilevers and a Velo Orange Crazy bar 22.2 ends. On my fixed conversion with Origin8 Tiki bars (mustache type in road diameters) I tried inline levers but they seem to lack power and feel for my old center-pull calipers. Incidentally, the long reach versions of the Weinmann center-pull or Dia-Compe 750 copies have enough reach for 700c wheels on an old 27" frame and have a nice vintage look. Now I've switched the conversion back to a regular drop bar and old style road levers. The only drop bars I know of with 22.2 ends are Soma Gators.
I'll check this out, thanks!
Last edited by cyrano138; 08-28-21 at 11:47 PM.
#15
Newbie
I had a Super Course of about the same vintage as yours. I believe that the center pulls on it are Weinmann 610's with spec;d reach of 50 to 65mm. Those nice Dura Ace calipers only go to 49mm so will probably not reach on your frame. A bigger problem on an old frame is the lack of a recessed mounting in the fork crown. I don't know of many dual pivot calipers with a long enough bolt and nut option except Tektro R539 and R559's.
I tend to agree with you about braking needs in certain situations. A single-geared bike is not likely to carry a heavy luggage load in hilly terrain. And as you're in Florida (where I spend most of the year) the steepest descents are likely on a short bridge. So if I had a total front brake failure I guess it would be time for a skid stop. But while I'm temporarily in Upstate New York with a fixed bike I do feel the need for good brakes on both ends.
I tend to agree with you about braking needs in certain situations. A single-geared bike is not likely to carry a heavy luggage load in hilly terrain. And as you're in Florida (where I spend most of the year) the steepest descents are likely on a short bridge. So if I had a total front brake failure I guess it would be time for a skid stop. But while I'm temporarily in Upstate New York with a fixed bike I do feel the need for good brakes on both ends.
#16
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Finally basically done. Honestly it didn't involve much real mechanic work. I bought a set of fixed hub wheels, and stripped everything off.
The chain line was already spot on. Didn't have to re-dish, or swap out for a shorter bb spindle length. Years ago, before I knew how, I had a friend replace the bb and he put a 122mm in. It was actually too short by a hair because the inner ring rubbed slightly on the chain stay which I'm thrilled about now because it saved me the trouble for this conversion.
I kept the original cranks and chainring (just removed the inner chainring), bought a 14 tooth cog for the rear, out a nice shiny 3/32 chain on, and did a basic service on the headset bearings and cleaned er up.
#17
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I had a Super Course of about the same vintage as yours. I believe that the center pulls on it are Weinmann 610's with spec;d reach of 50 to 65mm. Those nice Dura Ace calipers only go to 49mm so will probably not reach on your frame. A bigger problem on an old frame is the lack of a recessed mounting in the fork crown. I don't know of many dual pivot calipers with a long enough bolt and nut option except Tektro R539 and R559's.
I tend to agree with you about braking needs in certain situations. A single-geared bike is not likely to carry a heavy luggage load in hilly terrain. And as you're in Florida (where I spend most of the year) the steepest descents are likely on a short bridge. So if I had a total front brake failure I guess it would be time for a skid stop. But while I'm temporarily in Upstate New York with a fixed bike I do feel the need for good brakes on both ends.
I tend to agree with you about braking needs in certain situations. A single-geared bike is not likely to carry a heavy luggage load in hilly terrain. And as you're in Florida (where I spend most of the year) the steepest descents are likely on a short bridge. So if I had a total front brake failure I guess it would be time for a skid stop. But while I'm temporarily in Upstate New York with a fixed bike I do feel the need for good brakes on both ends.
I rode my first fixed gear, a 2007 Fuji track that I'll never forgive myself for selling, without brakes successfully for almost a year before I put one on at the behest of a mechanic buddy.
I ordered one that had a range of 59 to 69 I think. I measured the weinmans at just about 60mm.
Last edited by cyrano138; 08-29-21 at 04:48 PM.